13B: Fear Has a New Address

Can you believe that the big Hollywood company TWC is going to remake an Indian movie? Well this movie certainly deserves a Hollywood remake! Have all the essentials of a Hollywood horror movie! I even highly recommend the original director to direct the Hollywood remake as well! I just can't believe that the director's previous attempt was a forgettable movie "Alai" with T.R.Silambarasan! Even for Simbhu it was a forgettable movie! The plot is not very new but still the director weaves a magic in getting the attention of the audience and dragging them to the edge-of-the-seat each scene! The entire theater was shouting at the start but as the narration proceeded there was absolute silence! I went to the theater with low expectation and wanted some cheap thrills on a boring Friday evening but came out with complete satisfaction and scares! I recommend this to every thriller/horror movie fan! I'm out of words to describe this rare gem! Watch this movie! You won't be disappointed! The more exclamatory marks in this passage itself reveals how excited i am about this movie! Hats off Vikram K.Kumar! Your Brilliance and 1 year planning for the story has paid off! MUST WATCH FOR ALL AGES!

One chilling fact of nature that has stayed with me for years was the notion we will take for granted the importance of oxygen until there is a lack of it. We never really pay heed to something that is in our lives everyday, and therefore is relatively ignored. As such, our dependency on technology has grown to such extent that, without it, mankind would quickly crumble as a civilization.

A breed of horror has arisen prominently in the new millennium that exploits this very idea, and in rather creative ways: What if basic living was suddenly turned against us? When there is no place like home, do you really own it? Or does it own you? When I watched this film through I couldn't help but realize I witnessed a subtler adaptation of Mikael Håfström's "1408". But this was certainly not a bad thing. Oh no, not at all. 13B expands past 1408's borders quite brilliantly. With it, blending in the elements of The Ring, Final Destination, and Poltergeist (with a sprinkling of quirky humor) to a delectable mix of "that inanimate object has the ability to kill you in 150 ways" paranormal paranoia. The majority of the dialog is Hindi but coherency isn't an issue for 13B, as the tone-sensitive visuals tell the tale just as effectively. The acting and score also carries the plot well.

I had a few minor qualms with 13B. The dialog at times seemed unnatural, almost forced. Camera movement was also a problem. Some scenes had the camera volatile to enhance suspense but for me it did the opposite.

13B is a fine example of intellectual horror. It does not force feed the suspense, but allows the viewer to build their own overtime as the protagonist becomes aware of the unnatural forces manipulating his and his family's mentality to the breaking point.

Unfortunately watched it in 2020. So definitely couldn't relate to it as someone watched it much earlier would be able to. A good thriller. First half is slow. Movie picks up from the second half. I'd say don't switch over from the first half actually the movie starts in the second half. R Madhavan acting skills are great. He looks not only convincing but keeps you glued to the movie. Watch it if you have a taste for horror movies.

Horror genre over recent years has undergone a massive transformation. No longer it is a straight forward plot meant to scare the living daylights. These days one gets to witness the horror neatly blended with suspense to generate that extra twist and keep the audience in nail- biting mode. Hey, the genre manages to stay alive innit?

Clearly the director has taken inspiration from Poltergiest (ghost- directed by Steven Spielberg) and blends in Japanese horror flick formula's into it. Indeed the effort and the execution deserves a standing ovation and it wouldn't be exaggeration to state that 13B would put RGV to shame. Seriously, Phoonk seems to be child's play in comparison.

The mid-80's era is portrayed brilliantly. The settings are perfect and do take note of the Doordarshan's B&W intro. Nostalgia indeed!

Ж Madhavan:: "BOLLYWOOD!" - this guy is screaming on the top of voice and can somebody at least take notice this time around? He is a consistent and a brilliant performer. 13B has two lead actors - Madhavan and the telly, rest everyone goes out of focus.

Ж Deepak Dobriayl: Now this guy is to watch out for. Every time I see him he doesn't cease to surprise me. Be it Omkara, Shaurya, Dilli-6 or 13B - he manages to successfully pull-off a range of roles/ characters with nothing short of perfection.

Ж Neetu Chandra & Sachin Khedekar:: Neatly compliments to the plot.

Ж Poonam Dhillon:: She needed a better comeback vehicle. Her counterpart in the plot, Suhasini Mulay seemed elegant in comparison.

Ж Dritiman Chatterjee:: Why was he there? Beats me!

Ж Others do their parts as per the demands of the storyline.

What deserves a special mention, even though the telly leads the storyline by a few minutes, it still manages to create an edge-of-seat excitement. And yes, the shock value is immense. A few holes in the plot can be safely ignored.

Verdict:: Go for it!

its really good. first half is a little boring but the second half makes up for it with the scares and the thrills. the lead role is done really well with all the actors doing their part well. i went to see this movie on the first day in Dubai.

i was really excited after seeing the trailers and the hype the film had created. its a good film to watch at night and it lives up to its expectations. enjoy it for what it delivers. you wont be disappointed. it delivers thrills and some scares. could frighten children under 13. overall i loved it

9/10.