Khauf

Khauf is a well-made horror show and a welcome change from the cringe algorithm-driven stuff that passes for web series in today's times. The show is created by a woman and she tells the story from a female gaze. I mention this because every male character here is problematic, lecherous, creepy, condescending, misogynistic and whatnot. If this were the case for a show from a male director, it would be considered problematic. But that's a minor aside. The show is engaging, has good actors and is technically quite well made. You could find it a bit long-drawn towards the end and predictable at times, but it is written and performed with a lot of heart. The most interesting storyline is that of Monika Panwar who is sexual assault survivor who believes she has finally identified her masked assaulter. This forms the most thoughtful and well sketched out storyline of the show. Two other strands play out - one involving a hakim with black magic abilities and another involving the scared hostel girls who cannot leave the premises. This bit too is interesting but loses steam after a while. The bit involving the mother/constable searching for her lost son forms the connecting tissue for the stories and seems at times like a unwanted diversion. Of course it all comes together at the end, and the finale might leave you both thrilled and perplexed. Why only one of the dead from the hostel turned into a vengeful ghost while another person from the hostel who also died didn't is a question you don't want to ask. Why did all the people killed by the hakim not turn into vengeful ghosts? Again, don't ask. The finale is apparently about ghost wanting control over the woman and she fighting back. Why that desire specifically? And by the end, when the revenge is completed, is she now controlling the frightening ghost? Such questions can spoil the engagement so its best not to ask them.

The writer of the show Smita Singh said "I moved to Delhi...(When you're a woman and an outsider) the city crushes down on you. Working women's hostel is a strange beast... I wanted to tell a story of what women feel through the lens of horror, horror is something we can't confront... Fear is something that follows you home."

Khauf, when you look at it through that lens, is an amazing show. If you like the horror genre but would like to see something that's just surface level horror with jump scares, this is a show unlike the ones that we've seen before in Hindi. Can't necessarily explain the details but Smita's comments should give you an idea.

Monika Panwar as Madhu was awesome, just like she was in almost all her previous works. Sadly, the industry would never let her become a big name because she's not from a film family. The support cast was great along with her.

The "horror" parts of the show were....decent. The "lore" was confusing, so many unanswered questions around it but if you choose to look past these shortcomings, it's a refreshingly different show; an 8hr show that could have been a great 2.5 hr movie.

Khauf starts fantastically and scores big time in technalities.... it goes with a perfect rhythm and interesting plots .. nicely wooven together. Then suddenly it takes path of clichés... The biggest letdown was murder of two male culprits. It's picturization doesn't go with the tone of the series which it has set. The most challenging part was resolution and again it was a let down. May be writer was eyeing a second season and that's what the problem is. Ending is a mess .... The good must conquer evil. You are aiming for millions of viewers and all are as smart as you na .... I started with ... I m loving it ..... I ended it with ... raita faila diya yaar .....

Filled with atmospheric tension and protagonists compelling performance. The cinematography and sound design effectively create a sense of unease.

However, the horror elements may not fully deliver the expected scares, and the narrative occasionally becomes muddled by addressing multiple social themes simultaneously.

But these are minor glitches which can be overlooked given the series keeps you on the edge of your seats... Monika Panwar's performance and transformation is commendable All the supporting cast perform to the full potential.

Rajat Kapoor deserves a spaecial mention.

But this engaging Indian Horror series is a must watch...

Khauf is a bold and refreshing entry into the Indian horror scene. Set in a Delhi women's hostel, the series masterfully blends psychological suspense with social commentary. Monika Panwar is brilliant in the lead role, portraying Madhuri with raw intensity, and the overall atmosphere is eerie without relying on overused jump scares.

The writing deserves praise for tackling themes like trauma, patriarchy, and repressed memories within a horror framework. The pacing is slow but deliberate, which works for the most part, although some episodes could've been tighter.

The only downside-and it's a big one for some-is the ambiguous ending. The creators chose to leave a lot to the viewer's imagination, which can be intriguing for some and unsatisfying for others. Personally, I appreciated the risk, but I wish there had been just a bit more closure.

Overall, Khauf is a well-crafted, thought-provoking horror series that stands out in the Indian streaming landscape. Definitely worth a watch if you're looking for horror with substance.