Phobia

There are good films and there are great films but few films have the potential to change a genre or start a new one. "Phobia" is one such gem of a film that demands your attention and might just be the game-changer in the space of psychological horror thrillers in Hindi cinema. The film's taut narrative neither ignores viewer's intelligence nor does it test their patience.

The film open with a famous quotation of Franz Kafka, "A cage went in search of a bird" and you're in for a roller-coaster psychological ride. The quote merges into a painting with that of a hand in the left side of the frame trying to reach out for help while half a dozen of hands are trying to rescue him from the right side of the frame or are they? This picture coupled with Kafka's quote quite sums up the whole film which revolves around an upcoming painter Mahek who is suffering from acute agoraphobia (a fear of open spaces). To accelerate her healing process her well-wishers thought that a change would be beneficial thus Mahek gets shifted to a used but empty apartment. But the apartment has its own story which results in her getting trapped from outside as well as within. Initially the whole setting seems like a typical Hindi horror film but as the film moves ahead you will be stunned at the smartness of Pawan Kirpalani's execution. Believe me "Phobia" is something which you have never witnessed in a Hindi horror film. Nothing is what it seems and the atmospheric horror is devoid of any cheesy sequence. Phobia terrifies you with its creepiness and when you think you know where it is heading it surprises you. There's an unexpected quirky pr-climax which lightens the mood only to take you to a gory but impactful climax that gives an apt closure to the first two acts.

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This movie was wonderful just because of Radhika Apte's great acting. I feel she is one of the most talented actress of Indian cinema till date. Great work Rahika Apte. Keep going!!!!!!

he first reaction one will have after watching this movie is that this is just not a simple thriller movie but also has a thought- provoking message and of course Radhika Apte's acting is amazing.

Starting from the trailer- The movie looks promising and you are reminded of Ram Gopal Verma's Kaun (starring Urmila Matondkar). Here I would like to clarify that Phobia's story or concept is completely different from Kaun, even the circumstances are totally different.

Movie- As almost all thriller movie this also starts with a tragedy but slowly builds up to be much more than a movie of a personal experience but one also thinks of how we(society) thinks/acts in many situations. As the movie progresses it transforms from a movie about a 'phobia' to the protagonist's character to a great and very fresh climax (Credits to the director)

A few days ago I watched "Phobia". First of all this is new for Bollywood as they don't make much psychological thrillers and Radhika Apte pulls the entire movie on her shoulders with ease. Secondly, it is funny in 1 or 2 scenes which is not very good rather really sad for a horror/ psychological thriller and it is only Radhika Apte's acting which makes you sit in the theater till the end. In the first half, the movie builds with much novelty in it but second half has some instances from a few Hollywood movies but still it keeps you engaged. So, in total it had a few major drawbacks but a good experiment for Bollywood and some really great acting so I would go with 6/10 for this.

Phobia (2016) : Well psychological thrillers are the best genre which are most intriguing and always messes with mind.They are rare in Indian Cinema and now after a long time its time for Phobia.

Plot: An agoraphobic young woman Mehek (Radhika Apte), traumatized by past events, finds herself trapped and terrorized in her own home.She experiences weird apparitions and even involves in missing mystery of previous resident

Plus Points: 1)Radhika Apte: Still now I thought that she is just an ordinary actress but with this film she is one of the best now.She is awesome in her role as Mehak and we can feel her agony,fear etc.. She is heavily successful in involving us in this movie.

2)Music: BGM is one of the best part of Phobia.It is very tensing and easily builds up tension.I loved it.

3)Screenplay: Screenplay is very good and thrilling.We can easily involve in this movie.Its climax is very good but its bit confusing.Interval block clearly raises our expectations.

Minus points: 1)Similarities: It has similarity with few movies like Katha,Intruders,Dementia etc.. But its climax made it unique.That's the major success for Phobia.

So,Phobia is an interesting psychological thriller with a bit confusing but interesting thriller.

My rating 7.25/10

That Phobia is not everyone's cup of tea is established in the opening frame itself with this intriguing quote of Franz Kafka: A cage went in search of a bird. What follows next is arguably one of the most significant prologues in Hindi Cinema; miss this and you won't get the essence of the film. Mehak Deo (Radhika Apte) is a painter and is narrating a creepily uncomfortable joke to her male friends at a party: An old man has been ogling at her because her face resembles his bitch that was killed in a car accident, eerily on the same day when Mehak was born. She then leaves the party in a taxi with her best friend, Shaan. On the way Shaan gets down and invites her to spend the night with him. She spurns the offer and continues in the taxi. The cabbie takes her to a secluded spot and rapes her.

After the opening credits, we see that Mehak has become a nervous wreck consequent to the rape and is being administered Virtual Reality therapy to cure her of Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces). When the therapy makes little progress, Shaan rents out an apartment and moves her there to recover. Rest of the film plays out in the claustrophobic confines of this apartment, whose former tenant, a stewardess named Jiah, has mysteriously vanished into thin air. Spooky things start happening. Mehak's traumatised mind plays tricks on her and the director plays tricks on our mind. There is a black cat and a black spider, both important symbols in case you want to psychoanalyse the film later.

Just when you feel that the director has pulled out all stops and you have sorted out all the conundrums, the film shifts to a different plane. Some extremely subtle hints are dropped, so fleeting that you will miss if you blink. Phobia is an extremely clever film; it is revived miraculously from the precipice of an almost hilarious ending. Director Pawan Kriplani goes for the jugular, just when your muscles were beginning to relax. Radhika Apte more than lives her part. Background score works non-intrusively on the subconscious.

The film ends with a red dot (Bindi?) being applied on Mehak's painting to indicate that it is sold. Phobia works at multiple levels. At the visceral level it is a solid thriller with a potential to wet your pants. But at the psychological level, it makes you think long after you have left the cinema hall.