Thumbs up, by Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama : ... EK VILLAIN is a stylish, spellbinding and terrifying edge-of-the-seat thriller. It's a step forward in this genre, without doubt. A sure-shot winner! ... full review

Thumbs up, by Raedita Tandan, Filmfare : ...Though indulgent in parts, Ek Villain packs in a punch. Copy of a Korean film or not, it’s ‘good’ paisa vasool entertainment. Make it your weekend watch.... full review

Thumbs up, Indicine : ...Even though Ek Villain has borrowed generously from the Korean film “I Saw The Devil” it still makes for a very entertaining Hindi film which boasts of everything that can cater to the audience and also makes for a pleasurable viewing experience. It is intense, dramatic but it gives an optimistic outlook that is missing from films of this genre. If you have not been to the theatre in a long time, go watch Ek Villain and give it a chance. The chances of disappointment are very less.... full review

Thumbs up, by Mohar Basu, koimoi : ...Ek Villain is an indulgent affair that breaks down the boundaries of regular thriller. Mohit Suri has raised the bar with this film that is captivatingly shot and crisply edited. At 2 hours, 7 minutes, the film benefits from the inspired lucidity in writing and dialogues. But mostly, it is the unpredictable skin Sidharth and Riteish don in this film that pulls the carpet from under your feet. Their phenomenal performances remain the movie’s most enticing bit and the reason why I am going to watch this once again. Going with a 4/5, this is one heady film with the desired punch.... full review

Thumbs up, by Moumita Bhattacharjee, Star Blockbuster : ...Don’t expect an Aashiqui 2 from Mohit SUri here but a much better film. ... full review

So-So, by Anna MM Vetticad, annavetticadgoes2themovies : ...Apart from a more consistent pace, Ek Villain also needed more detailing and more depth in its characterisation. As an American crime and legal teleserial junkie, I found myself longing for the writers of Criminal Minds and Law and Order: Criminal Intent to have a go at the profiles of both Guru and Rakesh. They’re interesting men who could have been so much more. Without that depth, Ek Villain is a reasonably entertaining but unmemorable film.... full review

So-So, by Nikhil Kumar, Apun Ka Choice : ...Warts and all, Ek Villain is a veritable thriller that keeps you glued till its bloody climax. It’s a film that touches you, pokes you, nicks you with its heartrending story.... full review

So-So, Daily Bhaskar : ...BIG QOUESTION-Should I watch Ek Villain? Despite many loopholes, Ek Villain is still a watchable film. Watch it for Mohit Suri’s style of direction, and songs.... full review

So-So, by Sarita Tanwar, DNA : ...If you're looking for a edgy thriller with some romance and great songs, Ek Villian is for you.... full review

So-So, by Mihir Fadnavis, FirstPost : ...In the Korean original, there is psychotic character who is such a good friend of the antagonist that he feels happy when the latter proceeds to violate his slave wife. KRK manages to play a character even more despicable than that, and it comes so naturally to him. I tip my hat to Mr Khan, and I have made up my mind to recommend every film that he appears in, including this one.... full review

So-So, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...It's a shame then that despite the uniformly impressive performances, and Suri's nifty directing skills, the film is only moderately fulfilling. I'm going with two-and-a-half out of five for 'Ek Villain'. If you're still wondering, the real villain here is the lousy script. ... full review

So-So, by Rohit Khilnani, india today : ...Even after a lot of flaws Ek Villain is a decent watch but it could have been much better! ... full review

So-So, by Divya Solgama, MoviezADDA : ...Well, there is a good amount of dum for all those who have not seen the Korean film 'I Saw The Devil'. The movie, despite being a weak copy of a classic thriller, ends up being watchable due to its fantastic music and good performances by the lead actors. If you remove the music and actors from this film, it's a weak film with a lot of loopholes and stretchy moments. There was a curiosity attached to the film so as to who the actual villain in this movie is? Well, the mystery ends as the writers are the real villains who ruin a wonderful concept by adding the unwanted reasoning part, weak screenplay and lots of forced melodrama.... full review

So-So, by Noyon Jyoti Parasara, Now Running.com : ...Ek Villain could have been a far superior product. What it becomes is a lackluster thriller. You could watch it for the actors and the drama. Not if you wanted to watch the thriller Ek Villain was promised to be.... full review

So-So, by Meena Iyer, Times of India : ...You cannot fault the scale of Ek Villain or berate its lead star cast. But you wish you could celebrate this thriller like you did Suri's last movie outing Aashiqui 2. This one lacks soul.... full review

So-So, by Aparna Mudi, Zee News : ...The unveiling of the visceral saga has a lot of strong characters and Mohit has done a good job in adapting a foreign film and complimenting it with the drama that the Indian audience is used to. But he has gone a tad over in making a thriller. Maybe, filmmakers should step out of this trap more often and we wouldn`t be too far from making beacons of world cinema... full review

Thumbs down, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ...To conclude, actually the concept behind the original film I SAW THE DEVIL and the title EK VILLAIN is that we all have a hidden villain inside us, who suddenly comes into existence in an extreme situation when someone hurts our beloveds unexpectedly and then we all split into a twin personality unknowingly. The meaningful theme is beautifully portrayed in the well-conceived Korean film, but gets completely lost in the muddled script of EK VILLAIN which is nothing more than a mixed sweet & sour dish well-presented in a superbly decorated plate without any appreciable taste.... full review

Thumbs down, by Shalu Dhyani, Bolly Spice : ...What gives the film its gravitas is Riteish’s brilliant turn as a henpecked husband who could just be a murderous madman too. His eyes remain dead and yet they speak volumes. Sidharth is more comfortable showing vulnerability than he is showing menace. However, this is a very good performance for a relative newcomer. Aamna Sharif looks beautiful and gives a nuanced performance despite having a one-note role. Kamaal R Khan plays a slimy womaniser with visible relish.... full review

Thumbs down, by Kusumita Das, Deccan Chronicle : ...Watch the film for Riteish and Riteish alone just to see how effortlessly he slips out of his farcical ‘Humshakals’ pinafore into the heinous hood of ‘Ek Villain’.... full review

Thumbs down, by Smita Vyas Kumar, Desi Martini : ...The weak plot make Ek Villian not as hard hitting as it could have been.... full review

Thumbs down, by Inspector VIjay, Desi Martini : ...Lots to love from the promo, not enough meat to enjoy the film. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Mohit Patil, Desi Martini : ...For a remake, it makes some interesting choices. And then squanders them all... full review

Thumbs down, by FPJ Bureau, Free Press Journal : ...Retiesh Deshmukh’s surprise casting as the serial killer will probably work in favour of his earnest though undistinguished performance. Siddharth Malhotra lacks fire, even so, his looks and presence manage some semblance of impact. Shraddha is livelier in this film than we’ve seen before. She also has a delicate, vulnerable femininity that helps her performance along. Shaad has a thankless role and Remo is miscast. Kamal Khan is a joke! This is a film that manages to hold on to a fraction of what it promised!... full review

Thumbs down, by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com : ...To Suri's credit must go the easy-on-the-eye treatment of the film which is what keeps it ticking (albeit painfully) apart from Sidharth and Shraddha.... full review

Thumbs down, by Sarit Ray , Hindustan Times : ...Yet, it’s tremendously refreshing to see Riteish in this role, a departure from the slapstick he usually chooses to do ... full review

Thumbs down, by Faheem Ruhani, india today : ...To its credit the film has good music but that there is an unnecessary and easily forgettable item number by Prachi Desai. You come out of the theatre feeling unsatisfied with the final product because all its characters were sketchy and poorly developed... full review

Thumbs down, by Suhani Singh, india today : ...Suri shows some cinematic flair here with some tightly choreographed scenes - a long-shot action sequence, Aisha's murder and the Shahenshah tribute. But Ek Villain is too contrived. And more so as a romantic thriller, its few twists and turns are easily apparent. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...Suri is an innate story-teller, and can keep things moving. All he needs is a strong, all-the-way credible, original plot.... full review

Thumbs down, by Sanjukta Sharma, Live Mint : ...Ek Villain is an ugly ode to misogyny. On the other hand, it is an opportunity wasted for a spectacularly violent film free of middle-class dross. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Rahul Desai, Mumbai Mirror : ... That said, I find myself listing its' flaws while listening to Shraddha's haunting rendition of Galliyan - which pretty much encapsulates the method behind the Mohit Suri school of filmmaking. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ... As a whole, this film, besides its surface flair, does not have too much to fall back upon. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Raja Sen, Rediff : ... If I were to review it in one word, I’d say Ek Villain is... Unnecessary.... full review

Thumbs down, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...Watch if it a film that’s essentially unoriginal, with plasticky emotions, and unnecessary gore fills up your soul. The only redeeming aspect is Riteish Deshmukh’s performance, but that would mean enduring the rest of the film as well! ... full review

Thumbs down, by Reha Shrivastava, STARDUST : ...Ek Villion is far from mohit suri's best. The storu has its moments and tres to give some interesting twists but isn't compelling enough to give you thrills you were so desperately hoping for thanks to its lifeless leads.... full review

Thumbs down, by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu : ...This contrived battle of psychopaths is going to test your patience.... full review

Thumbs down, by Rummana Ahmed, yahoo! India : ...The love story in ‘Ek Villain’ is tragic but it is a supreme tragedy that a film that could have been an intriguing thriller remains just another squandered opportunity.... full review