Haunted 3D

wogma rating: Watch if you have nothing better to do ^(?)

quick review:

Haunted has some scary bits interrupted by hilarious attempts at explaining how the supernatural works. If it were not for decent performances by the lead actors, it could have easily been one of those horror comedies.

Director: Vikram Bhatt

Cast: Arif Zakariya, Mahakshay Chakraborty, Tia Bajpai

Running time: 145 minutes

Genres: Horror, Murder Mystery, Thriller

More Movie Info

Every horror film review by me has to have the "I HATE horror films" disclaimer. I can't handle the creepy, crawling feeling a well-made horror film creates and sustains for the length of the film. And if the film is not well-made, well... Haunted had a few scares that work because of the timing but for the rest of the time you are either laughing at it or questioning the logic that it puts itself in.

How can you be blamed for wondering why a spirit is struggling with doors and walls when at other times, it freely moves from room to room and even city to city without trouble. Yep, it's that kind of a film. The super-slow start builds zero suspense, because you can predict when a door is going to creak or a book is going to fall or a light is going to flicker. And this goes on and on and on, that too at a slow pace.

It's surprising then, towards the climax, even though I knew how the film is going to most likely end and my patience had worn out four times over, I felt for the protagonists and I wanted the spirit to die. And that I think is mostly due to the performances. While Mahakshay had pretty much only one expression to hold, he did it fine. Tia Bajpai made you feel for her especially in the rape scenes. Enough to control the damage caused by her voice and non-horrified scenes. The make-up of the spirits and the background music that goes with them are enough to scare you the few times they do.

All this would have been acceptable if the story had anything new to offer. No, "spirit" experts illuminating us with ridiculous ways in which evil works, does not count. Same old troubled spirit haunting a house reaches out to an unsuspecting visitor decades, after the human body it lived in dies. Same old ways in which the spirit can be conquered. It's just too little to form entertainment (even the creepy/crawly kind). It matters little that the 3D technology used is completely wasted.

- meeta, a part of the audience

27 reviewers^(?) - 8 yays 1 so-so 18 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, Best Of Bollywood : ...he has really upped the ante with his latest outing that takes horror cinema in India to the next level-3D Format.... full review

Thumbs up, bigoye.com : ...Go for it !... full review

Thumbs up, by Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama : ...succeeds in keeping you tense and edgy, as a true poltergeist/horror flick should.... full review

Thumbs up, Bollywood Mantra : ...If you are alove horror flick lover then don’t miss the film because it won’t disappoint you.... full review

Thumbs up, by Rachana, Glamsham.com : ... If you're willing to put up with a few eerie scenes, you will also be rewarded with many laughs and get puzzled at many occasions. Like ... full review

Thumbs up, by Divya Solgama, Gomolo.in : ...When we go to watch Horror films, all we want are some spooky scenes and chills and Haunted 3D gives you to certain extent.... full review

Thumbs up, by K K Rai, STARDUST : ...A good fare for those who love horror.... full review

Thumbs up, by Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India : ...But if the film works -- and it works quite well -- is only because of the special effects of the film. ... full review

So-So, by Komal Nahta, koimoi : ...Watch ‘Haunted’ for the 3D effects.... full review

Thumbs down, by Naresh Deoshi, Apun Ka Choice : ...fun watch... full review

Thumbs down, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ...Just made to encash the 3D + Horror combination and nothing else.... full review

Thumbs down, by Yusuf, Desi Martini : ...no scares here... full review

Thumbs down, by Manu, Desi Martini : ...Haunted - for the horny and easily titillated... full review

Thumbs down, by Ankur, Desi Martini : ...Haunted is a 3 Dimensional Bummer ... full review

Thumbs down, by Rony D'Costa, Desi Martini : ...Haunted Ozozo... full review

Thumbs down, by Ameetbhuvan, Desi Martini : ...Worth A Few Unintended Laughs... full review

Thumbs down, by Nupur Barua, fullhyd.com : ...Revisit Raaz instead.... full review

Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...not scary... full review

Thumbs down, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...The only new thing about `Haunted’ is that it is Bollywood horror in 3 D.... full review

Thumbs down, by Tushar Joshi, MiD DAY : ...few moments of genuine scare that are far and few.... full review

Thumbs down, by Anupama Chopra, NDTV : ...I was trying not to laugh out loud. ... full review

Thumbs down, by GreatBong, Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind : ...Mr. Iyer’s spirit is most powerful at 3 in the night and weakest at 3 in the afternoon (If he was Mr. Iyengar, I am pretty sure it is the other way round).... full review

Thumbs down, by Preeti Arora, Rediff : ...The horror fans who thrive on Hiss and Click, or the Mimoh fans might just be able to sit through this film. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...Sleazy and bizarre... full review

Thumbs down, by K N Gupta, SmasHits.com : ...fails to scare... full review

Thumbs down, by Janhvi Patel, StarBoxOffice : ...an awful movie that must be boycotted.... full review

Thumbs down, by Reel Reptile, Upper Stall : ...Critics should not be made to judge films like these, simply because they are made with a specific audience in mind. ... full review

Twitter reviews for this movie are not available.

No readers have rated this movie yet.

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.