Shaitaan - "Stranger" Things

Shaitaan - Hindi - Horror/ Drama / 130 mins/ Netflix

Warning - If you are disturbed by psychological horror or teen violence - please avoid. 

A well to do and happy family, driving  out to their villa for a vacation - stop at a dhaba and meet a stranger who be-friends them, seemingly taking a special liking to their daughter.  Later that evening, he ends up at their villa as an unwelcome guest. Mysteriously, the daughter responds to only the stranger's commands, the family cannot get rid of him, as he sets out to claim the girl.

Vikas Bahl directs this movie with an extremely original story written by Krishnadev Yagnik, who also directed the Gujarati original Vash. It is a very good and reasonably well paced psychological /horror drama. Madhavan as the hypnotic stranger with evil machinations is absolutely brilliant. . He is suave, slimy, menacing and his booming baritone does make you hate him! i make a risky call - but i would draw parallels to Al Pacino's portrayal of Satan in "The Devil's advocate"

Two thumbs to up Ajay Devgn for backing this project, specially where the antagonist has the authorbacked role. His portrayal of the helpless, hopelessly outmanoeuvred, yet determined father is as good as you would expect of him. Jyothika is perfectly cast - she has always been the master of the shellshocked, scared and big eyed expressions with limited dialogue😐

Janki Bodiwala who reprises her role as the hypnotized daughter is terrifying. The scene where she slaps her father - the first time the family realizes that she is indeed mind controlled is superb. Another scene which involves Ajay Devgn, when she is patrolling the sleeping stranger is chilling and leaves impact, making you feel for her.

As good as the movie is - i wish it was a little tighter in the middle and the conclusion (not the what, but the "how") could have been more intelligent (and less techie - minor spoiler), but atleast it is not some pooranvashi raat and some naag devta ka sacrifice! :)

One of the better Hindi movies in a while.