Dracula Sir review: An engaging watch disrupted by a confusing timeline

3/5

What’s it about?

What initially appears to be a story of a simple man, Raktim Chowdhury, soon spirals into a concoction of multi-layered timelines. Raktim (Anirban Bhattacharya) is a school teacher who is infamously referred to as Dracula Sir by many, due to his rare piercing set of canines. However, things take a dark turn quickly as he faces a shadow from the past, and is forced to question the reality of who he actually is - Amol or Raktim.

What’s Hot?

The portrayal of both Amol and Raktim by Anirban is excellent as he utilises the silence to convey more than words itself. His face mirrors the emotions he feels and hits the right chords. Mimi's performance is above average and linear throughout, while Bidipta nails it with the grey shade of her character.

With a unique and powerful script in place, and brilliant cinematography, the movie pulls into a plethora of dichotomies that the human mind experiences. It manages to hold the attention of the viewers, while juggling between two distinct timelines, one of the present and the other of the 1970s Bengal, referencing the Naxal Movement. It indulges in a passive political narrative, showing how revolution impacts the lives of those protesting for reform.

What’s Not?

A bit confusing, the movie frustratingly changes its course with each passing second. It only uses the Naxal movement as a background reference, without delving deep into the intricacies of it, appearing to be shallow.

Verdict

The depth of emotions, the spine-chilling moments when the line between the supernatural and natural becomes blurred, and the narrative of ageless love and revolution, make the movie worth a watch. An Hoichoi exclusive, Dracula Sir would definitely leave an impact, with a major twist right at the end.