PremiumFear Review: The Vedhika starrer has a few moments that stand out
Fear Review: The Vedhika starrer is a psychological thriller made on a low budget. The pace is slow, but the message conveyed is decent.
Last Updated: 11.56 AM, Dec 14, 2024
Fear Story
Sindhu(Vedhika) is a young girl who has fear issues. Right from her childhood, she fears every small thing and due to this, she even lands in a mental asylum. Things escalate when her boyfriend Sampath goes missing and does not come back. This creates more fear in Sindhu who approaches the cops. What is Sindhu's fear? Why does she get scared of everything? What happened to her boyfriend? Is there a backstory to all this? To know the answers, watch the film on the big screen.
Fear Review
Fear is written and directed by Dr. Haritha Gogineni. The film is a psychological thriller made on a low budget, addressing the issue of fear in children from a young age. Haritha crafts a story around the life of Sindhu, played by Vedhika, who is portrayed as living in constant fear of someone following her.
The reason behind her fear is revealed neatly by the end of the film. Haritha narrates the story through three different tracks, which are tied together by the conclusion. However, this aspect could have been handled more effectively.
One track showcases Sindhu's life as a child, another focuses on Sindhu searching for her missing boyfriend, and the last track depicts her being admitted to a mental hospital. With three distinct tracks, the director struggles to convince the audience of their connection, which makes certain scenes feel disjointed.
Much of the film shows the heroine in a state of constant fear, repeatedly asking about her missing boyfriend, Sampath. Despite this, the message delivered in the final half-hour is impactful. The film effectively portrays how unresolved childhood fears, when ignored by parents, can escalate into serious psychological disorders.
The film’s runtime is crisp, under two hours, yet it feels lengthy in parts. The depiction of teenage psychological issues is particularly well-executed, and the scenes exploring the heroine’s childhood fears are well-elevated. However, had the drama and emotions been more deeply developed, the film could have had a stronger impact.
Coming to the performances, Vedhika gets a tailor-made role and excels in her portrayal of a character with multiple shades. She is especially convincing in the mental asylum scenes, adding depth to the narrative. Pavitra Lokesh is effective in her role, while Anish Kuruvilla, playing a doctor, brings significant depth with his screen presence.
The background score is decent, but the cinematography could have been much better. The production values are reasonable, though the editing falls short—several scenes revolving around the heroine’s fears could have been trimmed. The dialogues are satisfactory, and the production design effectively captures the required setups.
Fear sheds light on the consequences of unresolved issues in children and how neglecting their fears can lead to severe psychological problems. Although the film starts on a dull note, it finds its purpose in the last half-hour when the central issue is addressed effectively.
Fear Verdict
On the whole, Fear is a psychological thriller that conveys a strong message. Vedhika does well in her role and the last half an hour is gripping. Just ignore the dull start and give the film a shot.