Never Ending Movie Carnival
Never Ending Movie Carnival
U-Turn movie review: hauntingly, scary and thought-provoking.
What: U – Turn starring Alaya F weaves an important message into a decently effective super natural horror. U – Turn on ZEE5 is the Hindi remake of the 2018 blockbuster Kannada thriller 'U Turn' starring Shraddha Srinath in the lead role.
U-Turn movie synopsis
Radhika Bakshi (Alaya F) is a dedicated intern working for a local newspaper. She is investigating multiple accidents that occur at a particular flyover. She derives a conclusion that motorists taking a U-turn are the route cause for this. Taking it upon herself, she starts dealing with motorists personally and address this issue. However, her investigation takes a dark turn when one of the U-turn riders is found dead and she becomes the prime suspect.
Sub-inspector Arjun Sinha played by Priyanshu Painyuli is involved to uncover the case. While in custody, the police uncover a more sinister connection. All those who have taken the U-turn have ended up dead, and there is strong evidence linking Radhika to these deaths. However, multiple supernatural occurrences entangle them into a dark web of secrets. Will inspector Sinha be able to solve this case, or will Radhika succeed in putting the missing pieces of the puzzle together?
U-Turn movie review
‘Looks who is knocking at the door at midnight’ meets “The traffic rule breakers’ in ‘U- Turn’. Director Arif Khan in U-Turn blends the elements of a supernatural thriller with those motorists who take a U-turn illegally and don’t realise that one U-Turn can change be fatal either to the traffic rule breaker or anyone else.
This supernatural thriller – remake of the 2018 blockbuster Kannada thriller 'U Turn' may have added some north Indian elements as I have not seen the original but this idea of having an important social message in a horror is not routine.
Though Arif Khan’s idea is not original, I still give it a plus considering its hidden message and theme.
Parvez Sheikh and Radhika Anand’s screenplay does builds up the mystery as a slow burner and follow the old school book rule as ordered by masters.
I was impressed by the Kafkaish element seen in that Alaya F dream sequence. The inclusion of the midget beggar at the highway adds to the atmosphere.
Anubhav Bansal’s cinematography makes it dark and gripping whenever required.
‘U- Turn’ maintains its unpredictably and the open end gives a haunting feeling.
Though am not impressed by the unnecessary enforcement of liberty in the conversation in the beginning between Alaya F and her mother played by Grusha Kapoor.
Considering the theme and the ability to create the Kafkaish feeling – the dream sequence as mentioned earlier, Arif and Co could have done much better. U – Turn is good but honestly, I think director Arif Khan and writers Parvez Sheikh and Radhika Anand are capabale of doing something much better.
Alaya F shines in her role, Priyanshu Painyuli provides good support, Rajesh Sharma is routine. Aashim Gulati is fine in its limited role. Manushri Chaddha is good.
Final words
U – Turn is not a routine supernatural thriller, starring Alaya F in lead it has an important social message twined in a decently mounted haunting supernatural thriller. I go with 3 stars.
U – Turn is streaming on ZEE5 from April 28, 2023.
A child born from life & fed by cinema. A filmi keeda from child & a film journalist for the last fifteen years. a father, seeker, foodie who loves crooning bollywood melodies twitter.com/cineblues More By vishal verma