I’m a simple man. I see a horror thriller- I jump right in. But do they always do justice to you? Well, it ends up as a guilty pleasure more often than not. It is the same with U-Turn. Directed by Arif Khan, this remake of the 2016 Kannada film manages to keep you hooked with its gripping storyline, but also disappoints in a few aspects. However, it isn’t a criminally bad movie guys. Despite its flaws, the film does well to keep the adrenaline flowing, making it worth a watch for fans of the genre.
Story
Radhika Bakshi (Alaya F), is an intern reporter jise, as her job demands, har cheez mein taang adaane ki aadat hai. Determined to write a story on reckless drivers disrupting the divider of the NTPC flyover and making illegal U-turns, Radhika galti se mistakes herself into a web of mystery and murder. As the bodies pile up, naturally the suspicion falls on Radhika. Bass phir kya, she must channel her inner Byomkesh Bakshi to clear her name and assist the police in cracking the case. Little does she know ki ‘ye hawaon ka chakkar hai, hum sabke samajh se pare’. So far so good ngl. However, it is the predictability of the plot along with poor writing that spoils the story.
Performances
For a gripping horror thriller, the cast delivers a commendable performance. Alaya F seems like the perfect choice for Radhika, effortlessly showing her rebellious, yet vulnerable nature. She continues to impress, and is a breath of fresh air amidst the chaos— legit a force to be reckoned with. Priyanshu Painyuli delivers a solid performance as police officer, Arjun Sinha, but I’ll be honest, I so badly wish he had more screen time and depth to stand out. Manurishi Chadha, a fan favourite in the OTT circuit, shines as Inderjeet Singh Dhillon. His comic timing is as spot on as his intensity in tense scenes is. But the baaki ka cast is rather mehh thanks to poor writing. It’s like their potential was ignored how most of us ignore the yellow traffic light during rush hour.
Screenplay
U-Turn, despite it’s drawbacks, is a wild rollercoaster ride at breakneck speed. The first half feels cool cool cool cool as it tries to develop a strong base without being stretchy. It makes you wanna wait for things to make sense without feeling like a task, gotta give this to the makers. The second half however, has twists and turns like a squirrel on caffeine, keeping you on the edge of your seat. But where the meh factor really comes in is the predictable plot twists. It takes away the ‘maza aaya’ feeling, because you feel ye sab toh pehle bhi dekha hai. The scares, even though cliché, are pretty good. Ek do baar jumpscares se bhi phati NGL. Also they could have gone with a brighter setting for a screenplay cuz the whole stormy rain thing makes your eyes go ‘????.’
Writing
The writing is a mixed bag in this movie. While the suspense is built kaafi achhe se, the adrenaline rush factor is missing in some moments. Usi tarah while the lead characters are impactful, the supporting charaters just feel like kabab mein haddi. The plot twists could be handled better, and while I was expecting some originality from the remake, it fails there too. This is the seventh remake of the 2016 movie bro, kuch toh naya rakho (cries internally). Safe to say ki writing hi is movie ki poorest aspect hai. Wanted so much better but it is what it is.
In the end, U-Turn is not your ‘phat gayi yaar’ thriller experience, but it still manages to keep you buckled up until the credits roll. It’s like that wild amusement park ride that might have a few shaky moments, but ends up with a decent pay off. Alaya F’s stellar performance, along with some gripping sequences, keeps you invested despite the occasional narrative hiccups. Watch it for a spooky Friday movie night, and remember to please follow the traffic rules, warna kya pata… *evil smiles*
