Sara Ali Khan Shines But Gaslight's Unevenness, Predictable Storytelling And Weak Climax Let It Down

STARCAST: Sara Ali Khan, Vikrant Massey and Chitrangda Singh

Gaslight, Pavan Kirpalani’s mystery-thriller, has all the ingredients of an engaging thriller: spooky palaces, a lonely girl, notorious family members, and buried truth. The film draws the audience into its world with eerie silence and interesting jump scares. The sound design deserves special recognition for its ability to set a nervous tone perfectly with footsteps on a wooden floor, fire crackling, creaking doors, books slamming shut, and pages fluttering.

The dimly lit old palace and its empty rooms speak a language of their own, creating an atmospheric and gloomy setting that is unlike most Indian thrillers. Fear is not portrayed as chaotic but quiet, adding to the film's unique appeal.

Sara Ali Khan's performance is commendable as she brings a restrained intensity to her character, while Chitrangda Singh impresses with her portrayal of Meesha's stepmother. Rahul Dev and Akshay Oberoi are notable in their brief but significant roles, adding depth to the story.

However, the film's climax acts as a downer and does a disservice to the plot. The story lacks conflict and reasoning after a point, making it predictable and losing steam. Vikrant Massey's character feels rushed and stereotypical, indicating that the writing could have been better.

Overall, Gaslight has some positive points, including its engaging premise, atmospheric setting, and solid performances by the cast. However, its negative points, including a weak climax and predictable storytelling, make it fall short of its potential as a gripping thriller.

OVERALL VERDICT

In Wheelchair-bound princess Meesha (Sara Ali Khan) returns to Mayagarh palace in Morbi to find her estranged father missing. Her stepmother (the queen) dismisses her suspicions as delusional, but Meesha believes foul play is involved. What is the truth behind her father's disappearance?