Vash Level 2

Sleeper Hit of 2023, Vash gets a sequel. The film, set 12 years after the events of the previous film, follows Atharva reluctantly coming out to fight again after a group of school girls are found in a violent puppet like control over them, with the assailant having a connection with Pratap, the black magician directly responsible for Aarya's current predicament.

The movie kicks off with a top-notch opening scene that immediately grabs your attention and sets higher expectations. However, as the story progresses, the pacing slows down considerably, in an attempt to build the storyline. Unlike it's predecessor, the sequel lacks narrative strength which loses it's grip halfway.

In terms of production, the movie is efficient. The first half had a good amount of shock moments that terrifies. From the performance perspective, except the leads, rest of the side cast were nuisance and felt irritating to the core, as they became irrelevant to the story.

While the story didn't have much weight, the climax felt abrupt and underwhelming, especially with such a strong introduction. I believe it could have been narrated well, with a different ending.

Overall, Vash Level 2 is a decent watch, with an insanely good start, that loses it's intensity halfway, and delivers a not-so-satisfying climax.

My Rating : 3.5/5.

Vash Level 2 is a sequel that, for better or worse, amplifies the terror of its predecessor. Director Krishnadev Yagnik, who also helmed the original Gujarati hit, expands the scale from a single family's claustrophobic nightmare to a mass-level chaotic horror. While the film may trade some of the first part's raw, contained intensity for spectacle, it still manages to be a raw, unsettling, and effective addition to the supernatural psychological horror genre.

The film picks up twelve years after the events of Vash, with the family still haunted by the black magic that took over their lives. The narrative quickly plunges into darkness when a group of schoolgirls fall prey to a mysterious hypnotic spell. This shift from a personal, intimate threat to a wider, more public one is the film's core change. The scenes of the schoolgirls, with their unnerving, unified movements and violent behavior, are particularly brutal and highlight the theme of corrupted innocence.

While the canvas is bigger, critics note that the film's second half and a rushed climax struggle to maintain the tight, controlled tension of the first. The narrative loses some of its breath, and the final twist, while functional, feels almost too simple given the complex horror that precedes it.

However, the film is praised for its strong performances. Hitu Kanodia, as the anguished father Atharv, provides a grounded anchor amidst the chaos, while Hiten Kumar adds a seasoned gravitas as the villainous "uncle." Janki Bodiwala, who won a National Award for her role in the original, takes a back seat for much of the film. Her limited role, where she is mostly in a vegetative state, is noted as being spooky in its stillness and adds a quiet, lingering chill to the proceedings.

For fans of the genre, it's a worthwhile watch that pushes the boundaries of regional horror cinema. It may be messier and louder than the first film, but it's a bold and often chilling experience that leaves a lasting impression.

Vash Level 2 raises the stakes from the first film with slick visuals and intense moments. The scares work early on, yet the story lets go toward the end. Strong performances, especially from Hitu Kanodia and Janki Bodiwala. A decent horror sequel - more flashy than frightening but not every horror movie needs to have jump scares.

We need more such Horror movies from regional cinema.

The movie started with an absolutely gripping first half-sharp, engaging, and full of promise. The canteen scene alone set the tone with remarkable intensity. Performances were top-notch across the board, with every character shining, and the female cast delivering especially powerful and memorable portrayals. Some moments were emotionally heavy and deeply satisfying to watch, raising expectations for something truly impactful.

Unfortunately, the second half failed to maintain that momentum. The climax felt rushed, predictable, and disappointingly simple compared to the strong buildup. The much-talked-about "ten rupees logic" was unconvincing and left the story feeling underwhelming. For a film that built such anticipation, the resolution deserved more depth and imagination.

In short, it's a movie worth watching once for the performances and the fantastic first half, but it doesn't reach the brilliance of the first installment.

The first half of this sequel to the 2023 film is just wildddddd. The storytelling is clean and straightforward, yet the tension levels run high, leaving you no space to breathe. There are a couple of useless scenes at the beginning, attempting to give the school girls some personality and texture (beyond their names, i.e.), but they have really no emotional payoffs. The (bloodthirsty) action in the first half is solidly staged, captured, and edited, making you absorb the sheer gravity of the proceedings in full. Violence is showcased in abundance, and there's no nonsensical blurring of blood and guts. Some of the supporting performances (the adults, i.e. Not the kids) are sorta TV-serial-like, but nothing that ticked me off big time.

Once the second half kicks in, Level 2 actually requires you to have watched the first film to connect the dots better. Watching the watered-down Hindi remake would also suffice to some extent, but they've obviously gone for a "happier, massier" ending for it, which isn't the case with this. Hitu Kanodia and Janki Bodiwala have key roles here as well, with their story resolution consuming the latter half of Level 2. Hiten Kumar returns as the main baddie, with slightly different (yet oddly familiar) sadistic shades. I did find the conclusion rather lacklustre and quick, as opposed to a big, bonkers showdown. On the bright side, it also feels like the writer-director deliberately chose this route, as the father-daughter duo's arcs feel complete now.

P. S. Isn't it weird that Weapons and this film were both released in the same month and revolve around collective possession in a high school setting?