Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3

November 1, 2024, has brought us two second sequels: Singham 3 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. After my disappointment with Singham 3, I was hoping Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 might offer the comic relief and freshness the action flick sorely lacked. Unfortunately, it ended up being just another 2 hours, 38 minutes, 750 rupees, and several brain cells wasted.

The original Bhool Bhulaiyaa stood out for its clever storytelling, thanks to Priyadarshan's deft direction and a cast that brought depth to a grounded psychological thriller. It remains iconic not only for its suspense but for its genuine humor and tension.

While I wasn't a fan of the second installment-and Bollywood's trend of pseudo-sequels rarely impresses-Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 actually makes the second movie look decent in comparison. This third entry is entirely unnecessary, lacking any semblance of genuine acting, humor, or originality.

The film suffers from a predictable, recycled plot, cringe-worthy performances, and cheap jump scares that are more ear-piercing than frightening. And to top it all off, the ending reveal is, to say the least, absurd-a last-ditch attempt at a twist that falls flat and only adds to the ridiculousness. Not a single moment compels or even amuses; it's just a tedious rehash of tropes and tired slapstick that never lands.

To put it simply, this movie shouldn't have been made. Now that it exists, my only request: please, let's stop here.

I went into Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 with cautious hopes, especially after the trailer didn't give much to be excited about. But wow, even those low expectations couldn't save me from the disappointment this movie turned out to be.

Story & Direction: Lacking the Charm

Remember the spooky charm and clever storytelling that made Bhool Bhulaiyaa 1 so memorable? Well, that's nowhere to be found here. The plot feels lazy and predictable, with a twist that's so forced it actually made me laugh. It's like the filmmakers just threw in a twist for the sake of it, hoping to cash in on nostalgia without putting in any effort to create something engaging. This is the kind of movie that reminds you how much Bollywood can fall short when it gets too comfortable relying on past successes.

Visuals & VFX: Subpar at Best

Visually, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is a letdown. At times, it genuinely looked like half the film was AI-generated, with backgrounds that felt more like placeholders than actual settings. The VFX is not only underwhelming but oddly cheap for a franchise film. It's almost as if they cut corners at every possible turn, leaving us with something that doesn't even look convincing.

Performances: Just Going Through the Motions

Even the cast seems half-hearted. No standout performances, no real depth-just actors running through their lines without much conviction. It's surprising (and disappointing) to see such a talented cast fall flat, and it's clear that the lack of a solid script didn't help them either.

Music: A Little Saving Grace

If there's one decent moment, it's probably the Ami Je Tomar reprise. I won't say it lives up to the original, but it's one of the rare moments in the film that doesn't feel entirely phoned in. Let's just say it recovers about 6% of my ticket price-a small but needed mercy in a film that otherwise misses the mark completely.

The Final Word

In the end, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is a disappointing attempt to cash in on a beloved franchise without bringing anything new, creative, or even mildly satisfying. It's a shame to see a series that started off so strong get diluted down to this level. Bollywood's overreliance on sequels and spin-offs is really starting to show, and this movie is a prime example of how that approach can backfire.

If you're a fan of the original Bhool Bhulaiyaa, prepare to be let down. It's the kind of movie that makes you wish they had left the franchise alone instead of stretching it beyond its limit.

The only thing that carried the entire film were some good jokes, other than good jokes there was no actual creativity in writing like the first part the story kept changing and there were way too many plots to be put in a single film which makes it confusing yet non flowable for viewers, this movie was good for entertainment but there was no actual thrill or anything memorable that a movie should have to be remembered, cinematics were also too over exaggerated, too many scenes were made out of the blue and had no context what so ever, even the acting of a few actors was unwanted and overreacting at some point. I'd recommend this movie to watch only with the purpose of entertainment not a movie sense.

Just very bad script. Am writing this while watching the movie. 3/4 is over and still except for maybe 2-3 scenes of Manjulika, the movie is just lame. And who puts songs at every turn these days? Just getting irritated with all the song and dance numbers breaking out, spoiling the already bad momentum even more.

Tripti Dimri is just a waste here. The comedians havent been given any good script. Filmmakers in Bollywood these days should really take some inspiration from Malayalam movie. Just wasting people's time.

I hope Madhuri and Vidya Balan can do some justice to this movie. Really disappointed with the movie.

I went in with a lot of expectations after watching the trailer of this movie. I was happy to see some old characters back. But this movie's plot was totally different. Not linked with the first movie at all. Scenes kept on changing and there was no continuity in this film. Poor dialogues and over acting with annoying background music was too much to digest. The first half of the movie is a disaster and I felt like leaving the theater. The only relief was the little bit comedy in the script. In short please don't go and waste your money on watching this poorly written film. Bhool bhulaiya 1 had a great story with great acting and the horror part was really on point. But this 3rd installment is not at all a horror genre.