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The incident we all know and it still rankles and horrifies us. I think the creators of the show took a bold step and told the story from the perspective of the police, a department which is constantly vilified in popular media. And the show remains true to the case files. However, as a crime thriller which should horrify, grip and overwhelm you, it fails. A lot of this has to do with the acting. While the show has an enviable ensemble, somehow everyone (except probably Shefali Chhaya) seems to be skimming the surface. Even the first interrogation of the main, and probably the most demented suspect, was rather caricaturish. I see this is a common problem with a lot of the supposedly edgy thrillers where the characters just don't feel real. It seems the creators are banking on great background score, expletives and some innovative camera work to create the emotions which just don't exist in their characters. For now, there is a big market for this new age Indian television but at some point the grain and chaff have to get separated.

After wading through the tripe Hollywood has been dishing out this year, was refreshing to see something as innovative as Stree. As many reviews have mentioned, its the right blend of comedy and horror while being on spot with its social messaging without being overbearing in any department. And I never thought a small town in Madhya Pradesh could be so beautifully captured on camera. Rajkummar Rao and Pankaj Tripathi are so consistent now that you don't think you need to specifically mention it. See Rao in one of the scenes where he has to get "Prem Bhaav" in his eyes when in fact he is mortally terrified - amazing! Khurana and Banerji were superb as small town boys. Shraddha Kapoor was a surprise cast, but did very well as the mysterious girl. Could Stree have been tighter and funnier, probably. But that takes nothing away from the bold and solid attempt by the filmmakers.

The two stars are for the special effects. The film was sorely lacking in anything else anyways. It was a torture sitting through two seemingly interminable hours seeing the actors slow walk through their family history and love interests. I had hoped for some kind of a harry potteresque showdown at least between grindenwald and the good guys but that just turned out to be a damp arson fest. Give this one a wide miss, some franchises are best left unstretched.