Fresh, Crazy and Entertaining- Phobia

After ‘Ragini MMS’ and ‘Darr @ the mall’, Pawan Kripalani is back with another thriller featuring Radhika Apte in the lead role. Based on agoraphobia- the fear of open spaces and people, which ultimatelty causes extreme panic and helplessness, this movie witnesses Radhika at her best.

Mehak, (Apte) a free spirited artist, is independent in every aspect of her existence, be it socially, financially or sexually. A night of sexual assault by a taxi driver makes her agoraphobic, and her persistent fear intensifies this condition to extreme paranoia. 

A debutant in this genre, Radhika conveys her horror, hysteria and fear flawlessly through her brilliant acting, making Phobia her best performance till date. Not only Radhika, but each character is woven intricately to the plot, be it Nikki, the girl-next door or Manu, another creepy neighbour. Each character has its own story and they deliver perfectly.

With every actor getting into the skin of its character, this movie is a cinematographic delight. Apart from power-packed performances, the movie takes care of little nuances, like an exceptionally well designed set and a background score that compliments the entire scenario. The first half is exciting but somewhere around the middle, the plot obsession with the house and its mysterious happenings seems repetitive and it is at times like these when Radhika’s acting comes to the rescue.

Taking inspiration from Paranormal Activity, the story establishes the paranormal connection of the house with a possible murder and very cleverly distracts the audience to focus on the story of another mystery girl, Jiah. The plot is engaging, focusing in and around a single house and does not resort to any conventional ghost, witch or Hanuman Chalisa to make it relatable. A very fresh approach to a less explored genre, Phobia makes sure that one remains on the edge through the entire length of the movie and is a complete entertainer.