Cast: Gaurav Arora, Kriti Kharbanda and Emraan Hashmi

Rating: 3/5

Finally, Vikram Bhatt draws the curtain to his Raaz series with its final release - Raaz Reboot. Ever since the trailer launch, the movie has only managed to get mixed reactions and that could be because the previous movies in this popular series haven’t entertained the audience as expected.

There was certainly a need for reboot here, and Raaz Reboot starring Gaurav Arora, Kriti Kharbanda and Emraan Hashmi, is entertaining, only to a certain extent.

The film opens with beautiful visuals of Romania where the married couple, Rehan (Gaurav Arora) and Shaina (Kriti Kharbanda) move after he gets an offer to work. They move into their new house, but Rehan, with his actions conveys that he has taken up the new offer only for her.  He keeps himself away from Shaina, and refuses to get intimate with her. The sudden change in her partner bothers her. Few days later, she begins to realise that they are accompanied by some external force in the house. She tells Rehan about the same, but he doesn’t believe her. All the evidences - from seeing an eyeball in the sink to seeing someone under the bed, start bothering her, but Rehan ignores the same and focuses only on the career.

Situations worsen and Shaina soon gets possessed by the spirit. One fine day, on her visit to the market, she surprisingly comes across Aditya (Emraan Hashmi), her ex, who apparently knows everything that happens with Shaina. Initially she hesitates to seek his help, but later agrees to do as he says. During the investigation, Aditya tells her that spirit wants to take a revenge with Rehan, for the crime he has been a part of. What follows are the series of incidents which distorts Rehan and Shaina. Has Rehan really committed the crime? Will he accept? Will the evil spirit take the revenge? I wouldn’t reveal that, but yes this somewhat makes the movie interesting to watch.

As I said earlier, the movie attempts to scare you, but the makers have unfortunately some well known, used techniques to jolt us, to an extent that the audience can predict the very next paranormal moment. The story could have been polished, for the movie entertains only in parts. Some moments and dialogues are rather funny, hilarious and not at all scary. The music is decent, but not as good as in comparison to the other Bhatt productions.

Talking about the performances, there is no doubt that all the leads are very convincing with their roles. Debutant Kriti Kharbanda's acts, both possessed and normal are very impressive. She makes sure that the audience takes her as an established actress, all the way through. Gaurav Arora also surprises with his acting abilities. There are many emotional scenes where the actor has delivered with ease.  Emraan Hashmi’s entry happens quite late and just about okay, however he is decent in the second half and offers nothing extra ordinary to his role.

There are some who do not agree with the concept of exorcism only because of their belief and there are some who prefer to laugh at the fear than dealing and enjoying those scary moments. It is well understood that pleasing the audience with a horror movie is a difficult task and showing scary visuals is even tougher and it’s time filmmakers excelling in the genre of horror films present something new in terms of trick, story or anything more, better known to them.

Overall, the film is gripping only in parts. The climax of the movie ruins a lot of the second half and I wish that was directed well. Would Raaz Reboot scare you? It may in some moments and not throughout the film.