Gaslight: A Decent Attempt At New-Age Thrillers

Gaslight, a new-age thriller, stars Sara Ali Khan, Vikrant Massey, and Chitrangda Singh in lead roles. The film is directed by Pavan Kirpalani and has all the necessary elements of a thriller: eerie surroundings, creepy paintings, an old, rustic haveli, a dark screen tone, an alleged murder, and the main hotel staff who looks neat but gives andar se haivaan feels. In this review, we will see if the film lives up to the expectations or not.

Storyline

Sara Ali Khan plays the role of Meesha, a young paraplegic woman who returns to her family’s royal palace 15 years after receiving a letter from her father, Raja Ratan Singh Gaikwad. However, she returns to be greeted by her suspicious-looking stepmother Rukmini (played by Chitrangda Singh), only to learn that her father is away on a business trip. The estate is still the same and is looked after by Kapil (Vikrant Massey), who is ‘kareeb hokey bhi neeji zindagi se koso durr’ from his employer, Raja Saheb.

The Review

Suspense Creation

Gaslight tries to draw in the beginning, the film will remind you of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho in a modern world. A paraplegic woman having the guts to explore a creepy-looking mysterious palace when it’s all dark and raining outside, is something that we often justify by saying, ‘sirf filmon mein hota hain.’ Devoid of songs, Gaslight, as the name suggests, does make certain characters question their sanity using psychological means. For instance, when Meesha follows the shadow of her father, Daata (apparently), you will fear the unknown. So a thumbs-up on suspense creation. However, no thriller can survive without the use of background tracks. Gaslight did a good job with that. Be it the self-playing piano scene or the creaking of the old floorboard every time Meesha dragged her wheelchair to unravel a mystery – full marks to the sound editor on that.

Acting

Sara Ali Khan indeed worked on her accent and acting, and her expressions and dialogue delivery didn’t look forced, unlike her last few films. Chitrangada Singh carried all the suspicion of the character until the end, and Vikrant Massey proved his mettle through his film. Though he isn’t the only one to have layers to his character, his transition is so smooth that you’ll barely notice, in spite of expecting it from the very start.

Screenplay

The film may visually have all the necessary elements required for a thriller, but it did lag in bits when it came to the screenplay. For instance, when one of the characters suddenly appears out of nowhere, it leaves you scratching your head. The climax is predictable and could have been better executed.

Verdict

Gaslight ticks all the right boxes for a decent thriller. The film has an odd combo of Sara Ali Khan, Chitrangada Singh, and Vikrant Massey, and the makers have done a good job by not plotting the obvious. Though the film may not be counted as one of Pavan Kirpalani’s best works, it’s still a decent attempt at new age thrillers. Gaslight may not be a groundbreaking film, but it does have its moments, and the suspense is well-maintained throughout. The acting is impressive, especially by Sara Ali Khan, who has shown significant improvement in her performance. The sound design is also noteworthy and adds to the overall eerie atmosphere of the film.

However, the screenplay could have been better, and certain plot points could have been executed more effectively. The climax is predictable and lacks the impact that one would expect from a thriller. Despite its flaws, Gaslight is still a decent watch for those who enjoy suspenseful thrillers.

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