Cast: Vishwak Sen, Murali Sharma, Gayatri Bharadwaj, Tarak Ponnappa
Director: Vishwak Sen
Rating: 1/5 stars
Young actor Vishwak Sen, who has been in a lean patch with disappointments like Mechanic Alludu and Laila, has stepped into writing and directing with his latest release, Cult. Keen to present himself in a larger-than-life role, he attempts to deliver a violent survival thriller. However, what unfolds is a routine revenge drama weighed down by excessive and largely meaningless violence.
Vishwak seems determined to establish himself as an angry young man, but the weak story and predictable screenplay undo his efforts. The first half is largely dull and predictable, although the birthday party games provide a few interesting moments and raise expectations for the second half. Unfortunately, the flashback takes the familiar revenge route, while the climax fails to deliver the excitement or tension expected from a survival thriller.
The film’s premise inevitably brings Squid Game to mind. While the concept may appear relatively fresh to Telugu audiences on the big screen, viewers familiar with similar survival thrillers on OTT platforms are unlikely to find anything particularly exciting here. These days, actors turning directors is common, and Vishwak clearly wants to showcase his versatility. However, he fails to back his ambition with a strong and relatable story.
The story revolves around a series of shocking incidents at the birthday party of a powerful politician’s son. Home Minister (Murali Sharma) has his eyes set on the Chief Minister’s chair. Meanwhile, his son Elvin (Tarak Ponnappa) hosts a lavish birthday party that takes an unexpected and dangerous turn. What exactly happens at the party? What is the connection of DSP Sankalp Nayak (Vishwak Sen) to these incidents? The answers form the crux of the story.
Vishwak Sen has worked hard on his cop character, though he looks stiff in a few scenes. His body language, expressions, and emotional moments make an impact, while his dialogue delivery and punch lines help elevate certain sequences. He is particularly effective in the action episodes and performs the stunts with considerable energy and ease.
Tarak Ponnappa is convincing as the arrogant politician’s son and impresses with his mannerisms. Murali Sharma is dependable as the Home Minister, while Srikanth Iyengar makes his presence felt as the Commissioner. Gayatri Bharadwaj is adequate, but her character does not have much scope to make a strong impression.
As a survival thriller, Cult should have kept audiences on the edge of their seats, making them anxious about the fate of the characters. Unfortunately, despite the gore, bloodshed, and violent sequences, the film struggles to generate the required tension.
The makers do not even hide the film’s inspiration from Squid Game, with a character openly referring to the popular series. However, the life-threatening games that form the central attraction lack both excitement and imagination. Instead of creating nail-biting moments, several of these games appear silly and fail to engage the audience.
Vishwak Sen scores in the action department, but his directorial effort works only in patches. The ambition to make a slick and violent survival thriller is evident, but the weak writing, predictable twists, and lack of gripping moments prove to be major drawbacks.thrills.
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