A Haunting in Karnataka
Now in theaters, the Telugu-language (and Kannada in culture and execution) horror movie 418, written and directed by Kirtan Nadagouda, follows a group of medical students who find themselves battling a haunting in their dorm.
Years ago, a mysterious massacre occurred at a mental asylum, with an evil entity seemingly possessing the women in residence. Fast forward to modern times, and the campus has been reopened as a men’s medical college for aspiring doctors – with women strictly prohibited from setting foot on the grounds.
Vivek (Charan Lakkaraju) and his new cadre of freshman friends all occupy rooms on the fourth floor, near the ominous Room 418, which is believed by many of the faculty and local residents to be haunted by an angry ghost or spirit. The superstition runs so deep that the room remains perpetually locked, with no one allowed to enter. Vivek and his roommate Rohith (Charan Lakkaraju) are housed in Room 417, immediately next door.
For the precocious undergrads, there are two major temptations: to sneak girls into their rooms, and to investigate Room 418. Their shenanigans stir awake the malevolent spirit within its walls. After experiencing supernatural terrors in his room, Vivek becomes obsessed with learning the history behind what happened in Room 418, uncovering the tragic tale of Devika (Chaithra J Achar).
For the first hour or so, 418 is an effectively chilling and stylish chiller. The setting is ominous, the cinematography by Dinesh Divakaran is striking, and the characters are a pretty likable group.
Unfortunately it loses steam. Like many Indian movies it’s about 45 minutes too long and starts to get tiresome, whereas a more judicious editor could’ve made it a bit snappier and more consistently interesting.
There’s one particular twist reveal so ludicrously laborious and drawn out that it killed any remaining goodwill I had for the movie. I’m going to spoil it here, but I promise I’m not ruining anything that the movie doesn’t ruin worse.
The boys come to realize that the room numbers had been remapped when the building was remodeled, causing each room to be off by one, meaning Vivek’s Room 417 has actually been the haunted Room 418 the entire time.
This is actually how he comes to this realization, methodically rewriting the numbers on a map as he works out the math:
“So the Room marked 414… used to be… 415.
And 415 was… 416.
Room 416 is 417.
And my Room 417 is actually…
(gasp, shocked realization)
Room 418!!”
These guys are going to be doctors? Are you serious?
Unfortunately the film’s progression into getting increasingly dumber makes it a tough recommend, but there’s some good stuff here too. Some of the horror elements are genuinely chilling, and Rohith’s girlfriend Saisha is a delight, played by Preethi Pagadala with spunk and attitude.
The film’s story also prominently features the ancient theater tradition of Yakshagana (sort of similar to Japanese Kabuki), which is an interesting cultural artifact that’s worth calling out.
There are some familiar elements here that are somewhat endearing (or tropey, if you take a less generous view). The haunted room number rings to mind The Shining’s Room 237, or the eponymous 1408. And similar to A Nightmare on Elm Street, the adult faculty in the tale know and withhold the backstory, and share in the guilt. I enjoyed these elements, even if the film failed to come together as a whole.
A/V Out
