'Betaal' review: Netflix's zombie-thriller fails to keep a tight grip on its main plotline

One of most-awaited horror series of Netflix, Betaal, started streaming on OTT platform from May 24, 2020. It is produced under banner of Red Chillies Entertainment and British writer and director Patrick Graham has penned storyline of series and co-directed it with Nikhil Mahajan. Here’s a quick review of Betaal. 

Director: Patrick Graham and co-director Nikhil Mahajan
Cast: Vineet Kumar Singh, Aahana Kumra, Suchitra Pillai and Jitendra Joshi
Genre: Horror-thriller
Date of streaming: May 24, 2020
OTT platform: Netflix
Number of episodes: 4 (45-minutes each)

READ | Netflix Show 'Betaal' In Plagiarism Row As Marathi Writers File Suit In Bombay High Court

Summary of series:

series follows story of a special task force named Baaz Squad, led by an officer Tyagi, played by Suchitra Pillai. It has been sent in interiors of Chhattisgarh to set area free from Naxal as government has given a d to start construction work of a highway. second-in-command Vikram Sirohi, essayed by Viineet Kumar Singh, and his deputy Ahluwalia, played by Ahana Kumra, along with team, reach zero ground to realise that it has more to hide than reveal. Later, squad starts learning  truths about curse and how it possessed a battalion, how tribal community has been warding off evil with ir own unique ways and fighting gory monsters who are on a killing spree. 

READ | Netflix's 'Betaal' Receives Mixed Reviews, Fans Say 't So Scary As Expected'

Review of series

From first episode itself, storyline will keep you thrilled with its extremely unique and intriguing content. In end, showing that British Zombie army ends up attacking entire country has left a room for sequel. Performances of star cast and cinematography are remarkable.

Watch trailer below:

re are a few scenes that might be controversial regarding Indian forces and Naxals in first episode but makers gave valid cover to scenario in final episodes. Though Viineet Kumar's performance is top-tch, viewers might feel that his character is underwritten. Apart from him, Manjari Pupala, who essayed Puniya, will also man to grab attention of viewers.

direction and camera work are impressive. Meanwhile,  script, screenplay, background score, VFX and locations might make you remember 2018's release Tumbbad as it seems that series has used quite similar elements such as Betaal Dev as Hustar, tunnel as vada and shrap(curse) factor. 

READ | Neftlix's 'Betaal' Trailer Released: It's Viineet Kumar And Squad VS Zombies

Production-wise, it is on par with Hollywood. Various companies have worked on Betaal. company that did prostics is based in UK. Visual effects were done by a company based in Chennai. It is co-produced by an American production company. 

Though  cinematography, SFX, lighting was perfect, VFX could have been better ( blood splatters looked bad).  screenplay could have been tighter. One thing that stood out was that  makers did t stick to cliché rules of any or zombie-related content. In this series, zombies talk, y fire guns, y run. re is rule book saying that y can't do all this. At a few points, it is quite evident that makers are t sure about wher to focus on folk-horror elements or army action.

Ratings:3.5

READ | As Artistes It’s In Our Hands To t Get Stereotyped: ‘Sacred Games’ Star Jitendra Joshi