'Ghost Stories' explained; detailed review of the horror anthology starring Janhvi Kapoor

Netflix released its latest anthology of short films titled Ghost Stories on January 1, 2020. four different short films are directed by Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee and Karan Johar, who previously directed Lust Stories for Netflix. film's tagline reads 'Your Fears Will Find You'.  directors have evidently used tagline to push a much broader idea of fear rar than depending on conventional formula of jump scares and spirits. Ghost Stories has also ventured into psychological aspects of horror. Below are all four short films from Ghost Stories broken down and explained. 

Disclaimer - Spoiler ahead

Also read: Didn't want to do surface-level scream fest with 'Ghost Stories': Zoya Akhtar

Zoya Akhtar's short film

Zoya Akhtar's short film features Janhvi Kapoor in lead role. Jahnvi plays character of a nurse who is taking care of an old lady. It is later revealed that Janhvi was actually nursing a ghost all this while at end of short. film talks about meaning of being able-bodied. During one scene, Janhvi's character is reminded by old lady that if she is living in a healthy body and mind, she need t wait for anyone. Both characters are seen living in parallels as Janhvi's character is waiting for her married boyfriend to pay attention to her, while sick old lady is waiting for her son to come to visit her before passing away. 

Also read: Ghost Stories: Why anthology film's 4 directors collaborating for 3rd time?

Anurag Kashyap's short film

Anurag Kashyap horror story leans heavily into reality and bases its characters in a backdrop of psychological terrors. Sobhita Dhulipala is essaying character of a woman trying to conceive a baby after going through a miscarri. Sobhita's character is seen being in paraia when she is pregnant for second time. only concern she has is that baby she is carrying is t harmed in any way. On or hand, Sobhita's character also has a nephew who is obsessed with her as he doesn't have a biological mor. He shares an emotional dependency with Sobhita's character which doesn't allow him to be happy about his aunty's pregnancy. Sobhita's character ultimately loses grip of reality as she loses her second child too, her nephew is seen being happy about t having to share his aunty's love with anyone else. 

Also read: Ghost Stories Review: Netizens disappointed, give a thumbs up to Dibakar Banerjee's film

Dibakar Banerjee's short film

Dibakar Banerjee's short film reportedly takes inspiration from zombie genre of horror. lead character of film comes to kw that people out of two districts have been eating each or due to hatred. hatred two districts share has turned people into animal-like creatures, hungry to eat or people. lead of film sets on a path to rescue two children from this grave situation, but one kid ends up dead while second one turns into an animal. film showcases furrmore that to save oneself, y need to join system or get eaten. lead ends up joining system at end of short film.

Also read: 'Ghost Stories' actors divulge ir reel life & real life encounters with supernatural

Karan Johar's short film

Mrunal Thakur essays role of Ira who has found a match through an arranged marri. Ira comes to kw as soon as she gets married that family talks about ir dead grandmor as if she was alive. Though Ira finds this behaviour to be manic, she tries to solve issue. She is unable to solve issue and starts asking family if ir grandmor ever existed. As an answer, family kills Ira and she meets grandmor on or side along with all people who ever questioned family's grandmor's existence. 

Also read: Janhvi Kapoor had spooky experience on 'Ghost Stories' set: '10 of us fell really sick