Fear: Frighteningly good film deserves watch

After the big film Pushpa 2, smaller films are now hitting the screens and Fear is one of them, which is releasing today. Haritha Gogineni, a woman director, is making her debut with this horror genre film. Vedhika plays the lead actress, while Anup Rubens is the music director.
Story
Sindhu and Indu (played by Vedhika) are twins. Sindhu, the younger sister, deeply admires Indu but suffers from constant fear, believing someone is after her. Indu, irritated by Sindhu’s fears, often grows angry with her. Sindhu falls in love with Sampath (played by Aravind Krishna), her childhood classmate and becomes possessive, even resenting his interactions with Indu. Her fears escalate, and she tells her parents someone wants to kill her. They admit her to a mental asylum, where she resists treatment. The doctor (played by Anish Kuruvilla) tries one last approach to help her. Meanwhile, Sampath goes missing, and Sindhu worries about his fate. What happens to Sampath, Sindhu, and Indu forms the crux of the story.
Analysis
Haritha Gogineni debuts as a director and has bravely chosen the horror genre, which demands a nuanced approach. The film is heavily reliant on its screenplay, with Haritha weaving together past and present scenes in a nonlinear narrative. From the outset, she maintains control over her storytelling, delivering an engaging narrative with a surprising twist at the climax. Unlike many debut directors who opt for entertainment or family dramas, Haritha ventured into the challenging horror genre and managed to handle it effectively. Despite minor flaws, her effort is commendable. The film also carries a strong message: fear is harmful and parents should be attentive to their children’s concerns, addressing them promptly instead of dismissing them as trivial.
Performances
Vedhika shines in her performance, embodying her role perfectly. Pavitra Lokesh and Jaya Prakash, as her parents, deliver strong performances, while Sayaji Shinde, Satya and Anish Kuruvilla provide solid support. Aravind Krishna, in a cameo role, is effective. Child actors also contribute significantly.
Technical aspects
For horror films, music is crucial, and Anup Rubens delivers a strong background score. The cinematography enhances the film’s mood and despite being a small-budget project, the technical aspects are impressive.
Conclusion
Fear is a film narrated through a nonlinear screenplay. While it has some flaws, it offers an engaging experience and is worth a watch. Tollywood needs more women directors like Haritha Gogineni, making it essential to support such ventures.
Cast: Vedhika, Aravind Krishna, Pavitra Lokesh, Jaya Prakash,
Aneesh Kuruvilla, Sayaji Shinde and others
Cinematographer: I Andrew
Music director: Anup Rubens Producer: AR Abhi
Director, writer and editor: Haritha Gogineni
Rating: 2.5/5