1920 : Horrors of the heart

A young girl embarks on a journey for revenge, but the darkness of the world around her takes hold, turning her into a victim of her own vendetta.

June 23

2023

Release Date

Hindi

Language

2 minutes

2 hours

Running Time

Cast

Amit Behl

Barkha Bisht

Rahul Dev

Avtar Gill

Avika Gor

Rupam Bag

Raakeshh Dubey

Ketaki Kulkarni

Danish Pandor

Randheer Rai

Naveen Singh

2.0

5/5

Average Rating

The above-mentioned average rating is based on the derived ratings of multiple review platforms

OH Review

5/5

Plot

The story revolves around Meghna (Avika Gor), who plans to reveal her love affair to her father on her 21st birthday. However, when she arrives home to share the news, she is devastated to discover her father's lifeless body hanging from the ceiling. Overwhelmed by grief, she embarks on a quest for answers and uncovers a diary in her father's drawer. The diary reveals the heartbreaking circumstances that led her father, driven by poverty and her mother's desire for a lavish lifestyle, to take his own life. Fuelled by anger, Meghna decides to reside with her mother, Radhika (Barkha Bisht), and her stepfather, Shantanu (Rahul Dev), using the excuse of having no place to live. Slowly, she paves the way for her father's spirit to enter the house. As the spirit takes hold of the home, eerie occurrences begin, forcing Meghna to confront the chilling truth that lies beneath the surface.

Acting

The performances of Avika Gor and Barkha Bisht bring a certain level of grace to the screen. While their portrayals are decent, they don't reach extraordinary heights. Danish Pandor, portraying Meghna's boyfriend Arjun, and Rahul Dev as Shantanu deliver plastic-coated performances. Avtar Gill, Amit Behl, and Arbendra Pratap offer mixed performances in their respective roles.

Cinematography

Prakash Kutty's cinematography is neat, capturing the atmospheric elements of the horror genre effectively. However, the visual effects fall short and come across as juvenile, detracting from the overall viewing experience.

Direction

Debutante director Krishna V Bhatt struggles to maintain consistency in her execution. While some scenes are handled with panache, overall, the direction feels outdated and fails to create an immersive experience. The plot suffers from loose ends and convenient storytelling, which hampers the film's impact.

Music

Puneet Dixit's music attempts to be soulful, but fails to make a lasting impression. While "Lori" stands out as the best track, the other songs like "Woh Kahani," "Aye Zindagi," and "Zaroori Hai" fail to leave a mark. The background score, however, succeeds in creating a horrifying ambiance, adding tension to certain scenes.

Verdict

Overall it fails to impress due to faulty execution and some loose ends. The film's plot, though unique in the horror genre, suffers from weak screenplay and dialogue. Director Krishna V Bhatt's handling of the film lacks the command and modern touch required to make it stand out. The performances by Avika Gor, Barkha Bisht, and Rahul Dev manage to salvage some moments, but the overall impact falls short. It is a missed opportunity for Krishna V Bhatt to make her mark as a director in the horror genre.

If you're in the mood for a horror film that is more unintentionally comedic than terrifying, 1920: Horrors of the Heart might provide some entertainment while you retain your seats.

Share this review

The Great Reviews

Times of India

Abhishek Srivastava

Video Reviews

More like this

5/5

Outhouse

In Outhouse, aadima and Neel search for a missing friend when a stray puppy named Pablo brings unexpected joy to their lives. As they bond with Pablo...

5/5

Vanvaas

In Vanvaas, a poignant tale of a family coming to terms with their father's dementia diagnosis. As he struggles to hold on to his memories,...

5/5

Girls Will Be Girls

In Girls Will Be Girls, At a strict boarding school in the Himalayan foothills, 18 year old Mira falls in love for the first time. Her coming-...