7 Khoon Maaf
2011 · Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj
Original language: Hindi
- drama
- mystery
- thriller
The story
Susanna is hungry for love and will go to any extent to find it in its purest form. In her quest for the perfect man, she gets married a number of times as each of her husband's die mysteriously.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated frames of hill-station bungalows, wet green slopes and sun-faded interiors give way to shadowed rooms, with a steady, slightly theatrical camera and a palette that shifts between jewel tones and washed-out greys. The score leans on Hindi film orchestration, lush strings and a few ghazal-style vocal numbers, broken by abrupt silences that make each death land as a sharp jolt. The vibe is dark, deadpan and glossy, a murder mystery played with a knowing wink more than dread. Pacing is brisk and episodic, each marriage working like a chapter, and the register swings from giddy romance to chilly detachment. Its central woman moves from hungry optimism toward hardened self-possession, while the men around her stay largely at arm's length. Intensity: several killings, mostly sudden shootings and stabbings with some visible blood, a few sex and nudity scenes, coarse language, and no gore spectacle. Suits a late-night watch with a glass of wine, or viewers who enjoy stylised, tongue-in-cheek crime with Bollywood musical touches.
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