Stree
2018 · Directed by Amar Kaushik
Original language: Hindi
- horror
- comedy
The story
Set in the town of Chanderi, Stree is based on the urban legend of Nale Ba that went viral in Karnataka in the 1990s, and features Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao in pivotal roles.
What it’s like
Warm, lamp-lit nights in a narrow small-town market, with the glow of tube lights spilling over whitewashed walls and the hum of monsoon humidity in the air. The camera moves with brisk, playful energy, cutting between hushed alley suspense and loud, knowing jokes between friends, and the score swings between bouncy percussion and sudden, eerie stillness whenever the town goes quiet after dark. The mood is spooky but mischievous, a horror-comedy that leans on jump scares and running gags more than dread, with brief, mostly bloodless scuffles and only light sexual innuendo. Expect a fast, chatty rhythm that eases into tension and then bounces back to laughter. The emotional register stays bright and affectionate, following a bumbling, good-hearted young man and his circle of friends as they grow more daring in the face of a rumour they can't quite shake. It suits a group movie night or a lighthearted Friday, for viewers who want their scares softened by humour, the kind of film that is frightening in the moment and easy to laugh about afterward.
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