Weighted from a 3.4 average · Why?
A muddled thriller where a sincere Khandelwal can't rescue the sloppy script.
Verdict tier Unfavorable, most critics didn't like it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Fever is largely negative, with most reviewers finding the screenplay illogical, convoluted, and poorly constructed. Rajeev Khandelwal's performance drew occasional acknowledgment as sincere, though critics noted he lacked meaningful support from the script. The film's Hollywood-style thriller aspirations were seen as undermined by an oversimplified and confusing plot, with the climax drawing particular disappointment. Several critics called it a frustrating or tiresome watch overall.
1 not-rated review isn't plotted
The Monk Score is weighted from a plain average of 3.4 · how scores work
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of reviews from 6 publications · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyFrom the papers
Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Film review ·
Khandelwal is sincere in his desi Sherlock act (he apes Cumberbatch, making his deductions from the clues popping on screen) but has no support from the plot. You wish the writer-director had used some logic, the film wouldn't have been this silly.
Film review ·
Our desi writers really need to work hard on their scripts. The story here seems too convoluted. Unlike other thrillers, this one battles between reality and fiction, and makes the plot unappealing.
Film review ·
In short, including the meaningless title, this one leaves you flummoxed.
Film review ·
Director Rajeev Jhaveri attempts a Hollywood-style narrative with conviction but underestimating the audience's intellect and oversimplifying the plot makes it a tiring watch.
Film review ·
Overall, Fever is disappointing beyond words, even for Rajeev Khandelwal fans.
Film review ·
Unpredictable surprises in the story can be expected but only add to the confusion of the audience. Although the overall movie is tolerable, the climax turns out to be a disappointment.
From our readers
3 ratings · user score 4.0
IT TOOK ME THESE MANY DAYS TO FIGHT EVERYONE'S OPINION: 'DON'T GO AGAINST THE MIGHT OF THE MEDIA, ESPECIALLY TIMES OF INDIA'. IF IT WERE A PRIVATE OPINION I WOULD HAVE LET IT GO. SINCE IT IS PUBLIC - AND MOST OF THE OTHER PUBLICATIONS JUST COPY-PASTE REVIEWS - THE REBUTTAL ALSO NEEDS TO BE PUBLIC. PEOPLE WHO DON'T WATCH THE MOVIE FORM AN OPINION BASED ON THESE IRRESPONSIBLE 'REVIEWS' AND THEY HAVE TO BE COUNTERED. YOU CAN'T WRITE SOMETHING IN PUBLIC AND EXPECT TO GET AWAY WITH IT. 1. QUESTION 1 – '2.5 STARS' - WHY THE 2.5 STARS WHEN THE REVIEW IS SO PATHETIC? I WAS TOLD IT IS BECAUSE A HUGE AMOUNT IS PAID FOR MEDIA NET? MAYBE NOT HUGE ENOUGH THIS TIME!? 2. QUESTION 2 – 'DESI WRITER'S SHOULD WORK HARD ON THEIR SCRIPTS' – DID SOMEONE ASK YOU FOR YOUR ADVICE? I DIDN'T! PLEASE WRITE REVIEWS (TRY TO) AND NOT SERMONS. 'DESI'.. !!?? ARE YOU STILL WHITE SKINNED OR A REMNANT OF A CONVOLUTED BRITISH COLONIZATION. 3. QUESTION 3 - 'HOW DID THE FILM GET FUNDING AND BACKING FROM ACTORS' – SIMPLE. BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT REVIEWERS!! THEY DON'T SIP ON COFFEES, SMOKE CIGARETTES AND WRITE FANCY WORDS WITHOUT KNOWING THEIR MEANINGS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOES INTO MAKING A FILM, ESPECIALLY A DEBUT FILM – THE ROMANTCISM, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND DAYS, THE DREAMS, THE MONEY, THE SWEAT AND YEARS OF LABOUR? (AGAIN, WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH REVIEWING A MOVIE.) 4. QUESTION 4 - 'PERHAPS GAUHAR KHAN AND RAJEEV KHANDELWAL FANCIED AN EXTENDED STAY IN SWITZERLAND' - DID YOU PERSONALLY SPY ON THE ACTORS TO KNOW THAT THEY WANTED AN EXTENDED STAY? I THINK YOU DID. PLEASE ALSO SHOW US THE PROOF M'AM! AND IF AT ALL SOMEONE TAUGHT YOU TO WRITE REVIEWS HOW DOES THIS BECOME A PART OF REVIEWING A MOVIE!? 5. CHALLENGE 1 – 'YOU WISH I HAD USED SOME LOGIC' – PROVE ONE LOGICAL FLAW IN THE SCRIPT AND I WILL BELIEVE THAT YOU ACTUALLY SAW THE MOVIE AND WERE NOT TEXTING YOUR UNRESPONSIVE LOVER, SIPPING ON KILLER COLAS AND MUNCHING ON POPCORN! 6. CHALLENGE 2 – 'CORNY DIALOGUES.. YOU GET THE DRIFT!' - NO, I DON'T GET THE DRIFT SWEETHEART. WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE DICTIONARY, EXPLAIN CORNY! AND THAT TOO IN THE CONTEXT OF FEVER. 7. THE BIG CHALLENGE – IF YOU HAVE THE CONVICTION TO BACK YOUR WRITE-UP (AS I HAVE THE CONVICTION TO BACK MY FILM AND MY SCRIPT) ANSWER THE QUESTIONS & CHALLENGES OR ADMIT IN PUBLIC – USING AS MANY FANCY WORDS – THAT YOU HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT FILM MAKING (REVIEWS, I KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE!) !!!
Credits
Rajeev KhandelwalArmin Salem
Gauahar Khan
Gemma AtkinsonRhea Wagner
Caterina MurinoIrina Caro
Ankita MakwanaGrace Soni
Victor BanerjeeDr. David RoyHindi films like Fever
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