TheReviewMonk
Phobia backdrop
27 May 2016Hindi112 min

Phobia

6.225 reviews
CriticsMixed

Bayesian avg · 25 critic reviews

7.5+ Exceptional · 6.5 Recommended · 5.0 Mixed

6.99 ratings
UsersMixed

User Score · avg of 9 ratings

8.0+ Exceptional · 7.0 Recommended · 5.5 Mixed

Pawan Kripalani DirectorViki Rajani Screenplay

Mehek (Radhika Apte) plays the role of an agoraphobic, a person who has the irrational fear of open or public places. She plays a character who is scared of going out of her house. After an unfortunate incident, Mehak starts suffering from agoraphobia, the fear of places and situations that may cause pain or embarrass her. Initially her psychologist tries therapy, but due to repeated panic attacks; her boyfriend Shaan (Satyadeep Mishra) gets her a place of her own so that she can face her fears. Determined to beat it, Mahek starts on a positive note but soon begins to notice weird things in the house.

Critic Consensus

Critical reception for Phobia is broadly positive, with reviewers consistently highlighting Radhika Apte's central performance as the film's defining strength, with several critics stating outright that the film rests entirely on her shoulders. The film is praised for delivering genuine psychological tension and scares without relying on conventional horror tropes such as ghost makeup and gore. Common criticisms include contrivances in the plot, underdeveloped supporting characters, and a narrative that may not connect with mainstream Bollywood audiences. A minority of critics noted that the film's niche appeal and limited promotion could constrain its reach.

25 reviews · 18 positive · 1 mixed

Praised: Radhika Apte's central performanceCriticised: Weak, underdeveloped supporting characters

AI-generated summary of 25 critic reviews · may contain errors

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Critic Reviews (25)

Rajeev MasandTop Critic· IBNLive
7.0
"I found myself chuckling at the end of the film, which is not usually the response one tends to have to a thriller. But Phobia is no standard thriller. Don't miss it."
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Saibal ChatterjeeTop Critic· NDTV
6.0
"Phobia is a canny flick that places known genre conventions in fresh light, the kind that bestows new life on them. Watch this film for the many surprises it springs and, of course, for Radhika Apte in full flow."
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Shubhra GuptaTop Critic· Indian Express
6.0
"The Radhika Apte starrer is genuinely frightener, so far away from those unintentionally comic monstrosities it keeps slinging out, that you feel like cheering."
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FridayMoviez Reviewer· FridayMoviez
8.0
"This one's definitely worth the time and money, however you might need an acquired taste for this particular genre. Though the film is brilliant in all aspects, we feel that a psychological thriller is not something; majority of the masses would connect to or understand. However, if you know you have the mind to understand and enjoy what this film offers, then make sure you don't miss it."
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Sweta Kaushal· Hindustan Times
8.0
"There are a few flaws in Phobia but Apte excels. Except for Mnau (played by Ankur Vikal), people around Mehek are weak characters, which have not been thought through. Their lack of common sense is jarring which halts the pace of the film."
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R.M. Vijayakar· IndiaWest
8.0
"Miss this one at your own risk. Correction: Make that: 'Do Not Miss!'"
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Mohar Basu· Times Of India
7.0
"In the end, Phobia is an unnerving movie that plays skillfully on the fear of the unknown."
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7.0
"Kripalani does a fine job as director and gives us a compelling narrative which may not appease to the regular Bollywood audience. But if you love the thrills and heebie-jeebies, then Phobia is for YOU!"
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Suhani Singh· India Today
7.0
"The makers tie the loose ends together albeit with a few contrived events and a few question lurking. Nonetheless with Phobia Kripalani succeeds in his mission to keep the audiences engaged and also constantly thinking."
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7.0
"Rarely do you come across a good horror movie in Bollywood which has most often dished out tacky, sex driven B-grade drivel in the genre. 'Phobia' is an intelligent film, which deals with the most unusual of situations."
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"If you are someone who has been disappointed in Bollywood when it comes to horror and thriller films, Phobia is definitely a MSUT WATCH! It is the spookiest films ever made. It is spooky, it is spine-chilling, it's nerve-racking and is worth every penny!"
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Sreeju Sudhakaran· Bollywood Life
6.0
"Radhika Apte's terrific performance and a few genuine jump scares make the thriller watchable!"
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Harshada Rege· DNA India
6.0
"This one manages to scare you without the aid of badly dressed ghosts with ugly make-up. Watch it if you enjoy spooky tales and, of course, for Radhika's stellar performance."
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Bollywood Hungama News Network· Bollywood Hungama
6.0
"PHOBIA is a well-made taut thriller with an amazing performance by Radhika Apte. However the in film blood and gore may not be to everyone's liking affecting the film's overall box office prospects as it will appeal to a rather niche audience. Another factor that may affect the film is the low key promotion of the film due to which many people aren't aware of PHOBIA's release. But for them who have an appetite for the unconventional thrills and psychological mind games, don't miss PHOBIA."
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Kunal Guha· Mumbai Mirror
6.0
"It would be a spoiler to define the genre of the film as it would give away much of the plot. And the thrills you take away from the film are directly proportional to how wild your imagination is. But following this watch, and if you're the kind to sleep with one eye open, ensure you grip your pillow tight, especially when you exit light."
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6.0
"Phobia is a step ahead for Bollywood to explore the genres of psychological thrillers. With Radhika Apte's fine performance, this film is a must-watch for those who love experimental cinema."
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Martin D'Souza· Glamsham
6.0
"PHOBIA is Radhika Apte and Radhika Apte is PHOBIA. This in short sums up the film which rides solely on the performance of this hugely talented actress who in the past three years has been notching up one brilliant performance after another."
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Rohit Bhatnagar· Deccan Chronicle
6.0
"The film's 'chill factor' rests on the shoulders of Radhika Apte, who's expressions are flawless and tends to leave the audience wide-eyed and in awe of her performance. Her act in the climax which leads to a bloodbath shakes you to the bone. Her no make up look is just perfect and is close to the reality. Satyadeep Mishra has done a fabulous job as a friend cum admirer in the film."
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Manisha Lakhe· NowRunning
4.0
"What do you do when you are suffering from Agoraphobia? You are too anxious to step out of your comfort zone and too panicky to remain inside the house. When the lead character is Radhika Apte, then the audience feels her fears (what large eyes she has!), her panic attacks, and begin to feel what everyone around her feels..."
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"Kirpalani, whose previous credits include Ragini MMS (2011) and Darr @ The Mall (2014), displays impressive control over his craft in many portions of the movie (for once, I have no complaints about the background score, which for me is one of the surest signs of a director firmly in charge)"
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Namrata Joshi· The Hindu
"Much of the terror resides in Radhika Apte's eyes. She is the film, all by herself, that too in just a single setting. The film draws on the essential horror from her. The performance is an external manifestation of the workings of her inner mind. And Radhika she is sensational as a woman living with her own demons—be it fighting with her sister or being flirtatious with friends, slurring on her speech or travelling miles (metaphorically) to leave garbage bag just outside her house. Or just being radiantly vulnerable. In her we get a radically inventive scream queen. All hail her!"
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Devesh Sharma· Filmfare
"Phobia makes for an engaging weekend watch. It isn't high on gore but will still thrill all the same…"
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Udita Jhunjhunwala· Firstpost
"Mishra, Vikal and Dayama are well cast and perform well as the players around Apte. What a spirited performance by this actress. Phobia is a strangely satisfying psychological thriller with one of the best performances of the year so far."
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"Reminiscent of his first film "Ragini MMS", Kripalani passes the basic horror film test – he scares you enough to make you jump out of your seat and intrigues you enough to make you stay till the end."
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Nandini Ramnath· Scroll.in
"The set-up is convincing, and Radhika Apta's central performance as Mahek makes it doubly so. Apte has been steadily building up an impressive portfolio of performances, and she is in top form in Phobia."
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Cast & Crew

Director

Screenplay

Producer

Details

Release Date
27 May 2016
Runtime
112 min
Language
Hindi

User Ratings & Reviews

Users6.99 ratings

9 ratings from the community

Community Reviews (3)

The is a must watch movie, What a performance by powerhouse Radhika Apte

TEJun 2016

Directed by the same guy who previously gave us a good stuff (Ragini MMS) and a bad stuff (Darr @ The Mall) comes another thriller that can be placed exactly between these two in terms of quality.<br /> <br /> Mehak (Apte) is a cool young woman who is forced upon unsuccessfully by a taxi driver after which she becomes a patient of agoraphobia, a severe mental disorder concerning open and crowded places. She is helped by her friend Shaan (Misra), who moves her into a friend's place in order to treat her naturally, whatever that means. But Mehak is eternally traumatized by the incident which still gives her nightmares and feelings of anxiety revolving around her new apartment's former owner, an air-hostess who she presumes was killed by her neighbor. As nights pass, Mehak sees things that makes her change here mind and believe that there is a person in her apartment who may be out to finish "some unfinished business."<br /> <br /> The setup is fine for a Bollywood thriller film, reminding us of RGV's millennium-closing masterpiece Kaun?. The plot moves with a good speed afterwards as the audience begin playing their usual game of suspect gamble. We think that the person chasing Mehak might be her friend, who also has shades of gray in him and wants to satiate his sexual needs, fitting the perfect description; her widowed sister, who may have some ulterior motive; her specialist doctor, who is just learning to control her fancy new VR headset; her neighbor, whose laughing frequency is rather sinister. It could be anyone and Mehak wants to find out, with the help of Nikki (Dayama), another neighbor. But all that plays around in the first half is let down by the story's lousy second half.<br /> <br /> Whenever one sees a thriller film where the main characters sit and surround a simple or a mutilated combination of geometric symbols, he/she knows that the film is falling into the pond of cliché. Phobia eventually does, and then tries to regain consciousness (a la Mehak in countless instances) by revealing the single pole that was supporting this giant of a promising high-rise. The climax is good, but of what use is a building that slants?<br /> <br /> The music, as many of my friends pointed out, was brilliant, and at least 2 of my stars go for that, plus the camera work. Apte is terrific and so is Mishra; both do a wonderful job, and this confirms the point that the problem is not in the cast or their performance or in the making, but in the story, which is shallow and only offers one or two gasps, which are purely incidental.<br /> <br /> If the writer had put in so much effort as that bloke who has expanded the film's Wikipedia article, the film may have critically fared better. Can't understand the fuss around the film's notability, though. It's a strictly below-average affair even for people who consider themselves fans of the thriller-horror genre.<br /> <br /> BOTTOM LINE: Pawan Kirpalani's Phobia is a thriller, with some great performances, which feels at first like a blood-toothed dinosaur in a closet but turns out only to be a one-inch, red-masked lizard. Wait for TV premiere but do not switch between channels during commercials.<br /> <br /> Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO

SHSept 2019

Mehak, an artist. A taxi driver. A molestation. She suffers from agoraphobia. And the story is fashioned in the way that you feel being a part of the twists in the tale. But do these twists exist? Probably. Probably not. But one thing is evident: whether the twists are taking place actually or not, they do exist in multiple minds: primarily in the mind of Mehak, and then, yours. The film is superbly made that way: a twisted thriller which effectively captures the nerve-racking a full bodied psycho horror flick needs. The cast performs amazingly. Satyadeep Mishra is amazing. Yashaswini finely acts into the character of Nikki even if she has not come of age. But truly, it is Radhika Apte who aptly steals the show from her rest of the cast. She observes the role. The power of the performance of the actress is effective to the extent that- as the film transits from the Mehak half of the film (the first half) to the character of agoraphobia in the second half, Apte still remains constant, her performance remaining quality, never derailing even an extra bit. The film considerably falters. There are many jump-scares, but most of them are artificial. Yes, the film is entertaining and thrilling in equal measure, but it actually remains a sum of its parts. But Radhika is still very strong and skillful enough to cover all of it with surprising ease and grace. I'm going with 3 stars, with an extra half for Radhika Apte's performance, making it a total of 3.5 out of 5 for the film. It's a thrilling film inevery respect.

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