Kill (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – Follows a passenger on a train to New Delhi. The train soon becomes a combat battleground as a pair of commandos face an army of invading bandits.

My Take – While action films continue to be the mainstay that draws the most box office numbers, but rarely do Indian films receive the level of praise in comparison to their East and Southeast Asian compatriots, particularly due to their typical over the top approach.

However, this latest from writer-director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat (Apurva, Hurdang), is not a typical action flick. In fact, it’s one of India’s most brutal, violent and bloody features that turns the notions of good and evil on their heads and defies audience expectations.

Co-produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Guneet Monga‘s Sikhya Entertainment, the film represents an impressive change of pace especially for Hindi cinema. Framed as ‘Die Hard’ on a train, the film doesn’t let you take your eyes off the screen or allows you to catch a breath.

As promised, the action is certainly extremely brutal, people dying in all manner of horrible ways, ensuring that the film lives up to the hype. The close-quarters fight choreography in the confined location is impressive and the film doesn’t hold back on the blood and guts. The whole experience will either have you fully engrossed or leave you fully disgusted, there is nothing in between.

Yes, it adopts a straightforward story-line, but there are also enough unexpected twists and turns to keep one enthralled. Though not quite as well-executed as The Raid (2011), to which it is been constantly compared, on its own is still an unforgettable cinematic experience that delivers 105 minutes of non-stop, adrenaline-fueled, blood-drenched mayhem.

The story follows Amrit (Lakshya), a NSG commando, who upon receiving news that his girlfriend Tulika (Tanya Maniktala) is engaged against her will, heads to derail the arranged marriage. Joined by his best friend and fellow soldier, Viresh (Abhishek Chauhan), Amrit boards the same overnight train to New Delhi in which Tulika and her family are heading to prepare for the upcoming wedding.

Unfortunately for them, the train journey takes a dangerous turn when a group of armed bandits led by the sociopath Fani (Raghav Juyal), get on board and begin to threaten, abuse and loot innocent passengers, wielding guns, machetes and more. Though, the severely outnumbered Amrit and Viresh initially comply like everyone, but the two can’t help but snap after Fani starts killing people.

And just like that, the seemingly PG-13 love story erupts into a hard R-rated massacre. Jugulars pop open like water balloons. Heads are mashed into toilet seats until their faces go flat. One guy is even beaten to death with a field hockey stick. Sure, the violence isn’t quite as relentless as it would be in a South Asian film, nor the gore so ludicrously over the top. But it is still rare for a Hindi film.

One key death feels particularly cruel, exemplifying Fani’s ruthlessness and sending Amrit into a white-hot rage. It’s this catalyst that leads to the film’s most murderous rampage. Becoming something that is completely unafraid to do seriously nasty things as the body count keeps rising and the emotional beats only get more tragic.

Shot entirely within the restricted space of a train compartment. There are no unnecessary scenes, no gratuitous flashbacks, or indulgent story-building. The film’s urgency gives you a sort of runner’s high. The cramped space intensifies the violence and brutality, purposely discomforting the audience as intended by director Bhat.

The director’s unflinching approach to violence is evident in every frame, creating a visceral experience that’s as shocking as it is captivating. Nikhil Nagesh Bhat‘s direction shines brightest whenever a fight is happening, which is almost always. The confined spaces are only used to its advantage and really enhanced by sound design that’s crunching and squelching with every blow.

The action sequences, directed by Se-Yeong Oh and Parvez Shaikh, are truly unlike anything we’ve seen in Hindi cinema before: raw, gory, gruesome, and bound to leave you breathless. Ketan Sodha‘s score rejects subtlety in favor of a diverse soundscape that can be everything from badass to moving with ease. The film’s final scene might not please everyone, but these deeper themes are a refreshing addition to the Hindi cinema action canon.

Performances wise, Lakshya, who was initially set to debut in the now shelved Dostana 2 and then in the also shelved Bedhadak, is phenomenal, establishing himself as a convincing action hero. He delivers a standout turn, particularly excelling in the film’s demanding action sequences.

Raghav Juyal also impresses in his career-best turn as Fani, the blood-thirsty dacoit who gets more than he bargained for. Some of the best dialogues in the film are reserved for him, and he plays Fani with a smooth nonchalance that makes him appear all the more malignant.

In other roles, Tanya Maniktala shines as always, while Abhishek Chauhan, Ashish Vidyarthi, Harsh Chhaya and Adrija Sinha play their parts with aplomb. On the whole, ‘Kill’ is a swift tightly contained action thriller that delivers an exhilarating, bloody good time.