Mohit Suri’s “Murder 2” may sound like a sequel to the Mallika Sherawat starrer “Murder” but believe it or not, it is nothing like the earlier film. While that one had what was at best a wishy-washy murder, this one goes all out — there is blood, sadism, a twisted mind and one of the most sinister villains you have seen in Bollywood in a long time. What it doesn’t have is a hero worthy of that villain and a script that loses its way just when things start to get interesting. Director Suri is like a wayward driver who slams the brakes when there is no need and drives in second gear when fourth would have been ideal.
There are reports that the movie is “inspired” by Korean film “The Chasers” and certainly, the storylines sound similar. Emraan Hashmi plays Arjun Bhagwat, a cynical former Goan cop who now works for the drug trade and pimps. When a pimp tells him some girls have gone missing, Arjun sets out to look for them. His clues lead him to a deserted house in a Goan village. Initially, he thinks it’s a matter of human trafficking, but what he doesn’t know is that it is a serial killer a work.
To say anything more would be unfair to the film. Suffice to say that Prashant Narayanan, who plays the murderer, is brilliant. He brings to life the madness that has to be inherent for someone to commit such heinous crimes. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t do justice to his character and the pace wavers. While you are gripped by the story at times when Narayanan is on screen, Hashmi is a completely watered down version of a hero. His past is hastily dealt with and evokes no sympathy. Even when he is fighting with the villain, it is Narayanan who has your attention.
Suri dilutes the pace by interspersing the narrative with songs and steamy scenes between Hashmi and leading lady Jaccqueline Fernandes. This could have been a truly gripping thriller if the director had better control over the film. That said, this is a film you should watch for the bad guy. He makes “Murder 2” a good film.
