Lupt review: Prabhuraj's horror tale with Jaaved Jaaferi, Vijay Raaz has nothing new to offer

Horror as a genre has shown signs of revival with impressive films like Stree and Tumbbad this year. Anushka Sharma’s Pari had its flaws, but it was still a commendable film. Exposure to quality international content, better technology and make-up has served to improve the standards and make horror an enticing prospect.

Following Stree and Tumbbad, fans were intrigued by the trailer of director Prabhuraj’s Lupt. Devoid of stars, the film has established actors like Jaaved Jaaferi and Vijay Raaz. The expectation wasn't high, but at least, Lupt promised a few chills.

Harsh Tandon (Jaaferi) is a fierce, cold Lucknow businessman, who only believes in winning at any cost. Emotions count for nothing, and that explains why he’s so detached with his wife and children.  He suffers from chronic insomnia, and so his psychiatrist advises him to take a much-needed break that would perhaps stop all the gory hallucinations.

Tandon pays heed to the shrink’s advice and reluctantly agrees to accompany his family on a road trip to Nainital. While refuelling their car, Tanu [Tandon’s daughter] bumps into a stranger. The man turns out to be Dev [Vijay Raaz] in whose outhouse they would later spend the night. The spooky events in the night though change the lives of the Tandons forever.

On the face of it, you would perceive Lupt to be tale of a family being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But the Tandons landing here is no accident. We leave it for the viewers to decipher that bit.

A road trip horror naturally comes up with deserted roadways and houses. As the night sets in, Lupt trembles in the eerie atmosphere. However, atmospherics alone don’t drive a film.

Lupt means on the verge of extinction and sadly for Prabhuraj, his poor film threatens to push the genre into extinction. There is nothing to write about the story or the storytelling. A spooky doll, dubious writer, wandering soul (mother, children), Prabhuraj fits the done-to-death story tropes, characters into Lupt. The real disappointment, though, stems from the characters, and the abysmal performances. Barring Vijay Raaz, you are left disappointed by the rest.

Acting runs in his blood, but Jaaved Jaaferi, son of legendary comedian Jagdeep, has always appeared reluctant when it comes to films. After showing promise in the early years, Jaaferi has been choosy. His last notable work would have to be Singh is King (2008). With gradual improvement in storytelling, it would have been an ideal opportunity for a talented actor like Jaaferi to cash in on.

Sadly, more than the poor screenplay, it’s the poor performance that sounds the death knell for Lupt. And Jaaferi is first in line to share the blame. Jaaferi clearly looks uncomfortable and only ends up putting up a farce. The overacting, or rather the lack of it, is embarrassing to watch. In the few moments, where he stamps his authority, Jaaferi perhaps is trying to sound like an Amitabh Bachchan, but the feeble attempts only boomerang in his face. The 54-year-old looks completely out of depth with his character. It’s perhaps the first time we have seen him play a father. Jaaferi will play one again in Jabariya Jodi, where he’ll parent Sidharth Malhotra.

Once a TV star, Niki Aneja Walia, couldn’t really graduate to films. The 46-year-old returns after two years, but like in Shaandaar (2015), she only ends up with bitter memories. She plays Harsh’s wife Shalini. Walia’s performance is subdued just like her character.

The most nauseating character of the film has to be Harsh and Shalini’s son Rahul (Karan Anand). His character is akin to the boy from the 'The boy who cried wolf' fable. His pranks aren't spooking anybody. His prank before dumping away an empty stroller that mysteriously lands up on the road, sees his father give him a tight slap. As harsh as it may sound, but for such a poor melodramatic performance, Anand deserves nothing but that.

There is nothing to write about Meenakshi Dixit’s performance too.   Rishabh Chadha, who plays her boyfriend Sam, is quite undercooked, and really needs to be schooled in the craft.  

Vijay Raaz escapes criticism for he’s the only one bearable in the film. The film begins with director Prabhuraj paying tribute to writer Sajid Latif, who was the one who narrated a similar true story. We live in times where most stories are said to be based on true events. However, it’s hard to imagine there would be any takers for Lupt. The Bhoot Hoon Mein remake that plays out, in the beginning, is not flattering either.

This Halloween week, Indian fans have nothing that will give them the chills. Lupt only reflects poorly on the genre.