I just walked out of the theater, and honestly, my heart is still beating a little faster than usual. I went in expecting a standard horror flick, but 'Baramulla' left me with this lingering sense of unease that's hard to shake. I'm sitting here with my coffee, and I keep thinking about that final shot of the town—it wasn't just scary, it felt sad and heavy. The movie stuck with me more than I thought it would. It's one of those films where the atmosphere just seeps into your bones, and the drive home felt eerily quiet.
🎬 Watch the Official Trailer
What's Baramulla About?
The film follows a cop, played by Manav Kaul, investigating a series of child disappearances in the seemingly tranquil town of Baramulla. As he digs deeper, he realizes the cases are tied to something far beyond a human criminal—something supernatural that begins to threaten his own family. It's a story about the secrets a town holds and the personal cost of uncovering them.
What Works in Baramulla
- ✓ Manav Kaul's performance was fantastic. He carried the film's emotional weight perfectly, making me believe his fear and desperation as a father and a cop.
- ✓ The setting of Baramulla itself was a character. The cinematography used the misty landscapes and old town architecture to create a constant, palpable sense of dread.
- ✓ The sound design was genuinely unsettling. There were moments where the silence was broken by subtle, creepy noises that made me jump in my seat.
- ✓ I appreciated that the horror wasn't just about cheap jumpscares. It built a proper, melancholic atmosphere that made the scary moments hit harder.
What Doesn't Work
- ✗ The pacing dragged a bit in the middle. There was a 20-minute stretch where I felt the investigation was going in circles before the plot kicked back in.
- ✗ Some of the CGI for the supernatural elements looked a bit dated and took me out of the moment, especially in a key scene near the climax.
- ✗ A couple of the supporting characters, like the local priest, felt underdeveloped and their dialogue was a bit clunky at times.
Standout Moments & Performances
There's a scene where the cop's daughter is playing in their courtyard, and the camera slowly pans to show something watching her from the window of an abandoned house across the lane. I literally held my breath. Another moment that got me was a simple, quiet conversation between Kaul and his wife (Bhasha Sumbli) in their kitchen, where you can see the terror breaking through their attempt at normalcy. It felt heartbreakingly real. The most chilling part for me, though, was the discovery in the old school basement—the use of shadows and practical effects there was masterful and left me feeling deeply uncomfortable.
Main Cast: Manav Kaul, Bhasha Sumbli, Arista Mehta, Rohaan Singh, Neelofar Hamid
Direction, Music & Visuals
Director Aditya Jambhale has a good eye for building tension through the environment. The cinematography is the real star—gloomy, washed-out colors, and fantastic use of fog and narrow alleyways to create claustrophobia. The music score was effective, more about eerie ambient sounds than loud stings. Performance-wise, Manav Kaul is excellent, as I said. Bhasha Sumbli is also very good, bringing a grounded fear to her role. The child actors, particularly Rohaan Singh, were convincingly scared, which is crucial. My main gripe remains with some of the visual effects, which didn't always match the high quality of the practical scares and atmospheric work.
Director: Aditya Suhas Jambhale
Genres: Horror
Who Should Watch Baramulla?
If you're a horror fan who prefers mood and atmosphere over constant gore and jumpscares, you'll likely enjoy this. It's for viewers who like their horror slow-burn, with a strong sense of place and a psychological edge. Think more 'The Wailing' vibes than 'Conjuring'.
Who Might Want to Skip?
If you need fast-paced, action-packed horror with clear-cut monsters and explanations, this isn't for you. The pacing is deliberate, and it leans heavily on dread rather than constant frights.
Final Verdict
Despite its flaws, I'd recommend 'Baramulla' for a theater experience, especially if you love atmospheric horror. The visuals and sound really benefit from the big screen. It's a film that stays with you, and Manav Kaul's performance alone is worth the price of admission. I wouldn't watch it again tomorrow—it's a bit of an emotional drain—but I'm glad I saw it. It's a solid, thoughtful entry in Indian horror that tries to be more than just scary.
