Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 81

Love Is Blind: Japan Review – Unexpected Romances

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

A friend of mine met her fiancé for the first time in person only on the day of their engagement because he was living abroad and their marriage was arranged by their parents. And this happened in 2017. So, the concept of Netflix’s dating reality show Love Is Blind won’t seem too “out of the box” for Indians, as the show format follows a group of men and women who don’t know each other, interacting through a wall over a period of ten days, going on literal blind dates before deciding to get engaged. Those who feel connected enough to want to marry each other get to meet only after they are engaged, and then they live together for three weeks before finally deciding if they want to tie the knot. The reality series started in America in 2020, and the franchise has since expanded to various other countries, with the American version having six seasons so far (as of 2024).

I decided to watch Love Is Blind: Japan (2020) after streaming four episodes of Love Is Blind: UK (2024) because the series is still ongoing and yet to air the entire season. The four episodes of the UK version were totally binge-worthy, and so was the entire season of Love Is Blind: Japan. Both versions feature some very interesting individuals, many of whom are in their 30s, making the majority of them seem genuine, smart, and earnest in their desire to find love on the show and settle down with someone at the end of the road.

The first few episodes are super entertaining because we get to see how people interact and flirt with someone without being able to put a face to the name. Many contestants candidly admit to falling for people based on looks alone, leading to unfulfilling romantic connections, so they hope that not seeing a person’s face will help them forge a deeper bond with their date and maybe lead to eternal love. The blind dates take place in the first four episodes, and it’s like watching people speed-date because everybody gets a chance to speak with all contestants, with a total of 24 participants—12 men and 12 women. The men and women thus carry diaries to make notes about who they’re talking to, which seems funny at first, but obviously makes so much sense.

From episode 5 onward, the couples who get successfully engaged go on a three-day romantic getaway to spend some time together in stunning beachside locations. The cultural differences between the Western versions of the show and Love Is Blind: Japan are striking, with Japanese contestants often being notably more polite and exceptionally mindful of their behavior. One humorous moment featured a couple who, despite living together, simply shook hands after having dinner at home after a heated discussion. An interesting cultural quirk I noticed was how everyone would say “sorry for the intrusion” each time they entered someone’s home, even if it was empty.

After the dreamy holiday comes the real test—they must live together in a flat (provided by the show) while going about their daily lives and jobs, like a regular couple would, to see if they can really stand each other’s quirks, habits, and behaviors. Not surprisingly, quite a few couples fail the cohabitation test, but some do make it to the altar. I spent half my Sunday watching this show and would totally recommend it to those who have some free time on the weekend and are open to exploring this reality series.

Stream “Love Is Blind: Japan” on Netflix.

Read Next: His Man Season 3 Review – Dates, Drama, Situationships

Also Read: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series Review (Short Audio Version Below)

Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper Review: Manav Kaul Juggles Ledgers, Lies, Liaisons

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Tribhuvan Mishra is a chartered accountant with a government job, a loving home-baker wife, two adorable kids, and dependent parents. Unlike his peers, Tribhuvan doesn’t accept bribes or under-the-table payments, but with his entire family relying on his salary, he barely makes ends meet. So, when financial trouble comes knocking, he begins leading a double life: government officer by day, male escort by evening. This dual life comes at a steep price when the gangster husband of one of his clients starts hunting for his head.

The Netflix series Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper is a 9-episode show starring Manav Kaul as the titular protagonist. Tribhuvan starts off as a docile, shy, and honest officer, a loyal husband who despises corruption. However, as he starts earning more and more money through his unusual side-hustle under the alias ‘CA Topper,’ he begins to embody the same corrupt traits he once despised.

Set in Noida, the first three episodes of Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper are thoroughly entertaining, comically establishing the primary themes of the story—love, sex, dhoka, aur paisa. Ironically, Tribhuvan gets the idea to offer sex services due to his wife Ashoklata’s (Naina Sareen) constant compliments about how amazing he is in bed. On the other hand, it’s absurd how a chartered accountant is so bad at managing his finances—he keeps all his money and savings in a single account and has zero investments.

Also Read: Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba Review – Pulp-Fiction Romance Peaks Early

Tillotama Shome shines as Bindi Jain, a Bollywood-obsessed woman trapped in a dull marriage to confectioner Teeka Ram Jain (Shubhrajyoti Barat), who secretly runs a deadly illegal racket. One of the most entertaining scenes features Bindi imagining herself and Teeka Ram dancing to iconic Bollywood songs like “Baazigar O Baazigar,” however, Teeka Ram has no interest in her silly whims. So, she turns to apps for sex, and soon becomes one of Tribhuvan’s most valued clients. Tillotama Shome is fantastic as Bindi—a diehard romantic whose head might be in the clouds when it comes to love, but who is also smart, cunning, and knows how to deal with men.

Naina Sareen, as Tribhuvan’s trusting, sweet, and simple wife Ashoklata, fits the role of a middle-class homemaker, but her performance feels bland, like a bowl of soup without seasoning. In contrast, Sumit Gulati and Shweta Basu Prasad bring some mild entertainment as Mr. and Mrs. Pathak, Ashoklata’s brother and his ambitious wife, who enjoy a more lavish lifestyle and serve as an amusing foil to the primary couple. While Ashoklata finds contentment in her kids and cakes, Shobha Pathak (Shweta Basu Prasad) is always experimenting and pushing her husband to think big, even if it means bending the rules. She even gets a hilarious gun-toting scene in the second half, facing down a goon with a song celebrating her guts.

I watched the first three episodes back-to-back, it took me over a week to finish the rest of the series because the plot quickly slows down when the writers let the gangsters take over Tribhuvan’s story. What begins as a quirky, exhilarating tale of a government officer’s journey as a gigolo in Noida morphs into the usual beaten-down narrative about extramarital affairs, where the angry gangster husband bays for the blood of his wife’s lover. The remaining episodes of Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper swing between boring stretches and shorts bursts of exciting moments.

Visually, this Netflix show is very engaging, with a vivid screenplay filled with interesting motifs. For instance, the hotel where Tribhuvan frequently goes to provide his services is called “Madhur Milaap,” which means ‘sweet union,’ and the neon sign bearing its name is shaped like a dildo. This sign is featured in almost every episode when Tribhuvan suits up for his evening job, and I couldn’t help but chuckle each time it flashed on the screen.

Thanks to his transactional dalliance with Bindi, the primary conflict in the second half of Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper revolves around escaping the murderous clutches of her gangster husband, Teeka Ram Jain. Guns, violence, and an unintended murder completely unravel Tribhuvan’s life. The final episode descends into utter chaos, with multiple characters involved in a ridiculous open-air gunfight. Shots are fired from all directions, and the climax ends with an abrupt twist that leaves both Tribhuvan and the viewer hanging.

While not binge-worthy, Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper is a bumpy yet entertaining attempt at a raunchy Indian drama focused on female pleasure and sexual gratification.

Rating: 6/10. Stream the show on Netflix.

Read Next: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series Review (Short Audio Version Below)

Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli Documentary Review

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

Remember Eega, the 2012 Telugu hit about a housefly seeking revenge on those responsible for his death in a previous life as a human? Back then, no movie enthusiast could avoid hearing about this offbeat action-drama. Netflix’s documentary Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli is most engaging when the director and others share anecdotes about making Eega and the monumental challenges of getting the special effects right. Rajamouli even jokes about how the special effects team had panic attacks over the project, with some behind-the-scenes footage playing for viewers.

However, the one-hour-and-14-minute Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli feels more like a generic, extended interview than a documentary, with a particularly bland first half. Besides Rajamouli, the documentary features interviews with many of his family members, including his father, V. Vijayendra Prasad, an established screenwriter and director. For fans who never looked into Rajamouli’s life, his deep-rooted film industry connections might come as a surprise. What emerges is a picture of a storyteller passionate about bringing his stories to life on a grand scale, often leading to his titles exceeding their estimated budgets.

Also Read: Maharaja Review: Deceptively Twisty Screenplay Rules this Thriller

Prabhas and Rana Daggubati, who starred in Rajamouli’s blockbusters Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, share their insights on working with him. The duo discuss how the director would minimize overhead expenses, like hotels and meals, to allocate most of the budget to lavish sets and visual effects. “He would stay in the stupidest hotels to save money,” Prabhas says of Rajamouli.

Actors N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan, who co-starred in Rajamouli’s Oscar-winning historical drama RRR, also their share their insights on working with the director. Curiously, none of the leading ladies from Rajamouli’s films appear in the documentary, which makes it feel incomplete. It might’ve been entertaining to see Samantha, who won awards for “Eega”, to share what it was like to work with Rajamouli on a movie where a fly is the biggest hero. But well, just like his cinematic universe is dominated by men, so is this documentary.

From the vengeful little housefly to God-like war heroes, SS Rajamouli’s characters and stories have won over fans for his unique vision. However, unlike his well-crafted, entertaining movies, Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli is a halfheartedly executed documentary that feels like a PR Ad.

Read Next: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series Review (Short Audio Version Below)

Indian 2 Review: Watch or Re-Watch Kamal Haasan’s First ‘Indian’ Instead

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

The title intro for the 2024 movie “Indian 2” rolls in 20 minutes into the runtime, by which time I was in near-tears because there were over 2 hours to go, and it was already boring, with overtly theatrical dramatizations of a bunch of different corruption scandals that a team of YouTubers highlight on their channel. I actually saw the 1996 “Indian” on Netflix a few days ago, for the second time after several years, mostly for the amazing songs, but even now, the 1996 version doesn’t feel as dated as the new one.

Directed by S. Shankar, “Indian 2” starts off by introducing Siddharth as Chitra Varadarajan, a young man who runs a media-style YouTube channel called “Barking Dogs.” Chitra and his friends satirize corruption cases to raise awareness and revive R. K. Laxman’s iconic cartoon character “The Common Man” in their videos. However, despite a substantial following and “likes,” the team realizes they aren’t able to make any real difference against a rotting system, so they decide to run a campaign to bring back Veerasekaran Senapathy (Kamal Haasan), an army veteran known for his crusade against corruption.

Also Read: Maharaja Review: Deceptively Twisty Screenplay Rules this Thriller

What follows is a tiring, glorified, overdone movie that plays out like a long lecture in the form of a stage play made by college students who’ve run into a lot of funds. Visually, a lot of the settings and cinematography in “Indian 2” are lavish and aesthetic, but rarely in sync with the screechy script. For example, we get back-to-back tragic stories of how common citizens are forced to their deaths at the beginning, and all the characters loudly gasp in shock each time, almost like pageant contestants who’ve practiced their gasps one too many times. It was especially hilarious to see Siddharth forcibly feigning surprise in such scenes, knowing how he is a great actor otherwise. Well, subtlety is simply not an ingredient in “Indian 2.”

The makeup team does such a slipshod job with Kamal Haasan’s look that he almost looks like an aged Gulshan Grover, who plays one of the many villains in “Indian 2.” And once I saw the similarity, it further ruined the rest of the long-drawn film for me. Given the dated nature of the script, instead of setting the sequel in the 2020s, the creators should’ve probably set “Indian 2” just a few years after the timeline of the first one, so there would’ve been no reason to cake up Kamal Haasan in layers of prosthetics.

While some of the background music in “Indian 2” is gritty, the songs come nowhere close to the charm of the older tracks. In fact, the first song to play in the film feels like an affront to the chart-busting album of the original “Indian,” which was composed by AR Rahman. If you haven’t seen the first film, maybe watch that instead of this snooze-fest. It’s hard to believe that there’s actually going to be a part two to this sequel – Indian 3 is expected to come out in 2025. Hopefully, they’ll rope in writers who are more in touch with the present.

Both “Indian” and “Indian 2” are on Netflix.

Read Next: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series Review (Short Audio Version Below)

The Tormented Issue #5 Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Even though this final issue of The Tormented by Chuck Austen (story) and Patrick Olliffe (art) is a little chaotic, it is still pretty entertaining. Most importantly, it ends with a promise of a whole new season, which I would be very happy to read.

Issue #5 follows protagonist Ryan Auster and his ghost-busting TV crew as they fight a horde of dangerous spirits, including Ryan’s dead dad. Ryan is key to opening a portal that divides the real world from the paranormal realm, which is why several ghastly entities are after him. With the odds monumentally stacked against them, can the crew ward off the deadly ghosts or become one of them?

I wish this finale hadn’t been just 25 pages like the others because the conclusion feels rushed, simplistic, and a little too easy. The blood, gore, and terror featured in this issue aren’t as strong. Regardless of some climactic flaws, the artwork by Patrick Olliffe in The Tormented remains fantastic until the end. Also, I love how Chuck Austen slips in a homage to Ghostbusters, with one of the crew members screaming, “I ain’t afraid of no ghost,” while preparing to fight for their lives. Besides, who doesn’t love a full-blown ‘humans versus monsters’ confrontation in a horror series?

Chuck Austen delivers a very likable protagonist in the form of Ryan, a handsome young man with a kind heart and an awful past, combined with the burden of carrying the legacy of his parents, who were famous paranormal experts. The finale of The Tormented ends with a fun, bloodied panel, where Ryan faces one of the many ghosts who haunt him, and one can only hope to see more of his eerie adventures in a Volume 2.

Rating: 4 on 5. ‘The Tormented’ is also on Kindle Unlimited.

Read Next: What If We Were 2 Review – Nat, Marie, and Madness

Read Next: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Review (Short Audio Version Below)

Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba Review – Pulp-Fiction Romance Peaks Early

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“मैं तेरी हर जिद्द मान लूंगा, बस याद रखना, इस झगड़े में कोई तीसरा शामिल न हो” (Translation: I will agree to all your wishes, just don’t ever involve a third person between us)

Love triangles, betrayal, blood, and tears (and crocodiles) return in the 2024 Netflix movie “Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba,” directed by Jayprad Desai and written by Kanika Dhillon. A sequel to “Haseen Dillruba,” the story picks up a few months after the events of the first film. Rani (Taapsee Pannu) and her husband Rishu (Vikrant Massey) are on the run from the police, who now believe Rishu faked his own death after murdering Neel, Rani’s lover but have to evidence to prove it. The couple plots to flee the country, their plans go awry, and Rani’s decision to involve her new admirer, Abhimanyu (Sunny Kaushal), further complicates things.

Running just over two hours, the first hour of ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ is solidly entertaining, unfolding like the Hindi pulp-fiction novels its characters are inspired by. Rani, a widow in the eyes of the world, lives in Agra and clandestinely meets Rishu, as he’s supposed to be dead. Always dressed in pretty sarees, low-cut blouses, with roses in her hair, Taapsee Pannu’s portrayal of Rani is spot-on in the sequel, while Vikrant Massey, as her fiercely loyal Rishu, keeps the heat in their blood-tainted romance burning. Sunny Kaushal’s Abhimanyu starts off as a refreshing contrast to the couple—introduced as a reserved, gentle medical compounder, completely head-over-heels in love with Rani.

The dialogues might feel dated to some viewers; they have a deliberate old-school poetic touch, which may come across as slightly cringe-y but is in sync with the ‘die-hard romantic’ personalities of its protagonists. While there are no song-dance sequences in ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’, its got some great original tracks playing in the background and the creators also revive a fantastic number that’s perfect for Rani and Rishu’s love story – the 1980 hit song “Ek Haseena This” from the thriller “Karz”.

Jimmy Shergill enters ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ about 25 minutes into the runtime and delivers an entertaining cameo as a new cop determined to expose Rani. He has a personal stake in the case because he is Montu Chacha, Neel’s (the man Rani kills in the first film) paternal uncle. It seems quite absurd that Rishu and Rani continue to meet easily in secret, even after Montu Chacha dispatches several cops to keep an eye on Rani’s movements. Given the film’s ‘filmy’ and theatrical nature, I didn’t really care about the lack of logic, but the plot twists in the second half become increasingly far-fetched and aren’t even fun.

Considering the climactic twists towards the end, I would have preferred that the writers included some blood-laden sequences to make it more noir and pulpy. Although the lead characters are morally grey, their ‘insane’ streak is far too tame this time around. Backed by a good soundtrack and strong performances, ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ is a decent one-time watch overall.”

Rating: 3 stars on 5. Stream the film on Netflix.

Read Next: Tarot Review: Plays Old School Horror Cards

Read Next: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series Review (Short Audio Version Below)

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review – Peach Powers Up

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

The original Super Mario games were all about brothers Mario and Luigi embarking on a dangerous quest to save Princess Peach from the tyrant King Koopa. The best thing the creators of the 2023 animated movie, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, do is get rid of the “knight in shining armor” (or loud workers’ dungarees, in this case) trope and let Princess Peach do the saving! Although Mario does get his hero moments, but this time, his mission is to save his beloved brother Luigi.

Directed by Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, and Pierre Leduc, The Super Mario Bros. Movie follows Italian-American brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day), who have just started their plumbing business in Brooklyn but suddenly find themselves sucked into an alternate fantastical reality through a warp pipe while exploring the city’s drainage system. Mario lands in the bright, colorful kingdom of mushrooms run by Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), while Luigi falls into the evil King Bowser’s (Jack Black) realm, where he is imprisoned. Mario and Princess Peach unite to fight Bowser, who plans to attack Peach’s kingdom next. But first, they must get the Kongs to ally with them.

The thing is, I grew up playing a lot of video games, which included the Super Mario games and Donkey Kong, so The Super Mario Bros. Movie obviously had a strong nostalgic value for me, especially since it’s laden with several references to the games, from characters, action moves, and graphics to the background music. This also means that older viewers who haven’t played the games won’t find it as entertaining since the plot is thin. Younger viewers (pre-teen kids) should find the animation by Illumination Studios (Despicable Me/ Minions) to be vibrantly engaging. The visual-scape of The Super Mario Bros. Movie is like an explosion of M&Ms, except for the bits with Bowser’s gloomy kingdom.

While Chris Pratt doesn’t bring a lot of personality to Mario, the sibling bond shown between Mario and Luigi is super cute. Anya Taylor-Joy (Queen’s Gambit/ Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga) is a joy as Princess Peach, and I would totally watch a sequel that only focuses on the Princess’ adventures as a powerful ruler defending her kingdom. Heck, in this film, she even trains Mario to tackle the iconic game obstacles—very meta. Jack Black, who is known for voicing Po in the Kung Fu Panda movies, is entertainingly fun as the voice of antagonist Bowser—I didn’t even realize it was him until the credits rolled in. Bowser is a villain with a heart, and also some singing talent in the film!

If you’re a fan of the Nintendo games and don’t play anymore, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is definitely a good walk down memory lane. It’s formulaic; except for the familiar gaming music, the rest of the tracks don’t necessarily complement the story and seem to be there for their own nostalgic value. For instance, the 1985 hit “Take on Me” is paired with an exciting action sequence in the second half of the film, and while the scene had a PG-13 ‘Mad Max’ energy, the song just didn’t fit.

FYI – There’s a hilarious mid-credits scene and also a small post-credits scene with a game reference that only Mario fans will understand.

Rating: 7 out of 10. You can stream the film on Netflix or JioCinema.

Read Next: Tarot Review: Plays Old School Horror Cards

Read Next: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series Review (Short Audio Version Below)

Candy Hearts Review – Sweet & Sour Sides of Dating

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Find us on Twitter | Instagram

“Candy Hearts” by Tommy Siegel is an ideal airport lounge read for anxious readers who need a quick and undemanding distraction. It’s a collection of simple heart-shaped doodles about dates, love, life, and the baggage we all carry from our past. Sometimes funny, sometimes not as much.

If it weren’t free with my Kindle Unlimited subscription, I probably would have never picked up “Candy Hearts.” Now that I’ve read it, I think it’s tailored for those who are already familiar with Tommy’s cartoons from the internet and for those specifically looking for an illustrated humorous book about the pros and (mostly) cons of online dating, dating apps, and romantic relationships.

In this book, heart-shaped candies symbolize humans, and Tommy Siegel keeps changing their colors, so it’s not just a blue candy interacting with a pink candy, if you know what I mean. Take the cover illustration of “Candy Hearts,” for example. It features a blue candy with the text “we will not mess you up” sitting with a yellow candy continuing the sentence with “like our parents messed us up” on a couch, while a little green candy sits on the floor with “a whole new kind of f*cked up” on its body. Pretty funny, which is what made me download the book in the first place.

My favorite section in the book is where Tommy Siegel draws a bunch of different hearts as they would appear on their Tinder bios. Many of them are quite hilarious, like one with a heart dressed in a graduation robe with the caption, “OK fine, this photo is from ten years ago.” If you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, definitely get “Candy Hearts” for a quick, entertaining read.

Rating: 3 on 5.

Joey King Wants To Be ‘Pretty’ in ‘Uglies’ Trailer

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

“All my life, I wanted to be pretty. I thought it would change everything.”

Netflix has just released the trailer for the 2024 sci-fi movie “Uglies,” set in a futuristic society obsessed with beauty. In this world, everyone undergoes a mandatory cosmetic procedure at the age of sixteen. Joey King, who was last seen in the Netflix romantic-comedy “A Family Affair,” stars as Tally, a young girl eagerly awaiting her turn to become ‘pretty’.

However, things take a dark turn when one of Tally’s close friends, who has undergone the operation, starts behaving strangely. This anomaly prompts Tally to question the world she once idolized. Her life is further upended when a rebel friend introduces her to a new community that challenges the societal norms.

Directed by McG, known for “Charlie’s Angels” and “The Babysitter: Killer Queen,” “Uglies” is an adaptation of the popular book by American author Scott Westerfeld. The film also boasts a talented supporting cast, including Chase Stokes, Keith Powers, Brianne Tju, and Laverne Cox.

The 2 minute 45 second trailer paints “Uglies” as an intriguing sci-fi thriller. Despite the compelling storyline, some of the special effects glimpsed in the trailer appear less than impressive. Nevertheless, the film’s premise promises to offer an entertaining dystopian title to fans.

“Uglies” will be available on Netflix on September 13. Watch the trailer on YouTube, it also embedded below.

Berta Short Horror Film Review – Tow Trucks, Terror, and Trauma

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

On a bright, sunny morning, a man’s day takes a dark turn when a young woman impounds his vehicle, only to reveal she has ulterior motives for the action.

Written and directed by Lucía Forner Segarra, the Spanish short film “Berta” is a horror-thriller that opens in a way that makes you wary of the male character within the first few seconds, only to turn the story on its head. Nerea Barros plays the titular protagonist Berta, who is introduced as a nervous woman watching a tutorial on securing a vehicle to a tow truck, sparking immediate intrigue and suspense around her personality. What unfolds next is a terrifying tale of a woman taking control of her past traumas and facing her demons in an unsettling manner.

Much like Lucía Forner Segarra’s 2018 short horror film “Marta,” most of the action in this film unfolds in a creepy basement hideout. However, unlike the quirky true-crime enthusiast Marta, whose actions are driven by a bizarre passion, Berta has stronger motivations against the man she targets. The male character (played by Elías González) is off-camera when he first appears in “Berta.” We only get to hear his voice when he talks to Berta about his impounded car. As a floating male voice, he feels suspiciously intimidating at first, like an invisible aggressor capable of much danger. But once he appears on camera, his hold begins to progressively deteriorate as the more dominant figure.

Nerea Barros excellently morphs from an unsure tow-truck driver to a vengeful woman looking to confront the ghosts of her past. Her screen presence is powerful; she reminded me of Sofia Boutella (‘The Mummy’/‘Argylle’). Barros definitely seems to possess the acting range to pull off lead roles like the ‘Scar Giver’ in Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon movies. Elías González’s character in “Berta” symbolizes a typical patriarchal man who dehumanizes women and eventually faces poetic justice in this “feminist” thriller. So each time he screams in pain, it feels almost satisfying.

About 17 minutes long, “Berta” unleashes metaphorical ghosts that its protagonist tackles with unconventional methods. It’s tense, nail-biting in bits, and ends with an entertaining climax that gives ample closure to its viewers. No loose-ends here!

Rating: 4 on 5.

Read Next: Tarot Review: Plays Old School Horror Cards

Read Next: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series Review (Short Audio Version Below)