Bokshi Review: Witchcraft Horror With Deep Roots
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
A troubled teenager is packed off to a boarding school to escape the spooky shadow of her dead mother, believed to be a witch by her grandmother, only to find herself entangled more deeply into the world of witches, shamans, secrets, and blood sacrifices.
Directed by Bhargav Sakia and written by Harsh Vaibhav, the 2025 horror film Bokshi follows Anahita (Prasanna Bisht), whose school history club excursion to a mysterious prehistoric site spirals into a terrifying nightmare. “Boksi” is a Nepali term used for those who practice witchcraft but also finds mention in Indian mythology. In fact, the writers of the film cleverly weave mythology, folklore, and fantasy to spin this modern horror tale, which draws its strength from cult-like elements.
Bokshi begins by introducing Anahita as a reclusive, shy student, with a bed-wetting problem owing to childhood trauma and recurrent nightmares. When a bullying incident at school turns violent, she is sent by her family to a new school. In a fitting cameo, Swaroopa Ghosh plays Anahita’s authoritarian grandmother, who forbids the teen from having anything connected to her deceased mother. At the new school, Anahita is instantly drawn to a history club and finds herself under the influence of Shalini (Mansi Multani), an alluringly mystifying teacher who is in-charge of a school camping trip into the mountains.
Shot in the pristine forests of Sikkim, Bokshi immediately draws in viewers with its dreamy, hilly landscapes, contrasted by Anahita’s unsettling visions. While reviewing the 2024 horror movie The First Omen, I wrote, “Horror seldom looks this good,” watching Bokshi made me realize how rarely Indian horror films achieve such striking visuals. Tumbbad, Kumari, and Bulbbul are a few titles that come into mind when one thinks of a beautifully shot movie in the genre. However, some of the special effects and makeup in the climactic moments of Bokshi fall short. In one scene, a fake stuffed animal – clearly resembling a soft toy – is used for a violently gory sequence, which feels un-intentionally comedic and breaks the tense mood.
Prasanna Bisht delivers a riveting performance as Anahita, the troubled teen protagonist whose childhood trauma extends beyond the loss of a parent. Struggling to come to terms with her burgeoning sexuality and the shame tied to her bed-wetting habit, Anahita finds herself drawn to Rebecca (Dagi Ngomdir), a fellow history club member fascinated by witchcraft. The two bond during a forest trip, but eerie rituals by local shamans and unsettling occurrences soon turn their excursion into a terrifying ordeal. Mansi Multani is part sinister, part seductive as Shalini, the only person on the trip who is unperturbed by the supernatural events around them.
The second half of Bokshi slows down considerably, making it a challenging watch, even as it features engrossing scenes of local exorcism rituals and traditional practices. The film initially promises an intimate, regionally rooted tale of witchcraft, black magic, and perhaps hidden vendettas, but it ultimately transforms into a grand nature versus humanity narrative – so ambitious in scale that it feels disconnected from Anahita’s personal struggles, which viewers are bound to grow invested in. The climax is intense and blood-soaked but ultimately underwhelming, partly due to the unconvincing visual effects.
Despite its flaws, Bokshi is worth watching for horror fans seeking a fresh story infused with folkloric elements.
Rating: 3 on 5 stars.
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