Highly dynamic action on the train, but without emotional impact

An ultra-brutal action film set on a moving train, Kill has every ambition to be the most brutal film ever made in Bollywood. While the film achieves its core objective, the overall result is not as spectacular as Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s blockbuster Animal (2023), which complemented its gore and brutality with a strong emotional aspect.

Like Vanga, director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat has a penchant for agonizing violence. He has already done this in Apurva (2023), in which Tara Sutaria hacks her captors to a pulp. In Kill, it is Lakshya Lalwani who mercilessly slaughters over forty bandits on a moving train. Finally, his lover (Tanya Maniktala) is murdered right in front of his eyes by one of them!!

The setting for the heart-pounding action is unique and confined to a railway bogie. The violence is certainly not for the faint-hearted as I saw the audience squirming in their seats at the almost empty Movietime Starcity in Matunga for a Saturday morning screening. Nevertheless, Kill is definitely a winner in terms of action and deserves full marks in this category. Tarantino would be delighted!!

Unfortunately, the intense bloodshed and brutality is not backed up by a strong emotional aspect. The main characters should have been given more development before embarking on the train journey… The background music is another disappointment. The “Jaako Raakhe Saaiyan” chant while the hero turns his enemies into mincemeat is so damn 80s!!!

Of the cast, Lakshya is convincing as a vengeful commando. However, he is not given any scope beyond his angry aura. I was actually reminded of Akshay Kumar-Sunil Shetty from the 90s. Tanya Maniktala is saddled with an underdeveloped role and makes the most of what little she gets to do. She looks sweet and pretty enough to get her next film. Ashish Vidyarthi leaves a lasting impression as the elderly gang leader Beni. Raghav Juyal, who plays the main villain Fani, steals the show in Kill. His performance is truly mind-blowing!!

Kill will appeal to hardcore action movie fans. Surprisingly, the elite critics have praised the bloodthirsty scenes of violence to the skies. Didn’t the same guys troll Animal a few months ago for the same reason??!!!

Ratings on some key aspects*:
1. Drama: 3/5
2nd direction: 3.5/5
3. Music: 2/5
4. Story, script and dialogue: 2/5
5. Camera work: 4/5
6. Editing: 4/5
7. Costume design: 3.5/5
8. Special effects and VFX: 4/5
9. Action: 5/5
10. Production quality: 4/5

#SN rating for #Kill: 3 out of 5 stars.

– Sumeet Nadkarni

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* – The film’s overall rating is not a simple average of all the ratings on important aspects, but a weighted average of the ratings, with some crucial aspects (such as direction, acting, story and screenplay, etc.) given more weight than others.

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#SNRatings Barometer:
1 star = Bad
1 & 1/2 stars = Below average/ Avoidable
2 stars = average
2 & 1/2 stars = Above average / Take the risk
3 stars = Good enough/ Tolerable
3 1/2 stars = Definitely worth seeing
4 stars = Very good
5 stars = Masterpiece/Excellent.

SNR Ratings 2024.

About Sumeet Nadkarni:

Sumeet Nadkarni is a chartered accountant by profession and a self-proclaimed film critic by passion. He reviews Bollywood films and OTT releases on his popular personal blog #SNRatings. His film-related articles have appeared in leading publications in India. With a keen eye for cinematic details and a knack for insightful reviews, Sumeet brings a unique perspective to the world of Indian cinema. Follow him for the latest Bollywood insights and unbiased film reviews. #FilmCritique #BollywoodReviewer