Video Review: Kannada Horror Film Delivers Thrills Despite Flaws
Video is an eerie Kannada found-footage horror film with strong camerawork, editing and sound design, though its predictable scares and uneven climax hold it back.
Video is a Kannada found-footage horror film that follows the disappearance of five YouTube creators from the Tharle Gang channel. After reaching one million subscribers, the group decides to visit a reportedly dangerous haunted location during a lunar eclipse, but they soon vanish. Their recovered cameras and footage are later pieced together to reveal what happened.
Writer-director Srinidhi Bengaluru creates a convincing sense of realism by presenting the story through handheld cameras, CCTV footage and documentary-style sequences. The characters and their interactions feel relatable, while the central mystery provides enough intrigue to keep the narrative moving.
The film’s technical execution is one of its strongest aspects. The camerawork, editing and sound design work together effectively to create an unsettling atmosphere, particularly during the first half, which could otherwise have felt slow.
However, Video falls short of becoming a standout horror film because some of its scares are overused. The increasingly frequent appearance of its most frightening figure reduces the mystery and eventually shifts the reaction from fear to discomfort. The climax also suffers from uneven makeup and visual effects, weakening scenes that should have delivered the biggest scares.
At 122 minutes, the film is relatively short, although the first half occasionally feels stretched while establishing the characters and their relationships.
Despite these flaws, Video remains an engaging horror experience with strong technical craftsmanship, effective performances and plenty of thrills. It offers Kannada cinema a refreshing entry in the horror genre and could appeal to viewers looking for something different.
