The holiday season begins on a thrilling high note with Sriram Raghavan’s bilingual neo-noir offering Merry Christmas. Led by an unlikely pair in Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif, this madcap mystery harkens back to the best of Hitchcock while still feeling inventively fresh. With ample twists, stellar performances and technical bravado, Merry Christmas gifts cinephiles with a pulpy thriller brimming with cheer and chills.
Release Date: January 12, 2024
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Writers: Sriram Raghavan, Varun Grover
Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Katrina Kaif, Radhika Apte, Sanjay Kapoor
Runtime: 2 hours 30 minutes
Bollyflix Rating: 4/5
Plot
A charming stranger (Sethupathi) befriends a lively young woman (Kaif) but their budding connection reveals dark secrets from their pasts that threaten their holiday spirit.
Review
Merry Christmas opens with Vijay Sethupathi’s affable character giving a ride to Katrina Kaif’s spirited protagonist, leading to a unique friendship tinged by a mysterious undercurrent. Their chemistry instantly clicks, foregrounding the film’s balancing act between romance and intrigue.
As their bond progresses, Raghavan masterfully envelops them in a tightening web of deceit and danger. Twists arrive keeping audiences hooked while stunning set pieces accentuate the tension. The leading duo deliver their career-best, handling both the lighter and intense parts with aplomb.
Raghavan’s direction is typically inventive, using stylish visuals and slick editing to craft edge-of-seat sequences. Varun Grover’s writing is taut, unleashing surprises while fleshing out the psychology of the compelling leads. Technical aspects like cinematography, music and production design are top-notch.
The supporting cast including Sanjay Kapoor and Radhika Apte provide excellent backup. The climax provides a fittingly shocking culmination to this racy rollercoaster embroidered by inspired Hitchcockian touches. For thriller aficionados, Merry Christmas is a holiday treat guaranteed to delight.
Final Verdict
Merry Christmas lives up to the sky-high expectations associated with the reunion of Sriram Raghavan and Vijay Sethupathi. With ample twists and terrific technique, their thrilling craftsmanship entertains and excites in equal measure. Katrina Kaif also impresses in an author-backed role. This Christmas spellbinds with malevolent merriment galore.
Bollyflix Overall Rating: 4/5