Akshay Kumar returns to familiar comic horror territory with ‘Bhooth Bangla’ a film that promises madcap chills but mostly delivers recycled gags and noisy confusion. Directed with plenty of energy it begins brightly enough as a crooked caretaker inherits a crumbling mansion with inconvenient spirits and even more inconvenient relatives.
Kumar works hard throwing himself into pratfalls double takes and broad punchlines yet the script gives him little beyond frantic mugging. The first half raises mild laughs whenever the ghosts behave like bored tenants complaining about rent repairs and terrible singing.
After the interval the film grows shapeless piling on chases secret tunnels mistaken identities and sentimental backstory that slows everything down. The supporting cast is game especially the dryly amused housekeeper and a scheming cousin who nearly steals the picture.
Technically the production is mixed. The sets have charm but the visual effects look unfinished while the soundtrack keeps shouting when silence might have helped.
There are flashes of the old Akshay spark and a few jokes land cleanly yet too much feels assembled from better films. At two hours it overstays its welcome badly.
‘Bhooth Bangla’ is never dreadful because the cast remains committed but it is disappointingly ordinary. Fans hoping for sharp scares or memorable wit may leave wanting more patience than pleasure.
Younger viewers might still enjoy the slapstick chaos and colourful nonsense for a while before boredom settles in and lingers afterwards quietly through the credits.
Movie rating: ★★½