Leave aside the actors that the banner has introduced, Vishesh Films is a camp in itself if you just consider the family members involved in the filmmaking business. And while half of the clan is already busy making movies, the Bhatt's launch yet another family offspring Vishesh on whom the entire empire has been named. Mukesh Bhatt's son Vishesh has been assisting for quite some time and he finally takes over the mantle as a filmmaker with the third installment of their blockbuster franchise Murder. Whether this film is as riveting as the previous two or not let's find out.
Vikram (Randeep Hooda) is a fashion cum wild-life photographer from Capetown, South Africa who shifts to Mumbai courtesy a big job offer. His girlfriend Roshni (Aditi Rao Hydari) despite being well established in SA moves leaves everything and moves along with him. However, soon after they move to Mumbai Roshni starts feeling that Vikram isn't eventually as loyal as she expected him to be. In a bid to test her fiance's loyalty Roshni devices a plan but soon after falls for her own trap while a few days later Vikram stumbles upon another hottie Nisha (Sara Loren) and falls for her. While their love story gets strong, the cops start chasing Vikram suspecting him for Roshni's sudden disappearance.
Vishesh Films for long has been accused for ripping films off from world cinema and this time around they put the ranting of the critics to rest by officially remaking the Spanish film The Hidden Face. However, in a bid to Indianise the plot, Vishesh Bhatt reduces the effectiveness of the story.
For any thriller it's the twists and turns that matter although the twists in this film turn funnier by the minute. The change in the state of mind of Roshni and her steps that follow are so sudden and drastic that she only gets reduced to a mindless bimbo and evokes giggles from the audience instead of gripping you into the film.
Vishesh shows his craft in the way he turns the initial unexplained occurrences like the ripples in the water, strange noises from the basin or the rattling windows into logical happenings. Even the camera work by Sunil Patel is impressive and the background score aides in building up the tension.
On the acting front, Randeep Hooda sleep walks into his character without having much to do. Aditi Rao Hydari grows within the film and gives brilliant performance in the second half. Sara Loren looks hot and acts well too. Music by Pritam has a Bhatt stamp all over it and sound quite like the Emraan Hashmi film numbers.
To sum it up, Murder 3 only draws the title from its predecessors and not the nail biting chill or edgy suspense. The film could've been a taut thriller but Vishesh's novice hands don't quite succeed in making a great film.
Critic: Mansha Rastogi
(2 / 5) : Average