Netflix’s zombie series Betaal produced by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment misses the mark. Directed and written by Patrick Graham with Nikhil Mahajan and Suhani Kanwar the series is unable to bring out fear, thrill or tension. It starts with a highway scam and you expect it to be more than common zombie series but that is not the case.
Scenes keep on dragging, story is bleak and execution forgettable. The series is unable to create a scary and make-believe world. The British zombies in uniform from the pre-independence era look menacing. There is a scene in which an unethical character negotiates with a zombie for money and power as if the zombie is ethical.
Tribal with turmeric powder proves to be more powerful than commandos with guns. It is also difficult to imagine tribals who say Mumbai slangs like Lag Gayi hum sab ki. The production value is also average. Archaic tunnels, ancient temples, abandoned Victorian structures and deep forests can make a good thriller setting but that is not the case.
It gives an in-studio feel and everything has been over-explained. Like while entering the tunnels the commandos are advised “night vision chaalu karo”. The positive and engaging thing about the web series is the performance given by Aahana Kumra, Vineet Kumar Singh and Manjari Pupala. The talent of Jeetendra Joshi has been completely wasted. Characters keep on saying ‘bohot ho gaya’ and ‘Yeh kya c******* hai’ throughout the series and this is what you feel about it.
