The Body: Movie Review

Dec 14, 20192 min read

Synopsis

A dead body goes missing from a morgue, and the investigating officer suspects the husband to have murdered his wife and hidden her body. On the other hand, the husband is afraid that his wife is alive, and the security guard has seen her ghost! It is an intriguing premise that combines all the elements of suspense and horror and stays true to its original.

Jeethu's plot unravels in the dark and dingy corners of the morgue where the corpse of an influential and wealthy woman industrialist based out of Mauritius, Maya Verma (#SobhitaDhulipala) goes missing before her autopsy could be done and SP Jayant Rawal (#RishiKapoor) is called to investigate the case. Jayant suspects foul-play and strongly believes that Maya's husband, Ajay Puri (#EmraanHashmi) is behind her murder by overdosing her with a fatal drug H-16 that led to her accident. Meanwhile, as the investigation ensues, Ajay encounters spooky validations of Maya's existence and starts believing that she is alive and trying to trap him and his girlfriend, Ritu (Vedhika) for their sordid crime.

Direction

#TheBody, directed by #JeethuJoseph of the Malayalam blockbuster #Drishyam fame, is an official remake of the Spanish film #El-Cuerpo that brings together #RishiKapoor and #EmraanHashmi who forge a fascinating cat-and-mouse game in this investigation procedural.

Known for his leanings for deliciously twisty thrillers, Jeetu crafts a racy and intriguing screenplay for the first half, with the mood and milieu bearing a striking resemblance to its Spanish original (I haven't watched it and recommend you don't too!) going by its teasers.

The narrative forays to the flashback, unwrapping the conjugal equation between Maya and Ajay and is hurdled by some languorous song sequences. The second half is unsteady and doesn't live up to the expectations built during the first, leading to a hasty climax. I wished, it could have been done more smartly, built and explained well. Overall, the characters are fleshed out well, and their motives are successfully layered, which keeps you invested.

Performances

One of the strongholds of this suspense drama is its compelling cast. #RishiKapoor, seen after a hiatus, is in great form as the skeptical cop with a tragic past. At one point he remarks about Hashmi to his subordinates, "He reeks of being nervous!". Kapoor is incredibly spontaneous and cock-sure about his part. #EmraanHashmi is disarmingly earnest and makes his anxiety palpable. It is his reunion with Shobhita after Bard-of-Blood, who is deliciously sassy and makes a meal out of her confined part. Vedhika is impressive. #ArifZakaria and Ruksar are awfully neglected.

Cinematography

The movie presents us with mesmerizing views of Mauritius seascapes. The cinematography by #SateeshKurup is commendable.

WMR Verdict: #TheBody is a suspenseful and creepy mystery thriller but it's let down by a hasty climax. #RishiKapoor is awesome, #EmraanHashmi is disarmingly honest, Shobita is deliciously sassy, and Vedika is impressive! #JeethuJoseph crafts a gripping investigation drama. On the whole, #TheBody is consistently watchable and is a good pick for your weekend.