'Crazxy' review: Sohum Shah leads engaging, creative thriller
What's the story
Crazxy, directed by Girish Kohli, stars Sohum Shah as a battered, tired, and deeply flawed man.
Set almost entirely in a car, the 93-minute-long movie stays on track for most of its runtime, has next to no unnecessary scenes, and doesn't overstay its welcome.
Crazxy may not be perfect, but it repeatedly puts the protagonist (and you) in uncomfortable situations, delivering consistent edge-of-the-seat thrill.
Story
Follows Abimanyu's race against time
The film follows Dr. Abhimanyu, whose life is fraught with challenges.
He struggles to be an attentive, responsible father to his daughter, Vedica and considers her "abnormal" since she has Down syndrome.
However, one day, when Vedica is kidnapped, Abhimanyu's paternal instinct and guilt finally kick in, and he puts his life on the line to save her.
#1
Invites you into its world and doesn't let you go
Largely a propulsive thriller, Crazxy hooks you in from the first frame (it has been shot impeccably).
If this were a novel, you would like to finish it in a single sitting over an afternoon.
The first scene zooms in on a book titled The Ethical Dilemma Of Surgery, so we know right away that Abhimanyu will soon face a moral quandary.
#2
The entire film rests on Shah's shoulders
Kohli and Shah manage to keep you locked in despite (and perhaps because of) the fact that we hardly meet any other character except Abhimanyu.
His ex-wife, his girlfriend, his colleagues, and the dreadful kidnapper all make their presence felt, but only through their voices.
With time running out and a single location (the car), the tension in this chamber-film is through the roof.
#3
Keeps delivering new twists and turns
As the story progresses in the second half, many exciting, gripping layers are uncovered.
With each passing minute, Abhimanyu inches closer to danger, driving uncontrollably on large, deserted roads in the middle of nowhere, competing in a race he is destined to lose.
Just when you think nothing worse can happen to Abhimanyu, the script badgers him even more.
#4
However, also struggles with pacing at times
Despite these merits, you can't help but feel that Crazxy could have been a lot better, more taut and exciting.
It does not have any jaw-dropping twist, no, "Whoa!" moment, and there are many sequences where the movie struggles to maintain the same kind of tension it started with.
It also tries too hard with its Abhimanyu-stuck-in-a-chakravyuh metaphor, borrowed from the Mahabharata.
#5
The dialogues and climax had immense scope for improvement
A major issue with Crazxy is the dialogues.
They completely undercut the gravity of the situation, especially when Abhimanyu is dangling between life and death.
For instance, Abhimanyu's conversations with his girlfriend are completely flirtatious and don't suit the occasion.
Another disappointment is the extremely convenient climax, which left me feeling cheated.
After a thrilling journey, the final destination shouldn't be this unsatisfactory.
Verdict
Looking for something different? Watch it; 3/5 stars
Films with only a handful of characters are rare in Bollywood, so Crazxy charts new territory.
Apart from the acting and the direction, the music department is just as strong, and the credit list includes Gulzar, Kishore Kumar, and Anand Bakshi, among others.
I wish Crazxy didn't go for such a predictable climax, but apart from that, it's worth your time.
3/5 stars.