Director: Saumitra Singh
Cast: Sanjay Kapoor, Rituraj K Singh, Ssmilly Suri, Simran Kaur Suri, Girish Sharma, Hiten Paintal, Mir Sarwar, Ajitesh Gupta, Tushar Rungta
Where to watch: Zee5
Rating: **
This whodunnit delves into the suspicious death of Albert Pinto (Rituraj Singh) the morning after his birthday party on August 5th.
Directed with an ambition that unfortunately falls short, the film follows the investigation led by Inspector Rajveer Singh Choudhary and Abhay Mathur, alongside Officer Sashi from the Enforcement Directorate. The narrative is driven by their interrogations of the party's attendees: Albert's wife Ragini, brother Anthony, sister-in-law Aastha, lawyer Karan Sinha, doctor Fernandes, friend Col. Verma, and house help Zaid Ali.
The plot thickens as conflicting statements from all witnesses surface, and the old rivalry between Rajveer and Sashi adds friction to an already tense situation. The investigation, mired in betrayal, greed, and malice, grows increasingly complex as the suspects' motives intertwine. This setup promises a gripping tale, but the delivery is marred by several shortcomings.
The crux of the film's issue lies in its execution. Despite the promising premise, this film falls into the trap of a generic, lackluster whodunnit. The narrative fails to build the necessary excitement or evoke the sinister undertones essential for a murder mystery of this nature. The exposition is tediously verbose, diminishing the potential impact of key revelations.
Performances, too, suffer from a lack of direction. Sanjay Kapoor, portraying the seasoned investigator Rajveer Singh Choudhary, appears disoriented and lacking energy, undermining the character's purported efficiency and sharpness. Simran Kaur Suri as Officer Sashi, who insists on following the money trail of cryptocurrency to solve the murder, offers a spirited performance, but it isn't enough to lift the overall mediocrity. The supporting cast, including Ssmilley Suri as Ragini, Hiten Paintal as Abhay Mathur, Ajitesh Gupta as Zaid Ali, and the late Rituraj K Singh as Albert Pinto, deliver perfunctory performances constrained by poorly written characters.
One of the film's most glaring flaws is its lack of character development. Each character feels like a cardboard cutout, devoid of depth and nuance. This deficiency in characterization makes it difficult for the audience to connect with or invest in their plights and motivations. The intrigue that should accompany a murder mystery, is severely diluted when the suspects themselves fail to evoke any real interest or suspicion.
Moreover, the film's title, House of Lies, has been borrowed from an American comedy-drama, adding an unintended layer of confusion and misplaced expectations. This title misstep is emblematic of the film's broader struggles with identity and coherence.
Despite its ambitious plot and potential for a gripping mystery, the film ultimately delivers a pedestrian experience. The investigation splits into two conflicting approaches—Sashi's pursuit of the financial trail versus Rajveer's focus on the murder—lacks the punch and ingenuity needed to sustain a thriller. Instead, it feels formulaic, uninspired, and forced- especially in the final twist.
Overall, fans of murder mysteries may find themselves disappointed by this missed opportunity.
