Oct. 27, 2021|India|R
Genre: Drama;Horror;South;Indian
Description: The 2021 Tamil movie *Cinderella* follows a horror storyline with elements of supernatural intrigue. The film begins with a ghost murdering a man, setting the tone for its chilling narrative. Akira, portrayed by Raai Laxmi, a sound designer, is wrongly accused of the crime. She travels to a hill station to capture rare bird sounds for a Hollywood project but discovers a Cinderella costume in an antique shop. Upon bringing it home, she experiences paranormal occurrences. Meanwhile, a wealthy girl named Ramya (Sakshi Aggarwal) is killed, and her mother becomes the ghost’s next target. The mystery revolves around the ghost’s identity and motive for the killing spree.
Released over a decade later, *Cinderella* fails to offer a fresh take on the horror genre, which has seen numerous films in recent years. A flashback sequence loosely ties the story to the classic Cinderella tale, featuring a maid who faces harassment from her employers but finds empowerment after acquiring an elegant gown. A young wealthy man, akin to a prince, falls for her. While Raai Laxmi’s portrayal of Akira carries the film in these parts, the overall plot remains predictable, relying heavily on anticipated jump scares.
The film’s flashback segment stands out as its strongest point. However, it includes a poorly executed comedic scene featuring Robo Shankar, whose crude and cringe-worthy dialogue only detracts from the narrative. This reinforces the need for comedians to recognize that inappropriate humor can be as harmful as outright abuse.
*Cinderella* struggles to innovate within the horror genre, falling short of the expectations set by its predecessors.
Original name: Cinderella