Murder 3
Year: 2013
Director: Vishesh Bhat
Cast: Randeep Hooda, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sara Loren (Mona Lizza)

Just like Raaz, Jism and Jannat, the Murder- franchise has worked well so far for the Bhatts. After delivering hits in its first two ‘murderous’ outings with Emraan Hashmi, the production house decided to change the leading man and opted for Randeep Hooda, another of their favourite faces. The rights of a Colombian thriller – The Hidden Face- were officially acquired and a Pakistani actress (Yet another Bhatt-trait!) Sara Loren aka Mona Lizza was roped in to play the second lead. With Vishesh Bhatt taking over the directorial reins for the first time, how does this third Murder installment pan out?

Plot:

The movie begins with a top fashion photographer (Randeep Hooda) watching a video message left to him by his ex-model girl-friend (Aditi Rao Hydari). The cryptic message tells him that she is leaving him forever. Stung by his unexpected loss, the guy tries to drown his sorrows in drinks and on the rebound, finds a new lover (Sara Loren), a bar- waitress.

As the new girl-friend moves into the photographer’s isolated palatial mansion, she starts hearing strange sounds and gets a feeling of being watched. The guy just brushes off her suspicions as a play of an overwrought mind. But the picture starts becoming murkier with the police-team coming there to investigate the man in connection with the first girl-friend’s disappearance. What are the secrets hiding in the closets of that huge house?

What’s hot?

·         Interesting plot.

·         Well-maintained intrigue.

·         Typical bedroom/bathroom scenes in the Bhatt-tradition.

·         Good music.

What’s not?

·         Ordinary acting.

·         Hurriedly wound up and a rather tame climax.

Verdict

Murder 3 is a fairly watchable thriller, which begins well but fails to develop into a more substantial suspense drama.