No suspense in this thrill

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Conflict and suspense are supposed to be the two basic elements of a psychological thriller. The two work together in tandem to create a world where mind rules over matter. This world is brutal not because of intense physical action, but because of the psychological mind games that characters play with each other. 404 seems to have touched all these elements at some point or the other, but not quite firmly.

The narration is very linear, and lacks the punch you expect in a psychological thriller. Also, looking at the pace of the story, you already have a basic idea of what the end is going to be. The film takes on the age-old question of whether there’s anything called paranormal world exist or, if ghosts are just a figment of our imagination. The lead protagonist Abhimanyu (a fresher in a medical college played by Rajvvir Aroraa) doesn’t believe in ghosts. To prove his point he takes up the room 404 in the boys hostel, where a student named Gaurav had committed suicide. As part of the hostel ragging, Abhimanyu is told to know everything about Gaurav, and this is where his fascination with Gaurav begins. The rest of the story is about whether Gaurav is just a part of Abhimanyu’s imagination, or if his ghost really resides in room 404.
Imaad Shah (who plays Chris) tries his best, throughout the film, to put forth a mysterious, solitary and complex character, but the more he tries the less mysterious he becomes. And so does Nishikant Kamath (Professor) whose character, a psychology professor, is too plain to be taken seriously. It’s only in the later part of the film that you get to see some conflict arising. By that time, however, the audience has already lost interest in him. And the act that he pulls of an insane person, at the end, well, it makes you hate him even more. The only character who brings some joy to the eye is Tisca Chopra, but then again, she doesn’t do more than just being a filler in the film. Although she knows some secrets about her husband’s dark intentions (which were revealed to the audience in a high-on-glycerine emotional act by the Professor), the director has failed to make the most of her acting talent. The plot also introduces several mysterious characters to intensify the thrill, but most of them fail to make a mark.
The lead characters do try to create a world of suspense, but the dialogues fail them miserably. Throughout the film you keep looking for some intense moment — either of fear, solitude, hatred, revenge, even physical brutality for the heck of it. But the plot is disappointing. And the dark alleys and corridors don’t do much to add any suspense to this alleged thriller. The only intense action you get is in the background score, and the camera angles, but an uncooperative narrative and the absence of strong characters fail to bank on them. Even the editing at times is a little too choppy. The idea perhaps was to create some discomfort in the audience’s mind, which it does, but only in a negative way.
There are very few moments in 404 where the audience feels surprised or is taken aback.
404 is watchable, but don’t expect anything extra-ordinary.