The series Betaal is a tense and dramatic horror with aptly mixed supernatural and historical reflections that make it unique and captivating to watch. Right at the beginning, I was immersed in the distant village environment, which is both claustrophobic and atmospheric and further increases the feeling of fear and suspense. The idea of the series, i.e. an undead British officer and his zombie redcoats attacking the modern soldiers, creates curiosity instantly and lures with a combative and exciting collision of times and ideologies. The design of the production makes a good transition back to the past and the present, chilling pictorials and an air of the haunting keep the tension on the edge.
The series is a masterpiece in its ability to build a breath-taking suspense due to the effective direction and action sequences. The depiction of the zombie battalion is horrible and visually believable, which gives it a touch of visceral horror that lingers. The acting is also commendable; Vineet Kumar Singh is playing with a rough edge to his role and Ahaana Kumra is adding the respective emotional depth. The story intelligently plays with the themes of history, guilt and the repercussions of colonialism that bring some additional layers of meaning to the horror. The rhythm is fast moving and keeps the audience on their toes all the way, with the creepy soundtrack and sound production making the film even more creepy.
The most memorable to me was the power of the series to create the effect of unease based on historical trauma and unresolved guilt. It is a tale that is scary and thought-provoking and it makes one reflect on what sins he/she had done before that carry on their dark shadows. Although there are segments that border on clichés of the horror genre, the novel concept behind the series and its underlying themes make it superior to the typical horror content. On the whole, Betaal is a hauntingly efficient show that made me feel uncomfortable, and it merged supernatural horror with a chilling commentary on the past that has to be viewed by any fan of intense and thought-provoking thrillers.
