Film: Stree 2
Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee, and Aparshakti Khurrana
Director: Amar Kaushik
Rating: 4.5 moons
Review by: Rupal Purohit

Stree 2 fever is high and Maddock Films has justified the wait of six years. Stree is back with more power and magic. Shraddha Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee, and Aparshakti Khurrana return to extend the horror flick series with their original humour touch. Amar Kaushik's directorial continues the tale of chapter 1 with a new twist in the story and evolution of the iconic character. The film offers a double dose of horror, magic, humor, and entertainment.

Maddock Films fifth installment of Supernatural Universe is a thrilling mystical cinematic experience. It is a mixed bag of horror, laughter, and magic promising a spooky delight. The film takes you to an otherworldly universe of horror where chills meet chuckles. With Stree 2, one thing is certain Dinesh Vijan’s vision is unmatched as he introduces a distinct world of cinema in Bollywood. Stree 2 is a perfect crossover of the supernatural universe.

Stree 2 follows up the story of the 2018 released Stree who haunted the Chanderi village abducting men in dark night. Well in the second chapter, she is respected and celebrated, but another threat is here to haunt the women of the village. The story is about the Bicky gang fighting against the new demon named Sarkata who kidnaps girls at night. Rudra Bhaiya played by Pankaj Tripathi is informed about a new danger set to take over their village while Vicky (Rajkummar Rao) refuses to believe until he witnesses a horrific event one night. It is to be seen if Vicky and his team stand strong against the ghoul and end Sarkate Ka Aatank.

Director Amar Kaushik introduces a new headless monster in chapter 2 making it more intriguing and hooked. Ahead of the release Aayi Nai was trending but ab Stree aagayi hai Sarkate Ka Aatank rokne. Shraddha Kapoor embodies an intense and menacing presence as Stree Ji with her signature charm. Her inherent grace and allure shine through adding depth and complexity to the narrative. The mystery surrounding her character deepens and with it, new layers of suspense and drama are introduced. Rajkummar Rao flawlessly captures the essence of a small-town boy, effortlessly adopting an authentic dialect. He is thoroughly entertaining as he transitions from being spooked to adorable daydreaming about his lady love and then seamlessly shifting into moments of humor. 

Pankaj Tripathi and Rudra Bhaiya ka Gyan excel with impeccable acting and delightful dialogues. Abhishek Banerjee as Janna rocks the performance while Aparshakti Khurrana has excelled in his character. The film also features a cameo by Akshay Kumar teasing the possibility of Stree 3. Tamannaah Bhatia is Rudra Bhaiya’s sizzling Shama making a special appearance in the song Aaj Ki Raat. On the other hand, Varun Dhawan joins in as Bhediya linking to the horrorverse.

Director Amar Kaushik has magnificently brought Stree 2 to the silver screen with twice the fright, fun, and magic making it a spellbinding spectacle watch. The soundtrack, combining haunting melodies with catchy tunes, perfectly compliments the film’s eerie yet entertaining tone. The album composed by Sachin Jigar has maintained the connectivity with the story and audience appeal. The narrative is packed with jokes, scares, and chills. Punches are amusing if connected with the simplicity of the character and situation turning into a laughter riot.

Stree 2 will spook you out right from the start but it is also delightful with well-balanced humour. The film sets the right tone to enjoy a horror movie without any scares. It is so captivating that you won’t want to blink for fear of missing a moment. Overall, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable experience, filled with laughter and scares, resulting in a spooky entertaining ride.