So I finally got around to watching this Indian movie called
13B which is streaming on Netflix, out of curiousity as I had never seen an Indian horror film. It wasn't all bad, but apart from the cultural differences, it wasn't exceptional for a horror film, although it did have a neat premise. The plot was a man and his family move into a new apartment, and, of course, this being a horror film, strange things happen. The oddest is that there is a soap opera that strongly resemble his family and his life which only his television receives, and it depicts events that occur in the near future. Outside of that there is nothing that isn't in any conventional horror film.
13b could have definitely used some tightening up. It kept on hammering plot points that any viewer with an IQ over 50 would have figured out without as much exposition. The movie would have been much better were it a half hour shorter. It was also over-directed, with much overuse of shaky cam and rapid cutting to different angles. The characters were cardboard cutouts and had the kind of depth and cheerful performances you would see in an early 90's sitcom. What's more, the lighting was a bit too idyllic, it was a bit too perfect and gave some moments a flat sitcom look. Another thing, I know its a cultural thing for picturesque musical interludes to be a standard inclusion in Indian movies, but that really spoils the mood for a horror film. In fact, it's quite bizarre, and probably the most notable thing about this film.
To sum it it, I think there is the heart of a good old fashioned ghost story buried in this production, but it isn't worth enduring the treatment which that story received. I would only recommend this if you were tremendously curious about what a Bollywood horror film is like.