12 ‘O’ Clock Review : The story centers around a young girl named Gauri, who is haunted by frequent nightmares and begins sleepwalking. As random killings occur in Mumbai, suspicion falls on Gauri, who becomes withdrawn and exhibits strange behavior. However, her family remains oblivious to her struggles. The mystery of Gauri’s condition unfolds, raising questions about whether it’s related to exam stress or something more sinister.
Movie Ratings
4/5
- Release Date 8 January 2021
- Language Hindi
- Genre Horror, Thriller
- Duration 2h 15min
- Cast Mithun Chakraborty, Krishna Gautam, Flora Saini, Manav Kaul, Makarand Deshpande, Divya Jagdale, Ashish Vidyarthi, Ali Asgar, Dalip Tahil
- Director Ram Gopal Varma
- Writer Ram Gopal Varma
- Cinematography Amol Rathod
- Music M.M. Keeravani
- Producer Ram Gopal Varma
- Production UFO Moviez Production
- Certificate 18+
Director-writer Ram Gopal Varma presents a film with potential, but it falls short due to underdeveloped characters and confusing subplots. While the introduction of new characters like psychiatrist Debholay (Mithun Chakraborty) and encounter specialist Francis Desouza (Manav Kaul) adds intrigue, the first half of the film lacks engagement. Despite efforts to build tension, the lack of significant scares makes the film feel long and tedious.
Krishna Gautam delivers a convincing performance as Gauri, but struggles to convey the depth of her character’s possession. Mithun Chakraborty and Manav Kaul contribute to the narrative, while Makrand Deshpande’s portrayal of Gauri’s father is commendable, despite some emotional inconsistencies.
Although the background score by MM Keeravani and cinematography by Amol Rathod create moments of suspense, “12 ‘o’ Clock” ultimately fails to sustain interest in its exploration of supernatural beliefs. While those easily spooked may find some enjoyment, the film ultimately drags and lacks the impact expected of a psychological thriller.
