Geriga Review: Viral Culture Meets Folk Horror

The film centers on Vijay (Rishan Sha) and his four friends, a group of YouTubers desperate for their big break. They set their sights on Naivad, a remote village steeped in the tradition of "Geriga," a sacred and feared ritual said to summon the dead. In a bid to go viral, they decide to stage the ritual as a hoax, manufacturing scares for their gullible audience. However, their performance crosses a line they never intended. Vijay is genuinely possessed, and the group's manufactured nightmare becomes a horrifying reality.

The situation spirals further when news arrives of Vijay’s father's sudden and tragic death, adding a layer of personal guilt and urgency to the supernatural crisis. The group learns they must complete the real ritual within twelve days to free their friend, a ticking clock that forces them to confront the very forces they mocked.

Bhaskar Bantupalli’s Geriga is a film of two halves. The first act, unfortunately, is its weaker part. It spends considerable time establishing the shallow, selfie-obsessed world of Vijay and his friends. Their initial antics feel overly familiar and border on grating, and the actors seem to be settling into their roles rather than owning them. Rishan Sha, as Vijay, initially plays the role of the charismatic but reckless leader with a certain detachment, making it difficult to root for him before his possession. The dialogue here is functional, serving to move the plot from the urban setting to the eerie, mist-shrouded village of Naivad.

Once the group arrives in Naivad and the story focuses on the ritual itself, the film finds its footing. The possession sequence is genuinely unsettling. The cinematography shifts from the bright, noisy visuals of the group's vlogs to a more muted, shadowy palette that effectively builds tension. The film smartly avoids relying solely on jump scares, instead creating a pervasive sense of dread. The "science fiction" angle, hinted at in its genre classification, is woven in subtly, suggesting that the "Geriga" phenomenon might be an ancient understanding of a phenomenon science is only beginning to grasp. This is not a high-tech sci-fi film, but rather a story that posits ancient rituals as a kind of lost technology for interfacing with forces beyond our comprehension.

The supporting cast, particularly Neebha Bala and Anjana Nair as two of the friends, provide a solid emotional anchor. Their transition from flippant content creators to terrified survivors is believable. Sundhar Pandyan, as a village elder, brings a necessary gravitas, acting as the guide who explains the terrifying rules of the supernatural game they are now forced to play.

The ticking clock element - the twelve days to complete the ritual - is a classic thriller device that Bantupalli deploys effectively. The second half is a race against time, filled with unsettling visions, internal group conflicts, and a desperate attempt to decipher the ritual's true nature. The film's final act is tense, offering a satisfying, if slightly predictable, resolution that hinges on the group's willingness to sacrifice for one another. The visual effects for the supernatural elements are largely restrained, which works in the film's favour, as the more abstract and less-is-more approach keeps the horror grounded in the characters' terror.

While Geriga doesn't break new ground in the horror genre, it uses its influences well. There are echoes of found-footage horror but without the restrictive format, and the overarching theme of cultural appropriation - mockingly using a sacred ritual for personal gain - is a potent one. The film ultimately serves as a grim warning: some doors are not meant to be opened for entertainment, and the past does not take kindly to being disturbed for a few moments of online fame.

Pros

• A unique and timely premise blending social media culture with ancient folk horror.
• The second half is genuinely tense and atmospheric, building a strong sense of dread.
• The strong thematic message about the dangers of cultural exploitation for fame.
• A smart, restrained use of visual effects that relies on suggestion over spectacle.

Cons

• The first act is slow-paced and the characters feel one-dimensional and difficult to invest in.
• Some of the supporting cast members turn in stilted performances, especially early on.
• The investigation into Vijay's father's death feels secondary and could have been integrated more deeply.
• The science fiction elements are less developed than the horror, leaving some questions unanswered.

Geriga is a film that overcomes its early stumbles to become a memorable and effective horror-thriller. It is a film about the modern obsession with being seen and heard, and the ancient, terrifying things that lurk just beyond the reach of a camera lens. Bhaskar Bantupalli delivers a cautionary tale for our times, proving that while the media we use to tell stories may change, some old fears are timeless. It's a flawed but fascinating watch that earns its scares and leaves you thinking long after the credits roll.