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The youthful suspense thriller The Birthday Boy hits cinemas today. Dive into our review to know how it fares.

Story:

Five friends studying in the USA have a wild birthday party. But things take a dark turn when the birthday boy suddenly dies. Shocked and confused, the friends are left trying to figure out what happened. What caused his death, and how will they cope? Find the mystery unfolding in the movie.

Plus Points:

Writer and director Whisky created a buzz during promotions by keeping his identity under wraps. He maintains this suspense in the film, immersing the audience in his storytelling.

The story is filled with suspense and enigma, with several scenes building anticipation. The well-placed twists add excitement and keep viewers engaged.
Set mostly at night, the film benefits from its low-light cinematography, enhancing the suspenseful atmosphere. The team has done a good job here. Although most of the actors are newcomers, aside from Ravi Krishna (Virupaksha fame), they deliver fine performances.

Minus Points:

A compelling plot and tight screenplay are crucial for a suspense thriller, but The Birthday Boy falls short in these aspects. Despite the director’s efforts, the film struggles in the second half, particularly in how it handles the aftermath of the death.

The emotional scenes lack impact, and revealing the mystery too early in the second half is a significant misstep. Maintaining suspense until the end would have been more effective. Many scenes appear sluggish and add little to the overall narrative.

Some dialogues are not family-friendly, which may limit the film’s appeal to younger audiences. The emotional depth and climax could have been more impactful, and certain characters, like Rajiv Kanakala’s, don’t contribute much to the story.

Technical Aspects:

While Whisky shows promise as a director, the story could have been more engaging with a sharper screenplay and tighter editing in the second half. His vision could have benefited from a more captivating narration.
The cinematography is impressive, and the music adds to the tension in key moments. Production values are solid, but the editing could use some refinement, especially in the second half.

Verdict:

On the whole, The Birthday Boy is a youthful suspense thriller that thrills only in parts. Despite Whisky’s neat efforts and okay performances, the film is hampered by slow-paced scenes and a lackluster second half. The adult dialogues limit the film’s audience. It might be worth exploring other entertainment options this weekend.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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