‘Sector 36’ Movie Review: Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal’s Powerful Performances Boost This Deeply Unsettling Serial Killer Drama (LatestLY Exclusive)

Sector 36 Movie Review: There are some movies that make you feel hopeless and pessimistic about the world you live in, and then it hits you that they are based on real-life events. When you remember how those events unfolded in the real world, you realise that sucks even more. Such was the feeling I had after watching Aditya Nimbalkar's Sector 36, a fictionalised retelling of the disturbing 2006 Nithari killings - a grim, stomach-churning drama propelled by powerful performances from Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal. ‘Sector 36’ Release Date: Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal’s Crime Thriller Premieres on Netflix on September 13.

Sector 36 is set in 2005, where Prem Singh (Vikrant Massey) kidnaps young children from nearby slums, brings them to his employer's house, sexually abuses them, and then kills them. He chops up their bodies, consumes some parts, sells their organs, and scatters the remains.

Watch the Trailer of 'Sector 36':

As the number of missing cases grows, the police remain indifferent to the disappearances. Even when a body part is discovered, the corrupt cops try to cover it up. However, one night, Ram Charan Pandey (Deepak Dobriyal), one of the negligent cops, gets a wake-up call when his own daughter is nearly abducted by Prem. Determined to catch the man who almost killed his child, he begins investigating all the missing cases. But things are not as straightforward as they seem.

'Sector 36' Movie Review - Gruesome and Disturbing

The title card of Sector 36 is shown against a stream of blood flowing from a body being dismembered by Prem through a filthy Indian toilet—a disturbing prelude to the horrors that lie ahead. There are stomach-churning scenes implying child sexual abuse, sickening sounds of dismemberment, creepy old men, and, most unsettling of all, a corrupt system designed to favour the rich, powerful, and privileged. While the story follows a fictionalised version of heinous crimes, the film relentlessly points out—perhaps too overtly—how the system is skewed against justice.

This heavy-handed approach sometimes undermines Sector 36, particularly in the scenes that attempt to establish the world around these crimes. For instance, Prem is obsessed with a reality show that isn’t Kaun Banega Crorepati but clearly mimics it, and we also have scenes where the news channels play up the media circus. These satirical elements might work in another context, but here, they detract from the realism the film aims to convey. The movie attempts to be in the same vein as Meghna Talwar's brilliant Talwar, but you can see it fumbling in that process.

Despite some contrived elements preventing Sector 36 from reaching greatness, Bodhayan Roychaudhury’s screenplay is largely compelling. The film’s attempt to closely mirror real events can lead to mixed feelings about certain choices. For example, the movie is vague about the role of Prem Singh’s employer, Bhassi (Akash Khurana), in the crimes. While it’s clear that Bhassi is a creepy figure (even his young granddaughter senses it) who's also powerful and influential and prone to illicit behaviour, such as videotaping his encounters with sex workers, the film keeps the extent of his involvement in Prem's activities ambiguous until the very end. There are hints, but nothing definitive.

'Sector 36' Movie Review - One of The Best Acted Scenes of the Year!

The movie also keeps us guessing about Prem Singh’s psyche. There is a disturbing flashback where we learn that he was sexually abused as a child and that he murdered his abuser. However, (SPOILERS AHEAD), I was initially puzzled by how easily he confessed everything to the police when he was caught. Did he see this as his own 'Crorepati' moment, where he could proudly answer questions he already knew the answers to? Or was he simply eager to gloat because he thinks ? Prem is clearly a deeply disturbed individual, but his willingness to spill every detail without hesitation raises questions about his motivations. ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ Review: Anubhav Sinha’s Netflix Series Uses Its Brilliant Cast To Give a Gripping Reality Check.

That said, the interrogation scene is the highlight of Sector 36 and easily the best sequence in the film, closely followed by a foot-chase scene that rivals those in Black Friday and Darr. The questioning scene is a long, tense moment that brings out the best in both Massey and Dobriyal. For those familiar with Massey’s performance in 12th Fail, his vile transformation here will come as a shock—this is by far his most detestable role and certainly his boldest acting choice to date.

In this scene, Massey’s portrayal of Prem is chilling, as he boasts about his crimes with a complete lack of remorse, seemingly relishing every detail. Opposite him, Dobriyal remains quieter, but the anguish in his eyes is palpable. I was slightly taken aback that the only violent response from his character was a slap. In a sense, the film serves as a coming-of-age story for Pandey, as he experiences the injustice of the system first-hand, and Dobriyal superbly portrays that aspect.

'Sector 36' Movie Review - Final Thoughts

While the film’s intensity might be unsettling for some, it’s the raw performances and its unflinching portrayal of horror that make Sector 36 memorable. Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal's remarkable turns elevate the film, making it a disturbing but necessary reminder of the darkness lurking beneath the surface of our society and how we could never protect ourselves from it. Sector 36 is streaming on Netflix.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 13, 2024 01:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).