Name: Darlings
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2022-08-05T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah, Vijay Varma, Roshan Mathew, Rajesh Sharma

The opening shot of Darlings is a close-up of Alia Bhatt’s Badru, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination as she stares down her abusive husband Hamza (Vijay Varma). This moment sets the tone for Jasmeet K. Reen’s directorial debut: a film that tries to balance dark comedy and social thriller but stumbles under its own ambition.

Darlings follows Badru, a woman trapped in an abusive marriage, who hopes her husband will reform if he stops drinking. When his rage escalates beyond endurance, she teams up with her mother (Shefali Shah) for a clumsy yet bold revenge plot. The film’s premise is compelling—it dismantles patriarchal norms and offers a fresh perspective on domestic violence—but the execution falters.

Reen’s sharp directing shines in the first act, where the pacing is tight and the dark humor lands effectively. The dynamic between Bhatt and Shah is the film’s strongest suit, with Shah delivering a nuanced performance as Badru’s fierce yet loving mother. However, the second act loses momentum, and the narrative struggles to maintain its balance between comedy and drama.

Bhatt’s performance is polarizing. While her portrayal of Badru’s vulnerability is commendable, her mannerisms and dialogue delivery often feel too urban and forced. Shefali Shah steals every scene she’s in, grounding the film with her authentic emotional range. Vijay Varma as Hamza is chillingly realistic, but his character lacks depth beyond being a one-dimensional abuser.

The film’s originality lies in its bold take on domestic violence, but it often relies on slapstick elements that undercut the seriousness of its themes. The dark comedy works best when it’s subtle, like Badru and her mother plotting revenge over chai, but these moments are overshadowed by overly exaggerated gags.

Darlings tries to be a quirky social thriller, and while it has moments of brilliance, it ultimately falls short due to its uneven pacing and tonal inconsistencies.