Sector 36 review: Vikrant Massey, Deepak Dobriyal's performances draw you into this gruesome tale 

Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal's Sector 36 is a difficult watch. Based on the infamous Nithari case, director Aditya Nimbalkar's film relies a lot on interpretation and keeps the gore minimal yet the visuals make your stomach churn because the screenplay is so taut and Saurabh Goswami's camera work so intrusive that the film paints a vivid picture in the viewers mind.

Films based on crime always have an audience and it is upon the makers how they keep the viewers engaged. In Sector 36, the deft writing and stupendous performances by the lead actors Massey and Dobriyal make the film engaging- despite its grim theme.

Plot of Sector 36

Massey plays Prem, a house help in a big villa owned by businessman Bassi (Akash Khurana) in a locality in Delhi NCR. The bungalow, large and eerie seems to swallow up kids from the bordering slum area for months. Distraught parents have been trying to lodge complaints at the local police station headed by sub-inspector Ram Charan Pandey (Dobriyal) who has been negligent about filing FIRs or making any attempt to look for the missing kids.

A personal incident during a busy festive night shakes up Pandey and he starts digging up the grave (literally) to find out some of the missing children. Skeletons stumble out from the nearby drainage and they all lead to the Bassi villa.

Pandey initially sets out looking for missing kids and a girl but the case becomes much bigger with people in power taking extra measures to thwart Pandey's investigation. Deep into the case, Pandey realises that there are bigger players and Prem might just be one of the pawns.

What works for Sector 36

It is a very performance-oriented script and Nimbalkar's deft direction and Bodhayan Roychaudhury's smart writing helps actors to perform the scenes in absolute perfection. Both Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal are known for their acting prowess and Sector 36 only proves their mastery over their craft.

A special word on the casting. In no possible way would I imagine Vikrant Massey playing a cannibalistic paedophile serial killer.The actor has over the years played myriad characters on screen but none have been this gory. Neither would I imagine Dobriyal in a cop avatar - desperately wanting to solve the case despite the odds against him. And perhaps, that is why Sector 36 is such a winner.

Massey, who has played the good guy in most of his films, plays the cold, psychopath murderer who has no remorse for his deeds. On the face of it, Prem seems like a regular village guy, meek, mute and harmless - belonging to the poor section of the society but as the story progresses, you start feeling uncomfortable with his cold stares, his laugh and smile.

Dibriyal, meanwhile plays a corrupt Police officer who changes overnight when an incident involving his family shakes him up. He knows he has hurdles to cross yet he never gives up on the case. Both these actors also emote through their eyes.

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In aparticular scene, Dobriyal's character interrogates Massey who in a long monologue, elaborately explains how he killed his victims. Dobriyal hardly has lines in the scene, but its his eyes that show horror and shock as Massey elaborately explains his method of madness. Massey's stares are cold, while Dobriyal looks on horrified.

The makers also seem to deliver a social message by juxtaposing a quick police reaction on a high-profile kidnapping case even as Pandey fights a lone battle for the have-nots.

The film talks of how class demarcation is so evident in our society that when a few go missing, no one seems to bother much until it hits home.

What does not work

The film relies heavily on dialogues and conversations between the characters, which can become too much to take in after a point. The details of the Nithari case are still vivid in the public memory and aren't pleasant. The narrative can get too heavy when it is shown and explained in great detail.

At 2 hours 4 minutes, the film is a stretch especially when you know who the culprit is and his modus operandi of luring kids into the horror house. Pandey's change of heart from a callous, corrupt police officer to one determined to solve the case seems too sudden as well.

Sector 36 still works. It is a difficult watch no doubt and the little amount of gore that makers show also can make you squirm yet it draws you in because of the writing and Vikrant Massey's performance.

Sector 36 is streaming on Netflix.