I’ll be honest: I’m the kind of person who peeks through fingers at horror, but Ghost Stories (released in 2020) had me leaning so far forward I almost fell off the couch. This Indian anthology brings four directors—Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, and Karan Johar—together to serve up bite-sized chills in a brisk 144 minutes. It isn’t just another ghost flick; it’s more like a sampler plate of dread that somehow keeps you guessing until the end.
A Haunting Welcome: The Nurse and the Manor
Zoya Akhtar’s segment introduces Sameera, a young nurse who arrives at an isolated mansion to care for the elderly Mrs. Malik. You can practically feel the drafty corridors and smell the musty drapes—so vivid, right? I found myself imagining what creaks would sound like in my own childhood home. The set design is deceptively cozy, lulling you into a false sense of security before the unease sets in. And yes, it’s subtle, but ever so unsettling.
Twilight Whispers: Motherhood and the Unseen
Next up, Anurag Kashyap flips the script on maternal instincts. Here, Neha—played with haunting restraint—agrees to babysit her late sister’s child. As she rocks the cradle, you half expect lullabies to warp into something sinister. The tension is a slow burn; there’s no jump scare every five seconds, thank goodness. Instead, you sit with Neha’s simmering paranoia until you start wondering if you’d ever trust a midnight feed again.
A quick side note: this approach to horror—leaning on atmosphere rather than gore—makes the film feel oddly universal. You don’t need to understand Hindi to sense the dread. It’s kind of brilliant when a story transcends language barriers, isn’t it?
Let’s pause and take a breath. Who hasn’t peeked at the clock during a scary movie, right? It’s 2 a.m., you’re alone, and suddenly you question every shadow. Ghost Stories knows this game well.
Wolves, Ghost Towns, and Better Hide Your GPS
Dibakar Banerjee’s chapter is a detour into a deserted town where legends come alive. A man rolls into Bees-ghara hoping for directions—and ends up with a lot more. Without spoiling, let me just say that if you’ve ever wondered what a horror-movie version of a ghost town looks like, this is it. Wind whipping at the camera, tree branches clawing at your vision… you get the picture. It reminded me of road trips through the Southwest—except without the tumbleweeds, you know? Banerjee’s knack for crafting isolation is so on point that you almost feel buried under dust and moonlight.
Lights, Camera, Apparition: When Reality TV Gets Real
Finally, Karan Johar serves a modern ghost-hunting tale. Two charismatic hosts of a paranormal show roll cameras into an abandoned manor, expecting gimmicks. But as the night unfolds, the lines between staged freak-outs and genuine terror start to blur. Johar pulls off a clever trick here: you’re laughing at their reactions one moment, then question your own reality the next. (And yes, I—like so many other IMDb users—gave this a solid 4.7/10 rating, because it’s flawed yet strangely addictive.)
Across these four segments, the film’s ensemble cast shines—from Janhvi Kapoor’s terrified nurse to Mrunal Thakur’s skeptical host. You’ll find yourself rooting for them even as you cringe.
Why It Matters
Anthologies can be hit or miss. Ghost Stories mostly hits, thanks to varied pacing and distinct director voices. There are stumbles—certain moments feel overstuffed—but those are the rough edges that somehow make it feel lived-in and real. If you’ve binged every Netflix horror original already (guilty as charged), this one brings a fresh South Asian flavor that’s equal parts clever and unnerving.
For more horror, check these 9 spine-chilling movies on Netflix.
So, what do you think? Have you faced your own midnight discomfort yet? Drop a comment below, share your favorite segment, or tell us if you’re still shaking under your blanket. And hey, follow us on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram for more film chatter—because talking about scares is half the fun.
Sources
- www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Stories_(2020_film)
- www.imdb.com/title/tt10230404/
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