‘Lift’ movie review: Kevin stars in a thin horror movie that tries to say too many things

Vineet Varaprasad’s debut film has some promising moments, Raise. The first is the beginning. We see a close up of a radio set, which reads the weather report. In the next shot, we see a body falling from a ceiling. Starting with this setback, the film immediately slows, traverses, and wanders as it establishes the characters and their environments. After about half an hour, Raise It starts working again (pardon the pun) when its protagonist, Guru (played by Kavin), gets stuck in a haunted elevator. For some shots, it attempts to create a claustrophobic thrill. A man trapped in a small space with a supernatural being, his cries for help unheard, his thoughts clouded in panic. Like if you’re starting to wonder if the movie is entering the survival-horror zone like Foreigner, the lift somehow opens, thereby releasing all the tension. And, Raise resume walking.

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Raise He seems entangled in what he wants to be. Disney+ Hotstar (OTT platform that released the film) classifies it as horror. But there’s little comedy, romance, and seemingly passionate resentment against corporate companies – all undermining the genre. And, the same is the case with most Tamil horror films. They attempt to evoke contrasting emotions at jarring intervals. It’s like walking through one of those carnival horror houses and stopping at random intervals to watch Vadivelu comedy.

V Vighnarajan blind house The only recent adulterous horrors that I can remember. That film, in spite of its other issues, had a persistent gloomy mood, which worked well. Plus, its characters were more relatable than Raise‘s. For example, its protagonist, Vinod (Arjun Das), panics and becomes traumatized when he encounters a paranormal event. And, he is like that throughout the film. Guru and Harini (Amrita), RaiseEven the heroes get scared. But several moments in the film despise their mortal danger. For example, Harini says to the Guru at one point, “Un Kuda Deal Panradhukku Andha Pe Oda Deal Panradhe Mail (It’s better to deal with the ghost than you).” Guru sings a birthday song for Harini while turning on his lighter. It’s hard to believe that they are the ones who saw an elevator controlled by a ghost; a man with a paper-cutter slitting his throat, and the news of his death on television.

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It’s also hard to understand how spirits work (yes, there are two of them!) They can manipulate elevators, make photocopies, disconnect phones, and create illusions like the Penrose stairs. But they let some tools like torches work just fine. Of course, there must be a suspension of disbelief. But there should be uniformity in the film too, no? It is difficult to understand the intentions of spirits. We finally learn that he has something to show for a hero. But…they try to kill them too (?)

in humans Raise Treat strangers than spirits. When Guru meets Harini for the first time, she requests him to click a photo. He takes her phone, pretends to click a photo and intentionally drops the phone in the fish tank… for no apparent reason. He comes across as a jerk. And, this, somehow makes Harini a crush on him. Later, when Harini reveals his attraction, he says that she is not interested. He tells her that he can call her “Akka” (sister); Harini slapped him and said, “Girls get angry when they are called ‘sisters’ like how boys get angry when they are called ‘brothers’.”

Apart from the above questions, I have one more question regarding the title of the movie; why call it Raise When is the whole office haunted? Considering the one-liners and absurd scenarios that keep popping up out there, The Office There could have been a better title.

Lyft is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar