Haunted 3D: Echoes Of The Past REVIEW: Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Chetna Pande’s Supernatural Horror Delivers More Yawns Than Screams

Film:
Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past

Directors: Vikram Bhatt and Manish P. Chavan

Writers: Mahesh Bhatt, Suhrita Das and Shubham Dhiman

Cast: Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Chetna Pande, Gaurav Bajpai, Hemant Pandey, Shruti Prakash, Praneet Bhatt, Mannveer Choudharry

Platform: In Theatres

Runtime: 2 hours 20 minutes

Haunted 3D: Echoes Of The Past Review

Fifteen years after Haunted – 3D attempted to redefine horror for a new generation, director Vikram Bhatt returns to the franchise with Haunted 3D: Echoes Of The Past. While the film aims to blend supernatural horror with a tragic love story, the result is a disappointingly outdated affair that struggles to generate either genuine scares or emotional investment.

The story follows Dev (Mahaakshay Chakraborty), a troubled man who seeks refuge in a secluded mansion overlooking the mysterious Maniktala Lake. Hoping to escape his painful past, Dev instead finds himself trapped in a web of supernatural occurrences tied to the mansion’s dark history. As he uncovers long-buried secrets, he is forced to confront memories of his lost love Sunheri (Chetna Pande) and the restless spirits that continue to haunt the property.

Unfortunately, what begins as an intriguing premise soon descends into a predictable and repetitive narrative. The screenplay relies heavily on familiar horror tropes, creaking doors, shadowy figures, and loud jump scares without bringing anything fresh to the genre. The emotional core involving Dev and Sunheri’s relationship never receives enough depth to make the audience care about their fate.

What Works

The film’s scenic mountain setting occasionally creates an eerie atmosphere. A few sequences inside the mansion are visually effective and hint at the kind of gothic horror experience the film could have delivered. Some of the background score manages to build tension, especially during the first half.

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What Doesn’t Work

The biggest problem is the screenplay. The pacing is sluggish, and the story takes too long to reach its key revelations. Most of the scares feel recycled and predictable, robbing the narrative of suspense. The emotional drama is equally underdeveloped, making it difficult to connect with the characters.

The dialogues often sound dated, while several scenes unintentionally evoke laughter instead of fear. Haunted 3D also struggles to maintain a consistent tone, shifting awkwardly between romance, mystery, and horror.

Technical Analysis

Vikram Bhatt’s direction shows flashes of his understanding of the horror genre, but the execution feels stuck in the past. The visual effects, crucial for a supernatural film, appear uneven and frequently break immersion. The cinematography effectively captures the isolated mansion and mist-covered landscapes, but the editing lacks sharpness, resulting in a dragging runtime.

The background score tries hard to create tension, yet it often compensates for scares that the screenplay itself fails to deliver.

Star Performances

Mahaakshay Chakraborty as Dev delivers a sincere performance and does his best with the material provided. He manages to portray Dev’s emotional turmoil convincingly in parts, but the weak writing prevents him from leaving a lasting impact.

Chetna Pande looks convincing in her role and brings a certain vulnerability to Sunheri. However, her character remains underwritten, giving her limited scope to showcase her abilities.

Gaurav Bajpai, Hemant Pandey, Shruti Prakash, Praneet Bhatt, and Mannveer Choudharry perform their respective roles adequately. Unfortunately, most of the supporting characters exist merely to move the plot forward and are not given memorable moments.

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Conclusion

Haunted 3D: Echoes Of The Past attempts to revive a popular horror franchise but ends up feeling like a relic from another era. Despite a potentially engaging premise and a few atmospheric moments, the film is weighed down by a predictable story, ineffective scares, and underdeveloped characters. Horror fans looking for genuine chills may leave disappointed, while casual viewers might find little reason to stay invested in this ghostly tale.

Watch the trailer of Haunted 3D: Echoes Of The Past here:

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