Demonte Colony 2 - Vengeance Of The Unholy (Telugu) Review

Horror films tend to fall into two distinct categories. The first is the familiar, low-budget mix of sleaze, songs, comedy, romance and cheap scares - a staple offering that entertains but rarely terrifies. The second category is far riskier, involving high-budget productions that deliver pure, unadulterated horror. These films often delve into psychological terror, as seen in The Others, or unleash intense, graphic fear, like in Drag Me To Hell. In these films, the horror isn't scattered sporadically but lingers ominously throughout, building to a terrifying crescendo that leaves the audience shit-scared. Demonte Colony 2 firmly belongs in this latter category.

Sam Richard (Sarjano Khalid), who had bravely battled cancer and made a remarkable recovery, tragically took his own life by hanging, coinciding with the mysterious deaths of all his friends, who fell from the same building. Sam's wife, Debbie (Priya Bhavani Shankar), suspects that his and his friends' deaths were not mere accidents. Six years later, Debbie begins to feel that Sam's spirit is trying to make contact with her.

With the help of a Taoist monk named Daoshi (Tsering Dorjee), she ventures into the spirit world, where she discovers her husband trapped in a hellish situation, screaming for help. She also finds links between Sam and twin brothers Srini and Raghu (both played by Arulnithi). Daoshi brings her back to the real world. She then tries to connect the dots behind the deaths and, in the process, discovers a mysterious book and a cursed chain with a demonic history.

Demonte Colony 2 kicks off with a brief recap of the original, but it quickly plunges into a maelstrom of nightmares, building tension and horror from the start. The cursed necklace from the first film continues to wreak havoc, but this time, a sinister book adds an even more harrowing dimension to the story. However, as the plot thickens, the movie begins to buckle under the weight of its own complexity. The constant references to the original make it challenging for newcomers to keep up, and even the recap at the beginning doesn't quite bridge the gap. To fully grasp this sequel, watching the original is almost mandatory - a major downside for those unfamiliar with the first film.

On the bright side, director Ajay Gnanamuthu has crafted an immersive horror experience that captures the terror and desperation of its characters, pulling the audience in from the very beginning. To heighten the sense of dread, he employs a docu-style found footage technique that adds a layer of realism to the scares. The final act, with its heavy use of graphics and a bone-chilling score reminiscent of classic Anti-Christ horror films, leaves a lasting impression.

The movie also leans heavily on the emotional weight of grief and personal loss, using flashbacks of Sam's and Debbie's past to haunt the latter and fuel her relentless pursuit of the truth. Yet, as the credits roll, many questions remain unanswered. Debbie, along with Raghu and Srini, are left grappling with mysteries that the film deliberately leaves unresolved, hinting at the possibility of another sequel. For those who've seen the original, or at least are familiar with its plot, this movie offers a richer experience, the two films getting tied together into a cohesive whole.

After a rather lacklustre turn in Bharathiyudu 2, Priya Bhavani Shankar delivers what might be her best performance to date. The movie revolves around her character, and she masterfully portrays Debbie's transformation from a loving wife to a grief-stricken widow, and finally to a woman obsessed with uncovering the truth. Her performance is especially demanding in the second half, where she spends a gruelling 20 minutes locked in a mirror maze, evoking raw fear and despair with little respite, as the scene is shot in long, unbroken takes.

Tsering Dorjee, as Daoshi, provides a stark contrast with his stoic portrayal of the Taoist monk. His calm demeanour throughout the film only makes his transformation into a possessed, monstrous figure in his final scene all the more terrifying.

Arulnithi does a commendable job in his dual role as twins Srini and Raghu, whose lust for money and property drives them apart.

From a technical standpoint, Demonte Colony 2 outshines its predecessor. The original didn't offer much room for visual effects, but this sequel embraces them, and they're executed with finesse. The production quality is top-notch, with meticulous attention to detail in both set design and cinematography. The sound design is another standout, adding layers of tension that amplify the overall suspense. One of the film's crowning achievements is the mirror sequence in the final act, where Debbie, Raghu and Daoshi are trapped in separate chambers - a masterclass in blending practical effects with CGI.

Demonte Colony 2 is a must-watch for fans of unadulterated horror and those who've seen the original. Its ability to immerse the audience in a world of terror, combined with standout performances and technical prowess, makes it a worthy successor - though newcomers may struggle to fully appreciate its intricacies without revisiting the first film.