Exploring Demonic Possession in 'Vash Level 2': A Gripping Sequel
A Return to Horror with 'Vash Level 2'
In his latest film, Vash Level 2, Gujarati filmmaker Krishnadev Yagnik revisits the chilling theme of demonic possession, a concept he previously explored in his successful 2023 film, Vash.
The original Vash, which was adapted into Hindi as Shaitaan in 2024, tells the story of the malevolent wizard Pratap, who hypnotizes Arya (played by Janki Bodiwala), turning her against her own family. Ultimately, Arya's father, Atharva (Hitu Kanodia), manages to imprison Pratap, but this victory comes at a significant personal cost, leaving Arya in a vegetative state.
In Vash Level 2, the haunting possession spreads to an entire girls' school located in an unnamed city in Gujarat.
As the new school term begins, students fill the canteen, but soon after their meals, they fall under a sinister spell. The unseen puppet master demands terrifying obedience from them.
The principal (Monal Gajjar), along with the staff and a police officer (Chetan Daiya), find themselves unable to communicate with the increasingly aggressive girls. The spellcaster, using a student as a medium, insists on meeting Pratap (Hiten Kumar), forcing Atharva to confront a threat he believed he had already contained.
This Hindi-dubbed film, running for 143 minutes, showcases Yagnik's mastery over pacing and atmosphere, particularly in the first hour, which transitions seamlessly from the mundane to the horrific.
The girls, aged 17 and 18, exhibit behavior reminiscent of a blend between slasher films and zombie thrillers. With higher stakes and more victims, Vash Level 2 aims to deliver a similarly impactful experience as its predecessor.
While Vash focused on a single family's struggle against overwhelming evil, Yagnik employs a reverse narrative in Vash Level 2, gradually revealing the identity of the new antagonist behind the mass hypnosis.
This approach, however, leads to an anti-climactic conclusion and exposes weaknesses in Yagnik's screenplay. The film raises questions about its originality, as it seems to rehash elements from Vash with minor adjustments.
The lack of a broader response to the chaos at the school, which spills into the city, is particularly noticeable. The police officer's call for more resources highlights the absence of a comprehensive reaction, including psychologists or special forces.
Yagnik's concise storytelling, paired with Shivam Bhatt's precise editing, effectively captures a sense of clinical horror. By steering clear of the distractions that often plague Indian horror films, Yagnik intensifies the tension for both his characters and the audience. The only sound accompanying the girls' screams is Andrew Samuel's haunting background score.
With the female characters portrayed as vulnerable, the narrative places the onus on male characters to either save or doom the situation. Although the film touches on misogyny, it does so without much depth.
Hitu Kanodia delivers a compelling performance as an unlikely hero, teetering on the brink of being consumed by a cycle of revenge. Despite its provocative themes, Vash Level 2 falls short of delving deeply into its characters' psyches, opting instead for effective shocks and nightmarish imagery.