Jojo

Story: Mrittika (Darshana) opts for a job as a little boy's (Jojo) governess. But things start going awry after she discovers that Jojo is actually a doll that seems to be alive...

Review: Weave together a few twisted plots — like a milder version of Chucky and a psychopathic secret admirer, a la SRK in Baazigar — and you have Jojo. It's a short, twisted tale with a nice twist in the tail. But the fact that director Argha Deep seems to be in a real big hurry to end the film takes away from what could well have been a good thriller in this rarely-touched genre. Maybe in his attempt to make the film fast-paced, he manages to make most of it a blur — the characters don’t get the time to mix and mingle with the audience, and sadly, fail to truly connect with those on this side of the screen. The result is a well-made film with good performers; the characters hardly get a chance to make a mark.

This said, Jojo truly has all the ingredients of a really good thriller — an interesting storyline, few characters and a great twist. Even the core cast — Darshana, Anirban and Saayoni — have performed really well. But as I mentioned at the outset, the plot seems a bit of a mishmash of known plotlines, and hence, is predictable. Moreover, when it’s being shown that a certain individual is following Mrittika’s every move and even tapping her phone calls, the whole Chucky (in this case, Jojo) episode doesn’t give off that horror vibe — you’re just waiting to find out what’s the deal with the doll; who’s controlling it? That, frankly speaking, spoils the show. Obviously, Chucky and Baazigar aren’t made for each other.

On the technical front, the shots and sequences are perfect for a thriller. From close-ups of Mrittika’s expressions to the play of light and darkness used to establish the more sinister moments, there’s hardly anything to complain about when it comes to shots and compositions. Even the music and the audio jerks create the right feel (and even goosebumps at times).

In a nutshell, Jojo is for the die-hard thriller fan who is always ready to spill some popcorn as long as a film has a spooky feel to it. But if you like your films well-cooked, do carry along a pinch of salt.