The Tricky Terrain of Horror-Comedy: 'Stree 2'

Navigating the Tricky Terrain of Horror-Comedy: A Review of 'Stree 2'

The horror-comedy genre is one of the most challenging to get right, especially when dealing with fantasy elements. Whether the narrative leans towards comedy like Stree, tragedy like Bulbbul, or something more science fiction-oriented like Cargo or Planet of the Apes, there’s always the risk of the story losing its grounding in reality. When that happens, as seen in films like Adipurush or Kalki, the result can be underwhelming—a spectacle that lacks substance.

However, filmmaker Amar Kaushik understands the delicate balance needed in such genres. His previous work, Bhediya, was a prime example of this balance. Despite the presence of a muscular, shirtless Varun Dhawan and the comic relief provided by Deepak Dobriyal, the heart of the movie was a commentary on the consequences of men and capitalism tampering with nature—a force that ultimately triumphs by reclaiming humanity itself. Stree, his breakout film, was a feminist tale of revenge, wrapped in the guise of horror-comedy.

In Stree 2, Kaushik and writer Niren Bhatt revisit social issues, this time taking on patriarchy head-on. The antagonist, “Sir-Kata,” is a literal embodiment of the patriarchy—a monster whose head, no matter how many times it’s cut off, always grows back. The film’s heroes, four unsuspecting men, find themselves battling this embodiment of an age-old social evil, often blindly and haphazardly.

Bhatt and Kaushik are careful not to turn Stree 2 into a heavy-handed message movie. Instead, they opt for a clever and subtle approach, recognizing that a spoonful of humor helps the medicine go down. The first half of the film is heavy on this humor, sometimes to the point of overdose.

It's worth noting that the horror in Stree 2 is genuinely frightening, even for a seasoned 36-year-old like me. I found myself closing my eyes at certain points, which made me question the appropriateness of the film for the younger audience in the theater. The themes are dark, the humor often suggestive, and the imagery graphic. The first half is packed with jump scares, primarily driven by Sir-Kata’s blood-curdling screams, but the story itself seems to stall. By the time the interval arrived, I was genuinely concerned that the film might devolve into a typical “money grab sequel.” From the clunky opening song “Pooja Ke Dino Mein Aati Thi” to the mid-point’s all-is-lost moment, the movie struggled to find its footing.

One scene, in particular, involving a letter (a “chithi”) and a girl named Chitti, dragged on far too long, leaving me worried about the overall quality of the film’s humor.

Yet, Amar Kaushik knows how to bring things back on track. After the interval, as the “Avengers of Chanderi” reassemble and Jana makes a triumphant return—a moment that elicited cheers from the audience—the film picks up its pace. With the introduction of Tamanna Bhatia as a character flirting with Rudra bhaiyya, and the comical reactions of Vicky and Bittu, the screenplay finally hits its stride. The gags start to land, and the subplots, along with the dialogue, begin to crystallize.

The film sharpens its focus on the ease with which a powerful figure can brainwash and radicalize people, turning them into mere puppets. It also explores how the patriarchy seeks to strip women of their autonomy and reduce them to lifeless figures, devoid of any joy or self-expression. But in the end, *Stree 2* finds its rhythm, delivering jokes that consistently land while elaborating on its central theme: to defeat patriarchy, both women and men must unite, with women leading the charge and men stepping up as supportive allies.

In conclusion, Stree 2 is a film that navigates the tricky balance of horror and comedy with a fair share of bumps along the way. However, its ultimate message and the way it brings everything together in the second half make it a worthy sequel that adds depth to the original narrative while standing firmly on its own.