Watch Mercury

Mercury is a 2018 Indian horror thriller film directed by Karthik Subbaraj, starring Prabhu Deva, Gajaraj, Sananth Reddy, Deepak Paramesh, Anish Padmanabhan, and Remya Nambeesan in pivotal roles. The film has a unique concept, which doesn't rely on supernatural elements, instead, it's a silent horror thriller that relies on suspense and tension.

The story revolves around a group of five youngsters who meet after a long time to celebrate their reunion. They plan to have a small get-together party in a remote old factory. Little they know that a few years ago, an industrial disaster occurred in that factory, which led to the death of several workers due to mercury poisoning. The factory has been abandoned since then, and the toxic mercury waste is still present in the place. The story takes a turn when the factory's security guard spots the youngsters in the factory and locks them inside, leading to a terrifying ordeal for the group.

Mercury is a departure from the regular horror movies that Bollywood churns out. It's a unique film that puts its focus on psychological horror, creating a tense atmosphere, and relying solely on suspense to scare the viewers. The mood of the movie is very eerie, and the silence in the film makes it disturbingly unsettling. The film's strong point is the direction and cinematography that captures the tense atmosphere and adds to the suspense. The film's choice to go without any background score, music or dialogue is a brave one, and it has paid off well. It adds to the unnerving mood, and you can feel the fear escalate as the movie progresses.

Prabhu Deva, who has mostly played the role of a dancer and a choreographer, is seen in a completely different avatar in this movie. He plays the villain's role, and he is a delight to watch. His character is eerie, and his expressions are enough to send shivers down your spine. His dance skills come in handy as his character's mannerisms adopt elements of dance. The supporting cast, including Gajaraj, Deepak Paramesh, and Sananth Reddy, are excellent in their roles.

With a runtime of 106 minutes, the movie never loses its momentum. It's fast-paced and keeps you hooked right from the beginning. The lack of any songs or dance numbers adds to the movie's overall narrative, and it never feels like there is any unnecessary filler.

The movie has its shortcomings, though. The writing is a bit flawed, and the ending could have been better. The movie tries to focus on the contrast between the innocence of the youngsters and the ruthlessness of the factory's security guard. Still, the concept isn't fleshed out entirely, and the backstory to the factory disaster doesn't feel entirely convincing, which may leave the audience unsatisfied.

In conclusion, Mercury is a unique and refreshing take on horror cinema, and it sets a benchmark for Bollywood horror movies to follow. The movie will scare you, unsettle you and provide a never-before-seen horror experience that's hard to forget. The film's suspenseful atmosphere and eerie silence will keep you at the edge of your seat until the gripping climax. Despite its shortcomings, Mercury is a must-watch movie if horror is your genre.

Mercury is a 2018 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1.