Critics’ Review of ‘Stree’: Intelligent, Must Watch Horror Comedy

Here’s how critics are reacting to ‘Stree’

Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor in Stree.

Film: Stree
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi

Here are excerpts from the reviews of Stree:

What this movie succeeds at being is a well-mounted excuse for marrying light horror with glib and unremitting humour (the often hilarious dialogue is by Sumit Arora). The cast is in full flow here, with Rajkummar Rao brilliantly leading the herd as a not-too-bright mushball who becomes Chanderi’s unwilling hero. Rao faces competition on occasion from Pankaj Tripathi, and even the perfectly cast Shraddha Kapoor seems to be paying attention after a very long time.

Nandini Ramnath, <i>Scroll.in</i>

While I spent much of <em>Stree</em> giggling uncontrollably, there were moments when I thought the proceedings on screen would give me a heart attack. That is an unusual combination to achieve, and Kaushik deserves all kudos for it. <em>Stree</em> is like a blind date that turns out well - a tryst with the unexpected, a thought-provoking laughathon, and one of the most unusual films of the year so far.

Anna MM Vetticad, <i>Firstpost.com</i>

A zany supernatural parable that is both strongly feminist and uproariously funny, <i>Stree</i>, Amar Kaushik’s self-assured first feature, delivers shocks and laughs in equal measure. Despite its repeated to-ing and fro-ing between conflicting tones, the horror comedy glides along a firm and steady arc almost all through its runtime of two hours and a bit. <i>Stree</i> plays an unwavering hand in demonstrating that dread can be unbridled fun when it serves a larger thematic purpose. Go watch this spine-tingling film. It is completely madcap but there is method in its manic madness.

Saibal Chatterjee, <i>Ndtv.com</i>