Rat in the Kitchen, Arkish Aftab’s debut short, is a surprisingly engaging 21-minute thriller that snagged a 7/10 from me!
Mantra Mugdh plays Vikram, a guy crumbling through a divorce, whose kitchen gets trashed every night. Thinking it’s a rat, he sets up CCTV, but the truth is way creepier. The mid-film reveal of what’s lurking… man, it’s a gut-punch, perfectly timed to crank the tension!
Mugdh’s raw despair had me glued, and Aishwarya Desai’s brief role as his wife adds heart. Amit Jha’s shady watchman kept me guessing.
Aftab’s direction nails Mumbai’s lonely vibe, with Yash Kamat’s moody lighting making every shadow pop. The sound design amps up the chills, though I wanted more backstory for Vikram.
It’s tight, but the short runtime leaves some depth on the table. I was hooked, barely touching my phone, even through a slightly rushed ending. For a debut, it’s bold and creepy, outshining my expectations.
It’s a one-sitting, nice watch on Jio Hotstar for (non-action) thriller fans, just don’t expect a masterpiece. Aftab’s got potential – check it out!
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