Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3

by Mike McGranaghan

In the summer of 2023, Disney released Haunted Mansion, a dull, uninspired horror-comedy. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 does everything right that the other movie did wrong. Directed by Anees Bazmee, this Hindi-language picture also takes place in a haunted mansion and deals with meddlesome ghosts. It has an actual story, though, which makes both the comedic and horror elements pop. Added bonus: you don’t need to have seen the first two entries to follow the story.

Ruhaan (Kartik Aaryan) is a con artist who pretends to be an exorcist. He’s offered $10 million dollars by the beautiful Meera (Triptii Dimri) to come to the kingdom of Rakht Ghat, where her royal family has been driven from its mansion by the ghost of a vengeful dancer named Manjulika. They can’t sell the place until it’s no longer haunted. The family believes Ruhaan is the reincarnated version of a prince who lived 200 years ago, and therefore the only one capable of doing the job. Just when he thinks he’s solved the problem, real ghostly occurrences begin.

Like many Indian films, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 combines several different genres. It’s sometimes a comedy, sometimes a horror movie. On multiple occasions, the characters break out into elaborate song-and-dance numbers. A dash of romance between Ruhaan and Meera provides extra seasoning. As is often part of the country’s cinematic output, everything is cranked up to ten. Sound, music, performances, camera work, and visual effects are all heightened to envelop the audience in their high energy.

When done right, the Bollywood style can be tremendously effective. It’s done right here. Comedic scenes are funny thanks to clever writing, like a brilliant sight gag involving an empty toothpaste tube. Aaryan’s skill at physical humor is impressive, as is his ability to deliver a punchline. On the horror front, the movie has a few decent jump scares, along with moments of eeriness. The songs are catchy, and the dance numbers are exquisite. Aaryan and Dimri make an appealing couple, with the relationship between their characters resting at the heart of the tale. Bazmee blends genre types with ease, so that no one element feels like it's badly clashing with another.

Perhaps the most special ingredient is the finale, which nicely pays off the legend of Manjulika. There’s depth in how that unfolds, and it’s cool how the film subverts our expectations with a topical, unpredictable twist. After all the funny/scary mayhem, we’re treated to an ending that makes a valuable statement about why people should show more love and acceptance to each other.

Magnificent production design turns the mansion into a memorable locale for the action, and on every technical level, the film is executed with flair. Simply watching the images on a big theater screen is a pleasure. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 does a lot of stuff well, constantly entertaining with its exuberant nature. It gave me two hours and thirty-eight minutes of the most fun I’ve had at the movies this year.

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