Unresolved trauma can fester and lead to unimaginable horrors, according to the Netflix crime thriller Sector 36. The directorial debut of Aditya Nimbalkar is a must-watch fictional movie inspired by true events. The film delves into the depths of human depravity and captures the horror of real-life stories as the storyline has been inspired by the 2005 Nithari serial killings of Noida.

Children are generally always close to everyone’s heart, but the 124-minute thriller will leave you in fear and awe.

The movie opens with the shot of Vikrant Massey seeming like an ordinary servant watching television and then suddenly disfiguring a girl’s body by cutting it into pieces. His sinister side is seen as the film passes by showing his interest for the killings of children.

Vikrant Massey has yet again outshone himself by giving a chilly, goosebumps-filled performance as Prem, the ruthless, disturbing, and psychotic serial killer. The actor shows off his unmatchable acting skills, evidently visible on the screen. The intense acting of the antagonist will not let you get up from your couches, so keep the popcorn and coke along.

The film scenes are difficult to watch, but are proof of what would have happened with the children. There are various such scenes to keep your eyes and mind gripping to the film and if you are a crime genre lover this thriller will not be a disappointment.

The story takes a turn when Inspector Ram Charan Pandey portrayed by Deepak Dobriyal comes into play. The movie has been a comeback for the actor and what a great comeback I must say. The movie picks the pace when Pandey decides to search far down into the case when something unusual happens with his daughter.

The craft of the 12th fail actor will surprise you again in this film. To be specially praised is the monologue of the actor sitting in the police station when he admits his crime of kidnapping, raping, assaulting, and killing of children.

The absence of a background score adds to the tension and suspense to allow the audience fully immerse themselves in the harrowing narrative. The subtle but agonising music holds on with the scenes and killings. The movie is majorly made with dark lighting to cue it with the type of hard crime shown.

The movie sets path with Inspector Ram being the prey of well-endowed businessmen and corrupt officers in the system fighting and standing for the truth.

Deepak Dobriyal’s performance as Inspector Ram Charan Pandey is equally compelling. His transformation from a complacent police officer to a determined investigator seeking justice is a testament to his acting prowess.

The Nimbalkar delivers an awakening and a strong message for the audience. The film broadly explores themes of corruption, societal indifference, and the slow pace of justice in the country.

The movie’s lead Prem can also be called Indian Jeffrey Dahmer, the American serial killer and the sex offender who killed and dismembered seventeen males between 1978 and 1991.

The film transparently portrays the nudity of the society and broadens the minds of the viewers by focusing on the gap between the societies. On the other hand, the movie lacks the emotional touch, which has been overpowered by the feared scenes disintegrating the human angle.

The film is ultimately a powerful and thought-provoking work of art. Sector 36 is a must-watch for those seeking a gripping cinematic experience diving to make you believe how tangled a criminal’s mind can be. 

Rating - 3.5/5