Why Netflix’s Ghost Stories Will Leave You Questioning What Really Scares Us!

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CAUTION: The subsequent article delves into an in-depth examination of each part from the 2020’s “Ghost Stories”. If you haven’t had a chance to watch this Indian horror film on Netflix, tread carefully, as if navigating a haunted mansion.

Lately, I’ve developed an affinity towards Bollywood films, but my passion for horror has been unwavering (or unchanging?) throughout most of my life. Consequently, I was excited to explore the suspenseful elements that Indian cinema could provide, and I was definitely curious when I stumbled upon a terrifying movie on Netflix titled Ghost Stories.

Instead of choosing this anthology film for my upcoming investigation into Indian cinema might seem like an obvious decision, given that its creators also made the Emmy-winning romantic anthology “Lust Stories” in 2018. If you’re a fan of the eerie and have a couple hours to spare, I’d recommend giving it a watch. However, let me clarify for those who are big fans of ghost stories: this anthology may not deliver a wholly supernatural experience, despite its misleading title.

To be honest, I believe the most powerful parts of the movie aren’t particularly spooky or ghostly. Let me walk you through my perspective on each of the unnamed short films within Ghost Stories, starting from the beginning and moving forward.

The First Ghost Story Is Nothing Special

In my recent exploration, I’ve come across an intriguing discovery: it feels like the era where every horror movie aimed to surprise audiences with a twist akin to M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Sixth Sense” has lingered longer than we initially thought. The opening part of “Ghost Stories,” directed by Zoya Akhtar, is the latest piece of evidence I’ve unearthed that supports this observation.

Janhvi Kapoor portrays the character of Sameera, a live-in nurse who, surprisingly, finds out that the old woman she’s been taking care of (performed by Surekha Sikri) has been deceased throughout her stay. In my view, this ending seems disappointingly predictable in an already lackluster narrative, with no meaningful contribution from a side plot about Sameera’s unhappy love life that ultimately goes nowhere.

To put it simply, my beginning with this film wasn’t exactly promising, but unlike some horror anthologies that begin strongly and then gradually lose steam, Ghost Stories actually starts off well, only to become increasingly more compelling as it progresses.

I Dug The Second Segment, A Surreal Existentialist Thriller

In Anurag Kashyap’s segment, I discovered a wealth of satisfying elements, particularly the creative ingenuity it showcased. Frankly, I had no idea what to anticipate from this narrative, and was taken aback by its haunting visuals that have left an indelible impression on me since then.

In a different take, the story revolves around Neha, portrayed by Sobhita Dhulipala, a married woman who grapples with her inability to conceive. Her predicament is compounded by her belief that she’s morphing into a colossal bird. However, it seems there’s a real, uncanny reason behind her fertility issues. Her mischievous, green-eyed nephew Ansh (Zachary Braz) appears to have discovered a means to cast a curse upon her, causing her infertility.

This movie combines three genres – horror related to pregnancy, body horror, and an evil child thriller – in one. Although some might argue that the second story of “Ghost Stories” lacked spirituality, I found it to be the film’s strongest tale because of its unique blend of terror.

Stream Ghost Stories on Netflix for less with an ad-included plan

It’s quite a fright at $17.99 monthly to stream your favorite Bollywood flicks such as Ghost Stories on Netflix, but here’s some good news: that’s just the standard rate! Movie and TV enthusiasts can savor nearly all of Netflix’s content for $10 less by opting for the ad-included plan. Check it out now!

My Favorite Segment Is A Socially Conscious Creature Feature

It turns out that many individuals who have watched Ghost Stories concur with my opinion on its standout segment, which surprisingly does not contain any ghosts. In other words, the third tale directed by Dibakar Banerjee is a gripping, suspenseful, and harsh portrayal of a creature feature, but it’s more than just that. Like other great monster stories, there are deeper themes hidden beneath its surface.

The story centers around an anonymous character (portrayed by Sukant Goel), who discovers a seemingly abandoned village, inhabited only by a boy (Aditya Shetty) and a girl (Eva Ameet Pardeshi). They claim that the other villagers were either devoured or transformed into monstrous beings due to their father (Gulshan Devaiah). But as this man braces for a horrifying encounter with these ‘eaters’, he awakens instead to find himself greeted by people who clarify that the village was deserted after it was branded inferior and subsequently burned down.

In my opinion, Banerjee’s segment was so compelling in its exploration of societal oppression and its masterful portrayal of supernatural themes that it could have stood alone as a full-length feature film. There were moments when I longed to be watching an extended version of this short piece instead of “Ghost Stories”, and this desire intensified with the final segment.

The Final Segment Is Pretty Ridiculous

It seems that the movie “Ghost Stories” avoids being entirely misleading by incorporating opening and closing segments about the afterlife. If I were in charge, I would have ended the film dramatically with Banerjee’s segment instead of Karan Johar’s brief one, which is undoubtedly my least favorite.

In this story, actress Mrunal Thakur, whose cheerful demeanor evokes Rachel Brosnahan from the new Superman series, embodies Ira. Her marriage to Dhruv (Avinash Tiwary) is complicated by the fact that he continues to converse and play “Peek-a-boo” with his grandmother’s domineering presence in spirit form. However, she remains skeptical about her home being haunted by “Granny,” which ultimately leads to her demise when the maid poisons her. This sends her to an afterlife filled with souls who, like Ira, had doubts about “Granny.

Initially, I assumed that the new part, with its romantic ambiance and bright lights, would offer a nice contrast to the gloomy atmosphere of the last segment. Yet, I soon realized that it was overly whimsical and lacked the necessary depth to be convincing, also failing to elicit laughter in a way that suggested intentional humor.

Although I wouldn’t rank Ghost Stories among my top horror movies, I still believe it’s worth checking out on Netflix, particularly for those who appreciate Bollywood films and enjoy some diversity in their scary viewing choices.

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2025-06-29 15:09