Review of Madhavan's '13B'

For almost three decades, the Ramsays used skulls-n-skeletons to scare the living daylights out of you. But post 'Bhoot', supernatural thrillers, errie and spooky themes and scary movies have only evolved this side of the Atlantic.

'13B', directed by Vikram Kumar, belongs to the same family as 'The Ring' and 'Pulse'. No, it's not a copy of these two films, but there's an uncanny resemblance: A home appliance is used by the spirits to convey their message.

To give the credit where it's due, '13B' involves you in the proceedings and most importantly, scares you as well. The problem is, '13B' takes its own sweet time to come to the point.

Manohar [R. Madhavan], an upwardly mobile middle class Indian, moves into a new apartment -- 13B on the 13th floor -- with his family. From the first day in their new home, the women are hooked to a new TV show 'Sab Khairiyat'. The show is about a family eerily similar to their family, who have also just moved into a new house.

As the TV show unfolds, the incidents that happen in the show start happening to Manohar and his family. Initially, a number of happy events take place and a lot of good things happen, both in the show and with Manohar's family. Then things take a turn for the worse and shocking incidents start happening in the TV show.

Will the same happen to Manohar and his family? Will Manohar be able to solve the mystery in time before it consumes him and his entire family?