Cheekatilo Review: Sobhita Dhulipala's balanced act enhances this thought-provoking thriller

Cheekatilo Story

Sandhya (Sobhita Dhulipala) is a TV reporter unhappy with her job, as she is forced to present stale and uninteresting news. Frustrated, she starts a podcast with her friend Bobby, focusing on unsolved cases. One day, Bobby is mysteriously murdered, leaving Sandhya shaken. Determined to find the truth, she begins investigating the case with the help of a cop played by Krishna Chaitanya. As the probe deepens, Sandhya uncovers the presence of a serial killer who has been committing similar crimes for decades. How she pieces together the clues and solves the mystery forms the core of the film. Cheekatilo is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, with a special top-up option available for OTTplay subscribers.

Cheekatilo Review

Cheekatilo, directed by Sharan Koppisetty, is a tale about a female journalist who braves extreme situations to uncover the truth behind a serial killer who has been operating for decades. The reason behind these murders is shocking, and the killer’s motive and ideology are quite compelling. However, the initial setup and investigation do not fully hold the viewer’s attention, and the manner in which the early killings are staged feels routine.

The film starts getting interesting when Sobhita’s character begins her investigation in rural areas and discovers a distinct pattern behind the murders. The killer leaves flowers on the bodies of the women he kills, and there is a specific purpose behind this act. Such details significantly elevate the suspense.

The mid portions are the strongest, with the thrills becoming more layered and engaging. The revelation of the serial killer and the ideology driving his actions is presented superbly. While crime films usually focus on women enduring trauma and turning into criminals, Cheekatilo explores male psychology instead.

It examines how unresolved trauma affects men and how it can lead them to violent extremes. This aspect is handled thoughtfully and adds depth to the narrative. However, the climax is a major drawback. After building strong tension, the director rushes through the ending, resulting in a bland and unsatisfying conclusion that weakens the overall impact.

Despite this, the way crimes are structured, the investigative process, and the interlinking subplots work well. One of the film’s biggest strengths is its suspense. Unlike many thrillers where the killer is revealed midway, Cheekatilo maintains the mystery effectively and keeps viewers on edge. Although at times the protagonist seems to take excessive risks, this is justified as the film realistically portrays her fear and discomfort.

Coming to the performances, Sobhita Dhulipala delivers a nuanced and grounded performance, fully inhabiting the role. She is known for her bold roles in Hindi, but here in Cheekatilo, she plays the character and stays grounded to get into the skin of it. This character gave her so much scope to showcase her acting capabilities, and she does it with aplomb.

Krishna Chaitanya plays the cop's role, and he is also neat. Aamani and Jhansi get good roles, and they bring a lot of depth to the proceedings. Vishwadev Rachakonda, who plays the main lead, is also neat but does not have much to do apart from being a sidekick to Sobhita.

Vadlmani Srinivas is getting good roles with each passing films and here in Cheekatilo, he gets the best character and excels. Sricharan Pakala’s background score elevates the film. The mood that he creates with his scores gives the film an edge and makes the viewing engaging.

The production values are decent, but one feels that the camerawork should have been a lot better. The dialogues are superb, and the production design is very good. There are a few characters whose arcs are not ended properly.

Cheekatilo gets time to grieve the pain that the women go through for years, but the male angle and the pain he goes through should have been elevated quite well. Apart from this, Cheekatilo has decent thrills, good suspense, and a unique point that is addressed in a gripping manner.

Cheekatilo Verdict:

On the whole, Cheekatilo is a decent crime drama that starts slow and peaks in the mid portions. The investigation, thrills, and suspense factor are quite good. Sobhita Dhulipala’s performance and the shocking reveal in the pre-climax are a bonus. For those who love films featuring serial killers, Cheekatilo is an engaging watch. Just ignore the slow pace.

Also Read: Sobhita Dhulipala interview: The podcast angle in Cheekatilo is unique and grippingly narrated