Sync review: Convincing performances from lead actors make this a passable horror thriller

2.5/5

Story: Four friends from Chennai go on a trip to Pondicherry. Their car crashes into another vehicle, leaving a girl injured. The panicked friends sort out the issue amicably and discuss the same the next day through a video call. Their conversation then veers into their personal lives and the equation among themselves. They slowly realize after some time that their lives are turning topsy-turvy, thanks to the presence of evil spirits in their respective homes. A slew of unexpected things happen, leaving the four of them shattered. What are they going to do to rescue themselves?     

Review: Vikas Anand Sridharan's Sync begins with Gautham (Kishen Das), an aspiring filmmaker, ranting about a missed opportunity to display his talent to his girlfriend Netra (Monica Chinnakotla). The latter consoles him and they go on a short trip to Pondicherry along with their friends Sibi (Naveen George) and Madhu (Soundarya Bala).

Their trip ends on a bitter note after their car rams into another vehicle, but they sort out the issue smartly. The four of them meet on a video call the next day to unleash their mixed emotions. Little did they know that evil spirits are going to wreak havoc on their respective lives in just a matter of time.

The movie with a duration of less than 90 mins manages to keep the audience hooked to an extent, thanks to its interesting screenplay and riveting performances. The characters of the four lead actors are interestingly designed and appear convincing throughout the film. 

What begins as a story of friendship that involves a little quarrel, ego clashes and a tinge of romance, turns out to be a decent horror thriller with organically designed sequences that are convincing. The manner in which some of the characters manage to create impact without their appearance or small appearance is a testimony to its engaging writing.

Shivram's cinematography is compelling enough to hold the audience's interest while Manu Kathiresan's editing style is impressive and suits the movie's screenplay structure. Abhijith Ramaswami's music is neat.

On the downside, the film suffers from predictability after the horror elements are introduced. The biggest twist doesn't come as a surprise as we have come across similar surprises in a few movies in the past. The tail end, too, doesn't offer any innovative experience. What could have been a terrific attempt fizzles out towards the third act. Nevertheless, the film is a passable entertainer for those who do not mind experiencing horror stories with partly engaging twists.    

Verdict: Sync is a sincere attempt aided by dedicated performances from lead actors. The predictability factor mars its prospects of becoming a taut horror thriller. 

Sync is streaming on aha Tamil