Hocus Focus Movie Review : An experiment lacking clarity and focus

Story: A perfectly planned bank robbery turns into a deadly conspiracy when hidden cameras reveal a shocking truth. As the heist unfolds, the eight participants are shocked to discover they are trapped in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, manipulated by a shadowy figure with a ruthless motive.

Review: Bank heist movies have an enduring appeal, offering a thrilling blend of suspense, intricate planning, and high-stakes drama. Combined with the raw and immersive quality of found footage or spy cam perspectives, these films elevate the tension to new heights. Writer-director Paierry Dodeja attempts to combine these two gritty qualities in Hocus Focus. The movie introduces us to Bubli Khan (Sona Bhandari), who likes to live the good life and has a string of lovers, one being a married man, whom she insists on divorcing his wife and marrying her instead. Her other paramours include a criminal, Ajit Pandit (Suchhi Kumar), and a cop, Inspector Khan (Satinder Singh Gahlot).

An unknown figure has been watching her through a spy cam, and he coaxes her into participating in a bank robbery. She joins Inspector Khan, Aji Pandit, and other criminals to pull off the perfect heist. Each one, including the bank's manager, has their own motivation to agree—Bubli does it for money, Ajit Pandit for his love for her, two of his friends want one last big gig to lead a luxurious life, the bank manager is a gambler who owes people money, etc. The main antagonist convinces them nothing could go wrong. However, the sinister mastermind behind this has his own agenda. The culprit’s true intention and whether the gang comes out unscathed form the rest of the story.

Dodeja's experimental project falls short of its ambitions, yielding a disjointed visual experience and underwhelming performances. The film's attempt to capture Bubli's intimate life through multiple cameras, including explicit bedroom scenes with various partners, results in an overabundance of explicit content. The presence of eight stakeholders makes the narrative disjointed as scenes flit from one shot to the other. This also prevents character arc or individual track development.

Despite its promising concept, the experimentation fails to translate on screen. Ultimately, Hocus Focus ends up being a messy and unfulfilling thriller that prioritises shock value over substance and tension. The film's shortcomings make it a disappointing watch.