Indian horror-thriller 418 arrived in cinemas on October 23, 2026, with the film attracting attention thanks to the involvement of Prashanth Neel, the filmmaker behind KGF and Salaar, but early reviews are suggesting that this Telugu-language supernatural horror film hasn’t quite lived up to expectations.
Directed by Kirtan Nadagouda, the film is presented by Prashanth Neel and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, marking an interesting move into horror for a production company better known for more major commercial Indian cinema.
The story takes place in 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 lockdown, and follows medical student Vivek Shankar (Surya Raj Veerabathini) as he arrives at a college in coastal Karnataka, where his new hostel has a disturbing history, having previously served as a mental asylum where a series of horrific murders took place.
One particular room, numbered 418, has remained sealed off and is strictly out of bounds. But when Vivek starts experiencing strange paranormal events, he and his roommate Rohith begin investigating what happened inside the building.
The mystery eventually leads to Devika (Chaithra J. Achar), a Yakshagana performer whose tragic past is connected to the supernatural events – the film uses elements of regional folklore, traditional performance and psychological horror to explore the story behind the locked room. India Today+2
What are the reviews saying?
Unfortunately, the early critical response has been fairly disappointing it seems – several reviewers have praised the film’s atmosphere and technical work, but the screenplay, lengthy runtime and lack of genuinely frightening moments have become recurring complaints.
Here are some of the published ratings:
| Publication | Rating |
|---|---|
| The Indian Express | 2/5 |
| Gulte | 2.25/5 |
| M9 News | 2/5 |
| Filmibeat | 2.5/5 |
Chaithra J. Achar’s performance as Devika has been one of the more consistently praised aspects, where The Indian Express highlighted her work in the flashback sequences, while also pointing to the film’s use of Yakshagana, a traditional performance art from Karnataka, as something that gives the horror a distinctive identity.
The sound design and cinematography have also received positive comments, but the critics have criticised all the repetitive jump scares, slow sections and a final act that doesn’t quite deliver on the mystery established earlier.
The film’s reported difficulties with India’s censor board also generated publicity before release, with the production team promoting it as an especially frightening horror experience, and that marketing arguably raised expectations that the finished film struggled to meet. India Today+5
For horror fans, 418 has an interesting setting and some worthwhile ideas, particularly its connection to Yakshagana and the story of Devika, but whether that’s enough to overcome the criticisms of its storytelling is another matter – judging by the reviews, probably not!
Check out some more Indian horror movies.
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