'CTRL' review: Ananya leads largely engaging, creative thriller
Vikramaditya Motwane's CTRL, a screenlife thriller released on Netflix on Friday, takes a page out of Black Mirror's book and places the story in an Indian setting. The overarching concerns, however, remain the same—What if technology completely tramples us and overtakes our lives? It's largely engaging, inventive, and creative, but stumbles toward the end, stopping short of being excellent.
What happens when AI controls our lives?
CTRL follows influencer Nella (Ananya Panday), who runs a channel NJoy with her boyfriend Joe (Vihaan Samat). After their unexpectedly ugly breakup, Nella finds solace in CTRL AI, which erases Joe from Nella's photos and videos. However, unbeknownst to her, it soon begins to make decisions on her behalf, and when Joe goes missing, Nella finally realizes there's more than what meets the eye.
Panday headlines her part effectively
Panday is in almost every frame and carries this tailor-made part well (she does well in urban, rich characters like these). One scene particularly stands out—after their breakup, Nella tries to upload a makeup tutorial, but her voice cracks with pain mid-way through the video. It's an accurate, precise portrayal of the searing emotional pain that often wrecks us from within.
Pause and read everything on the screen
At any given point, a lot is happening in CTRL. Since most of the film is centered around Nella's digital life, there are a lot of interesting aspects scattered throughout the screen. Netizens' comments, memes and videos on Nella-Joe—the film utilizes digital elements well, not shoving them down our throats but placing them creatively in a way that accelerates the narrative.
Well-plotted for most of its runtime
Most of the first half is tightly packed; we peep into Nella-Joe's picture-perfect life. It's the kind of happy, pleasurable, happening life which only people on Instagram can boast about! It's also interesting because as viewers, we know something sinister is about to transpire in her life, but she doesn't know it yet. It's a commentary on voyeurism, both on and off the screen.
Look out for some funny cameos
Most stories set against the backdrop of social media try too hard to be quirky and eventually end up failing. Fortunately, here, cameos by real social media stars, like Tanmay Bhatt and Yashraj Mukhate, feel natural and not forced, allowing you to easily submit yourself to CTRL's world. Not only do they lend humor to this dystopian narrative, but also make it more realistic.
The AI bot is also an important, well-fleshed-out character
I also like how the AI bot has a real personality! He references Kumar Sanu, flirts cheesily, knows about Shah Rukh Khan's big-screen comeback, and keeps Nella company as a real-life friend would. Of course, once you get past the admiration, you realize how unsettling it is for a machine to act like this. By the time Nella understands this, it's too late.
Problems: Several parts feel raw and undercooked
The problems with CTRL start rearing their head after the first hour, and the cracks become apparent. I fail to understand why the movie doesn't take enough time with some scenes, and several important portions are shockingly rushed. There's effective build-up toward consequential parts, but when the said scenes arrive, the film seems to be in a hurry to clumsily wrap them up.
Doesn't quite deliver on the 'thrill' part
You may also find yourself empty-handed if you are looking for some mindblowing twist which will knock your socks off. The movie runs out of creative juice after Joe's disappearance, and the real "thrill" part is tediously explained through a lengthy, ineffective monologue. So the "wait, what?" part that mostly dominates thrillers is completely absent, and the ending feels too convenient.
Despite its flaws, it won't bore you; 3/5 stars
Panday is credible as the lead and the screenplay mostly has enough interesting elements to keep the movie going. However, CTRL initially promises to dive into the menaces of AI domination but doesn't completely do justice to the novel concept. Ultimately, it wanted to be desi Black Mirror, but ends up as an improved, watchable version of LSD 2. 3/5 stars.
