Film
Ek Thi Daayan
A magician haunted by a childhood encounter with a witch seeks psychiatric help to break free from her supernatural grip. Ek Thi Daayan blends horror, romance, and psychological thriller elements into something strange and darkly beautiful. It's a film for people who want Bollywood to be genuinely unsettling—moody, visually lush, and willing to sit with dread.
If you liked this
Raees2017
Emraan Hashmi at his most magnetic, playing a smuggler with charm and menace. Taut crime thriller with genuine tension and a charismatic lead performance that showcases what he does best.
But Fairly conventional underworld drama. If you've seen every gangster film ever made, this hits familiar beats even if it executes them well.

The Hidden Face2011
A Colombian thriller that masterfully subverts expectations and plays with narrative structure. Gorgeous cinematography and a twist that genuinely earns its place, not a gimmick.
But Subtitled, and the pacing is deliberate rather than propulsive. Requires patience and attention to craft.

Kahaani2012
Vidya Balan in a taut thriller about a pregnant woman searching for her missing husband in Kolkata. Smart, stylish, and genuinely gripping with a protagonist who thinks her way through danger.
But The final revelation divides audiences. Some find it brilliant; others feel it undermines the emotional stakes of what came before.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Ek Thi Daayan
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Pather Panchali1955
Both films are rooted in Bengali culture and psychology. Ek Thi Daayan uses gothic horror; Ray uses neorealism. But both are interested in how trauma and the past shape identity, and both trust visual language over explanation.
Satyajit Ray's masterpiece about childhood and poverty in Bengal captures a world with profound tenderness and realism. It's a different cinema entirely—slow, observant, humane. Visual storytelling at its most refined.
But Deliberately paced by modern standards, black-and-white, and plotless in the conventional sense. Requires active, patient watching; it won't come to you.

More like this (7)
Haunted1998
A genuinely creepy supernatural thriller with atmosphere and real scares. Does more with less—practical effects, editing, and sound design create genuine unease throughout.
But Low-budget British horror from the 90s means some dated effects. It's deliberately slow-burn rather than visceral.

Murder 22011
Dark psychological thriller about obsession and desire. Emraan Hashmi plays against type in a morally murky role; the cinematography is moody and the story gets genuinely twisted.
But The romanticization of toxic behavior may alienate viewers. It's ethically murky by design, which isn't for everyone.

Phobia2016
A minimalist psychological horror about a woman trapped by her phobias. Single-location tension, strong character work, and a premise that builds dread through constraint rather than spectacle.
But Claustrophobic and slow. If you need plot momentum and external action, this will frustrate you.

Tumbbad2018
A visual feast—a horror film that feels like dark folklore brought to life. Stunning production design, genuine supernatural atmosphere, and a story rooted in greed and family curse.
But Deliberately paced and deeply strange. The narrative is fragmented and won't spoon-feed you answers.

Shutter Island2010
Scorsese's psychological thriller with DiCaprio investigating a psychiatric hospital that may not be what it seems. Gorgeous period detail, mounting dread, and performances that ground the unreality.
But The twist is fairly well-guessed if you pay attention. Some view it as heavy-handed; others find it devastating.

The Possession2012
A supernatural horror about a girl possessed by a malevolent spirit tied to an ancient box. Solid scares, decent craft, and a concept that has real folkloric weight behind it.
But Follows a fairly predictable possession-movie formula. If you've seen the genre, it won't surprise you, and some scares feel routine.

The Wailing2016
Both use a central mystery about supernatural evil to explore deeper questions about belief, rationality, and psychological truth. Both leave you unsure what's real and what matters more.
A South Korean horror-thriller that builds an increasingly complex web of ambiguity. Visually stunning, narratively intricate, and genuinely frightening. One of the best horror films of the decade.
But Nearly three hours and structurally demanding. The ending offers no clear answers; if you need resolution, this will aggravate you.

People
Cast
Emraan HashmiBejoy "Bobo" Charan Mathur
Konkona Sen SharmaDiana
Kalki KoechlinLisa Dutt
Huma QureshiTamara
Pavan MalhotraProf. Charan Mathur
Visshesh TiwariYoung Bobo
Sara ArjunMisha
Rajatabha DuttaDr. Ranjan Palit
Vikas ShrivastavPolice Officer- Bhavesh BalchandaniZubin
- Vidyadhar KarmakarOld Man
- Pallavi BatraSangeeta
Directing
- Kannan IyerDirector
- Ravi ChhabriyaSecond Assistant Director
Writing
- Vishal BhardwajDialogue
- Mukul SharmaNovel
- Mukul SharmaScreenplay
- Vishal BhardwajScreenplay
- Mukul SharmaStory
- Vishal BhardwajStory
Production
- Honey TrehanCasting
- Nitin ChandrachudLine Producer
- Ekta KapoorProducer
- Rekha BhardwajProducer
- Shobha KapoorProducer
- Vishal BhardwajProducer
Recommended by
Raazi, Raaz, Aatma, Ragini MMS