Film

Stree

Name: Stree
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Released: 2018
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee

Urban fantasy

Stree is a brilliantly balanced horror-comedy set in a small Indian town gripped by panic when a supernatural woman begins appearing at night. It mines genuine dread from local folklore while keeping the tone playful and warm, never letting scares curdle into cruelty. Perfect for anyone who loves horror that doesn't take itself too seriously, or comedy with actual stakes.

TMDb rating

3.5

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like horror that laughs at its own small-town rituals and cares more about its gang of friends than about jump scares, with a comic rhythm that never quite lets the dread go.

Skip it if you want a tight, scary ride, since the jokes arrive often and the frights come in measured doses that some will find too chatty for a horror film.

What it asks of you: Two hours and eight minutes of easy-going patience, with a loose, sociable opening of banter; it rewards settling into the town's rhythm rather than waiting for the next scare.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Bhool Bhulaiyaa2007

Akshay Kumar's iconic horror-comedy that proved Bollywood could do scares and laughs together. The possessed-woman setup and mystery twist influenced everything after it, including Stree. Essential viewing for the lineage.

But The pacing drags in stretches and some supporting performances feel very broad compared to modern comedy sensibilities.

Tumbbad2018

A genuinely unsettling folk-horror film that uses Indian mythology with real visual imagination. Released the same year as Stree, it shows the other end of the spectrum—pure dread instead of laughs, but built from the same cultural bedrock.

But It's bleak, slow, and offers no comfort or humor. Some find it beautiful; others find it punishing.

Article 152019

Rajkummar Rao at his finest in a completely different mode—a hard-hitting crime thriller about caste violence. Proves he's not just a comedic talent; this is an actor with real range and commitment to difficult material.

But It's heavy, angry, and intentionally uncomfortable. No laughs, and some scenes of brutality are difficult to watch.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Stree

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Under the Skin2014

Both films build dread around a feminine supernatural figure and what she represents; Stree makes it funny and folkloric, this makes it cold and philosophical.

Scarlett Johansson as an alien predator in a minimalist sci-fi horror about the fear of the unknown. Like Stree, it mines terror from the mythic feminine—the beautiful stranger who is not human—but plays it utterly straight and hypnotic.

But It's deliberately paced, dreamlike, and offers no easy answers. The ambiguity and silence will feel punishing if you want narrative clarity or traditional scares.

Raees2017

Shah Rukh Khan as a coal-smuggling kingpin, all charm and menace. Shraddha Kapoor plays opposite him, and the film has Stree's same energy of taking genre seriously while keeping things entertaining and fast-moving.

But The second half becomes a more conventional cop thriller. Some plot contrivances strain credibility.

Badhaai Ho2018

Warm, genuinely funny family comedy with Pankaj Tripathi stealing scenes with effortless charm. It has Stree's same gift for making small-town Indian life feel both specific and universal, and its humor comes from character rather than plot mechanics.

But If you're looking for plot momentum or stakes, this is deliberately low-key and domestic. The charm won't land if you're not in the mood for gentle comedy.

Phobia2016

A psychological horror with Radhika Apte that builds tension through claustrophobia and paranoia rather than jump scares. Shows how Bollywood can do horror that's internal and character-driven, more unsettling than many big-budget attempts.

But It's slow and relies on mood over plot. The resolution divides viewers sharply—some find it powerful, others feel let down.

Go Goa Gone2013

Early Bollywood attempt at zombie comedy, with Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. It's messier than Stree but shares the same DNA—local flavor meets international genre, horror mixed with genuine humor and heart.

But The execution is uneven and it feels like it's figuring itself out as it goes. Some jokes don't land and the horror elements feel underbaked.

The Housemaid2010

Korean psychological thriller that builds dread through atmosphere and performance rather than gore. Like Stree, it respects folklore and supernatural mythology while grounding everything in real character stakes.

But It's slow-burn tension rather than scares or laughs. Some find the payoff quiet and unsatisfying after the buildup.

A Haunted House2013

Marlon Wayans comedy that parodies horror films by playing supernatural threats completely straight in absurd situations. It's the comedic cousin to Stree's approach—what if we treated the ridiculous with total seriousness?

But The humor is broad and sketch-based, often landing closer to stupid than clever. Modern audiences usually find it dated and tiresome.

The Wailing2016

Both films treat local supernatural folklore with complete seriousness and visual flair, but Stree is warm and this is cold, making them opposite takes on the same material.

South Korean horror-mystery that builds from police procedural into apocalyptic folklore. It has Stree's respect for myth and ambiguity, but operates at a completely different register—this is slow-burn, religious, and existentially catastrophic rather than playful.

But It's two hours forty minutes and resists easy explanation. The ending offers questions instead of answers, which infuriates as many viewers as it enthralls.