Case No 666/2013 has a few thrilling portions but an unexciting start and a poor climax make the film a just about ok watch.

What's it about?
Three friends Bhaskar, Chaitanya and Durga upon the instigation of a recent acquaintance Eshwar, plan to stay in a forest bungalow that's believed to be haunted. On their way there, they meet Anand who is also going to the same forest area to shoot a documentary.

What the secret of the bungalow and what happens to all the friends in the forest forms the basic story of the film.

There are primarily five characters in the film with three other supporting characters. The casting is alright as they seem to suit the parts in terms of the look. But the acting is mostly poor. Only Durga and Anand manage to create some impression with their roles. Eshwar had a good role but its effect is undone by his poor acting.

The film has some exciting moments because it makes good use of the found footage genre style (thinl 'Love, Sex Aur Dhokha' or 'The Blair Witch Project'). It offers the audience a new kind of thrilling experience but barring those few portions, the rest of the film lacks energy. There are few funny moments in the first half, but until just before the interval, the film looks like any other regular movie.

Post the interval, the film gains momentum but the climax is a big downer, and dilutes the effect of all that’s happened before it. Poor performances is the chief reason for this disappointment, and also the sudden shift in tone of the film is jarring.

Direction by debutant Venkat Siddareddy and Purnesh Konathala is good as they make the best of the resources available. They could have exploited the genre further but miss the opportunity on that front. But leaving aside the acting aspects, they technically get the style right with good usage of camera angles. The problem arises with the overuse of the effect, especially in the first half. With better material and actors there is surely hope for better output and we wish them all best for the future.

Editing is not up to the mark. The dialogues aren't in sync with the actors mouthing their lines at many moments in the film. Cinematography is good in parts. Background music is alright.

What to do?
The case is interesting in flashes

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