Suryaa Entertainment Desk: Vishwak Sen stars in and directs the latest action drama, Cult. Marketed as India's first slasher thriller, the film features Gayatri Bharadwaj as the lead actress, with Tarak Ponnappa, Murali Sharma, and Srikanth Iyyengar in key roles.
The story follows Elvin, the son of a Home Minister in Goa, who hosts a grand birthday party attended by youth from across the country. The celebration turns into a dangerous game when guests are trapped in a pub rigged with bombs, forced into a situation where they must kill one another. The plot follows DSP Sankalp Nayak, played by Vishwak Sen, as he attempts to save the lives of those trapped.
Regarding performances and technical aspects, Vishwak Sen leads the film with his screen presence, action sequences, and dialogue delivery. Tarak Ponnappa and the actor portraying the antagonist are noted for their performances. Ravi Basrur provided the background music, while Arvind Vishwanathan handled the cinematography.
While Cult is a new attempt at the slasher genre, the narrative and emotional pacing are described as slow, particularly in the first half. The second half and the final thirty minutes focus on visuals and action. Due to the high level of violence and bloodshed, the film is noted as being targeted toward audiences who prefer mass and survival thriller genres.