410. Web-series Reviews – 223

More web-series reviews…

Khauf – Came in 2025. A young woman's hostel room in Delhi hides a history of violence. Haunted by her past, she battles inexplicable forces within the room's confines and beyond.

A review from IMDB...

Amazon Prime Video's Khaunf is a rare gem in the horror genre-an atmospheric, unsettling, and deeply layered series that blends psychological terror with social commentary. Created with a sharp vision, this series goes beyond conventional jump scares to explore the real horrors that lurk within society, and it does so with striking originality.

From the outset, Khaunf distinguishes itself through its unique narrative and visual storytelling. Kudos to the writer and director for crafting a story that doesn't just rely on supernatural elements but also grounds its fear in real-world issues. This balance between fiction and reality is what makes the series so powerful. The horror here is not just what hides in the dark, but what exists in plain sight-prejudices, abuse, and the lingering trauma of violence that people endure in silence.

One of the series' most impressive aspects is its technical brilliance. The cinematography deserves high praise; every frame is carefully composed to maintain tension and evoke a sense of unease. Whether it's a slow pan across an abandoned hallway or a sudden flicker of light in a crowded room, the visual language of Khaunf constantly reminds viewers that danger is never far away. The sound design, too, is exceptional. Subtle audio cues, eerie silences, and jarring soundscapes are used masterfully to heighten suspense and immerse the viewer in the atmosphere of fear.

The show also stands out for its strong performances. Each actor brings depth and vulnerability to their characters, making their terror feel real and relatable. Rather than simply playing victims or villains, the characters are fully developed individuals with motivations, histories, and emotional arcs. Their struggles-both external and internal-are portrayed with authenticity, allowing viewers to form a genuine connection with them.

What elevates Khaunf even further is its fearless engagement with taboo and difficult topics. The horrors explored in the show-patriarchy, systemic abuse, and social hypocrisy-are not fantastical inventions but real issues that persist in contemporary society. The show does not shy away from these themes; instead, it confronts them head-on, forcing the audience to reflect on the reality we live in. It's a stark reminder that the most terrifying monsters are often human.

Despite its heavy themes, the series manages to maintain a gripping pace and never loses its core identity as a horror show. The suspense is meticulously built, the plot twists are well-executed, and the psychological elements are deeply unsettling. Each episode ends with just enough tension to keep you coming back, making Khaunf highly binge-worthy.

In conclusion, Khaunf is more than just a horror series-it's a bold statement, a haunting mirror held up to society, and an artistic triumph. It pushes the boundaries of what Indian horror can be, showing that fear can be a powerful lens through which to explore social realities. With its compelling story, stellar performances, and top-notch production quality, Khaunf sets a new benchmark for the genre on Indian streaming platforms.

If you're looking for a horror series that not only scares but also makes you think, Khaunf is a must-watch. It stays with you long after the screen goes black-not just because of what you've seen, but because of what it makes you feel.

My Take – An excellent series!

 

The Stolen Girl – Came in 2025. Based on a book.  A seemingly-ordinary decision turns the world of Elisa, mum to two young kids, upside-down. When her 9-year-old daughter asks to go on an overnight playdate with her new best friend, Elisa agrees. But when she says goodnight to her daughter, she has no idea that she is about to be thrust into every parent's worst nightmare, and when Elisa goes to pick her up, she discovers that the beautiful house was a holiday rental, from which her daughter has disappeared. What follows is a manhunt across Europe, while Elisa and her husband Fred find themselves the object of police scrutiny.

A review from IMDB...

The main plot of the show is really good, and the production is paced well. It has that problem that most 'streaming binge' drama has in that it is constantly explaining the obvious, treating the audience as if they are either a) on their phone or b) really stupid. So the script feels a little on the wonky side from the get go.

The major drawback, and this stops it getting a higher score for me is just how howlingly bad some of the acting. Everything line comes at you with a sigh, every line has a sharp intake of breath and a really laboured way of delivering 'plot' which makes it feel less classy than a show of this budget should.

It's okay and passes a few hours of telly wallpaper but with a plotline that's as potentially good as this it could have been much much better.

Another review...

This mini-series is well-paced at 5 episodes, with a decent, well-written storyline.

Multiple twists and developments keep it engaging, with interesting emotional shifts as the series progresses.

The production seems to have been appropriately budgeted for with decent cast, brilliant scenary and good diversity of locations throughout.

Mod plays the role of the tenacious journalist really well, while I found some of Grainger's more dramatic scenes less than convincing. Gough's performance was brilliant throughout and she was able to showcase a good degree of range in this title.

I think this will age pretty well, and is definitely worth a watch in my view.

My Take – An ok watch!

 

Karma – Came in 2025.  Disparate lives intertwine under the ominous shadow of an unbreakable fate. The story revolves around a witness to an accident, a physician traumatized by nightmares, a man whose world was upended by an unexpected event, and another man drowning in private loans. Each one is bound by the inescapable ties of a terrible destiny, weaving a gripping crime thriller following those trapped by ill-fated entanglements.

A review from IMDB...

I just stumbled on this show and only was going to watch an episode to check it out. I had no previous knowledge of this show or the cast.

I was hooked after the first episode and binge watched the entire series in one shot. While this is a series, it feels more like a long movie. When a series gives you that sensation, its probably because its really good.

Had to look up the movie since I was curious about it and it seems to be based on a kakao webtoon of the same name, which kind of explains why the story is so well thought out. The way the series was edited was really well done but I felt like they gave away too much and it became obvious at a certain point what was ending was going to be. The story is edited in a back and forth time jump, perhaps to confuse the viewer with overly abundant details so that the ending wouldn't be obvious.

I really enjoyed the story. Basically a vengeance story with a satisfying ending. I haven't read it so I'm not sure if the webtoon was this intricate in laying down the backstory for each character, then intertwining them together but thats how this series turned out. The script was just really well done and edited.

There were a few things I felt could have been done differently. The subtitles are terrible, sometimes its better to write the true, more direct translation instead of interpreting it as what it would be the most similar in english. Even if it doesn't make complete sense or the grammar is incorrect, I think the audience would better understand.

Second issue was the overly vivid and exaggerated colors used in the film. This has become very common place in kpop music videos and alot of korean movies since Snowpiercer, its also very common in korean TV. I thought it in this application, it diminished the theme a little bit. The effect works when you want to present a surreal environment but doesn't work so well in this dark thriller drama.

Setting is top notch. Beautiful background of the clean modern techno city that is Seoul but also that gritty grimey alleyway Gotham like city that is also Seoul.

Highly recommend this series.

My Take – An excellent series! 

Adios till next time😊!!