Chhorii 2 Movie Review: A Social-Horror Sequel That Lacks Fear and Focus

⭐ Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

Streaming On: [Platform not specified]
Director: Vishal Furia
Cast: Nushrratt Bharuccha, Soha Ali Khan, Gashmeer Mahajani, Saurabh Goyal
Genre: Social Horror, Thriller, Drama

📝 Introduction: Horror With a Message, Minus the Scares

Chhorii 2, the sequel to the 2021 horror film Chhorii, continues its mission of blending social commentary with supernatural thrills. This time, it tackles the horror of child marriage through an atmospheric, eerie setting. While the theme is relevant and commendable, the execution stumbles with recycled scares, clunky metaphors, and a lack of true tension.

The film attempts to elevate the genre by combining societal issues with folklore-driven horror, but it ends up preaching more than petrifying.

🎬 Story Overview: Social Themes Over Scares

Seven years after escaping the clutches of patriarchal evil in rural Haryana, Sakshi (Nushrratt Bharuccha) now lives in the city with her daughter, Ishani, under the care of Samar (Gashmeer Mahajani), a cop who rescued her. Ishani suffers from a photosensitive condition, restricting her from going out in the sun—a metaphor for how girls are often kept indoors due to regressive social norms.

However, peace doesn’t last long. Ishani is abducted and taken back to her father Rajbir’s village (yes, he’s still alive), where a twisted ritual involving child marriage awaits. Sakshi must now navigate dark alleys and an underground labyrinth ruled by Daasi Maa (Soha Ali Khan), a supernatural matriarch with unexplained powers, to rescue her daughter.

👻 Horror Elements: Derivative, Not Dreadful

Instead of building fresh horror beats, Chhorii 2 relies on the same tools used in the first film: creepy children, echoing cries, extended hallucination sequences, and jump scares that never land. The underground world seems lifted from Tumbbad, complete with ancient corridors and an ominous demonic pradhaan who feels like Hastar’s long-lost cousin.

While the setting has potential, the horror is more aesthetic than impactful. The tension builds—and then fizzles. At times, it feels like you’re watching a haunting Instagram reel rather than a movie meant to terrify.

🎭 Performances: Competent Cast, Underwhelming Script

• Nushrratt Bharuccha gives an earnest performance, but her character swings between helplessness and superhero strength without explanation.

• Soha Ali Khan, as Daasi Maa, brings an interesting energy to the screen, balancing menace and mystery with quiet elegance.

• Gashmeer Mahajani and the supporting cast do their part, but none of the performances are strong enough to lift a tepid screenplay.

Unfortunately, the characters are written more as mouthpieces for the film’s themes than as real, evolving individuals.

🧠 Themes vs Execution: Message Over Mood

Chhorii 2 wants to be more than a horror film—it wants to be a statement. By addressing child marriage, it attempts to shine a light on a very real societal evil. But the messaging often overshadows the genre, making the horror feel like an afterthought. The metaphors (like Ishani’s sunlight allergy) are clever but overused. The narrative feels heavy-handed, forcing its point rather than letting it unfold organically.

At times, it feels less like a horror movie and more like a PSA in spooky makeup.

🎥 Technical Aspects: Stylish but Stretched

• Visuals: The production design—especially the underground world—is rich and layered, albeit derivative.

• Sound Design: Effective in parts, but lacks the originality to leave a lasting impact.

• Editing: Some scenes drag on far too long, diluting any tension that was initially built.

👨‍⚖️ Final Verdict: A Missed Opportunity to Evolve Horror

Chhorii 2 has its heart in the right place, but its execution fails to deliver a gripping experience. It preaches loudly, but scares weakly. The film lacks the surprise, the urgency, and the edge that good horror demands. The visuals may recall Stree and Tumbbad, but the storytelling feels stuck in repetition.

This sequel proves that while horror can—and should—have something to say, it needs to first do what it promises: frighten.