One of the most commendable aspects of Ajay Gnanamuthu’s directorial debut, Demonte Colony, was its unwavering commitment to horror. Unlike the typical Tamil “masala horror” flicks, epitomized by the likes of the Kanchana and Aranmanai series, which blend comedy, romance, mass heroics, item numbers, and devotional songs amidst snippets of horror, Demonte Colony took a more disciplined approach. Even though the film started with a few humorous quips and a bar song, it quickly established a consistent horror tone as its storyline deepened.
In Demonte Colony 2, Ajay takes another significant step forward, aiming to deliver a pure, unadulterated horror experience. The sequel immediately immerses viewers into a nightmare following a brief recap of the first film’s events. It starts with a bone-chilling sequence featuring recorded footage of two individuals falling from a high-rise apartment and another person hanging to death within the same premises.
At the center of the horror in Demonte Colony 2 is Debbie, portrayed by Priya Bhavani Shankar. Her life is overshadowed by the grief of losing her husband, Sam. Debbie’s home is practically a shrine to their lost love, filled with numerous photographs of the couple. In an agonizing attempt to stay connected with Sam, Debbie opts for artificial insemination using his preserved sperm. This desperate act sets a deeply unsettling tone for the film, as it becomes clear that Debbie’s sorrow has burgeoned into an unhealthy obsession. Ajay establishes an underlying melancholic atmosphere from the beginning, effectively foreshadowing the horror to come.
Similar to its predecessor, Demonte Colony 2 includes a song in the first half. However, this time it is a far cry from the cheerful kuthu number featuring four reckless drunkards. Instead, the audience is treated to a somber track by Sam CS, evoking the dreariness of the bleakest English weather.
Ajay intensifies the horror through a variety of set pieces that escalate as the film progresses. From terror induced by mirrors, chaos involving bats, to a descent into an otherworldly realm, he employs a vast arsenal of horror tropes. These include antichrist symbolism, pentagrams, the titular Demonte, and an even more sinister entity.
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Despite this plethora of horror elements, the film, much like its prequel, struggles to instill a profound sense of fear. Both movies present intriguing concepts but fall short of delivering the heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat terror that their narratives promise. A primary issue lies in the subpar visual effects, which significantly hamper the creation of a truly immersive horror experience. The unpolished effects result in a jarring disconnect between the intended atmosphere and the visual reality depicted on screen.
Additionally, the performances lack the intensity needed to convincingly convey the characters’ terror and desperation, leaving the audience emotionally detached from the unfolding drama. Sam CS’s score, although an attempt to build tension, often devolves into excessively loud crescendos that disrupt the overall atmosphere.
However, the screenplay cannot be faulted. The writing is structurally sound, with characters driven by clear motivations. For instance, Debbie’s susceptibility to demonic deception, disguised as her deceased husband, is directly tied to her overwhelming grief. Her character arc is meticulously established through flashbacks, highlighting her determination to save Sam during his battle with cancer. Similarly, the altruistic actions of a self-centered character are later justified by his experience of a motherless childhood.
Ajay also skillfully connects various plot points to the first film, creating a seamless continuity that binds the two parts together. The introduction of new mysteries and unanswered questions toward the end suggests potential for a franchise, leaving audiences eager for the next installment.
Despite his efforts to maintain a pure horror vibe, Ajay ultimately succumbs to the allure of incorporating humor into the narrative. A comedic sequence featuring Arulnithi and his half-sister in a property dispute abruptly disrupts the carefully built tension of the film’s first half-hour.
As the cursed necklace haunts the characters in the Demonte Colony series, Tamil horror cinema seems to be inextricably bound to comedy. Demonte Colony 2, now running in theaters, stands as a testament to this complex relationship, striving for pure horror while occasionally veering into familiar comedic territory.
