Final Act: My quick take on Amazon prime’s” The Last hour”
If you have enjoyed a convoluted and at times confusing German web series “Dark” which is available on Netflix, then you will feel proud about this Indian product. No, it is not about time machine nor about time travel as seen in the dark, it is about the “final journey” we all will embark on one day.
What happens when one dies?
Is the soul wandering near the dead body?
When does the soul go beyond the physical realm of human beings?
Is there anything in between these two realms of manushyalok and devlok?
What happens if you are stuck in between the labyrinth?
I am sure that you would have contemplated such question/s at some point in your life. The writers of this paranormal murder thriller attempt to peep into this occult which may seem to be a mumbo jumbo to many.
The series is about “jakhris”, a North Eastern Tribal people (Incidentally, it is not a fictional tribe, Jakhris do exist in the Himalayan belt, mostly around Nepal). In the web series, it is shown that some of the Shaman from the tribe have a unique ability to reach out to the departed soul just after the death and can witness the last hour of its life before death by “rewinding” its journey.
It’s a different plot, wherein a Police officer (Played by Sanjay Kapoor) who is investigating a serial murder case takes the help of a Jakhri to nab the culprit. The novelty of the plot makes it an interesting watch and the beauty of North East is simply mesmerizing. The bewitching serenity of these Shillong and Siliguri hills is very nicely captured, maybe the director got overwhelmed by the vista and in the process entire plot has a very ‘serene and soft’ pace which does not go well with a murder thriller, in my view tighter editing would have made the series more enjoyable.
Apart from the “different” plot and beautiful locations, I would give full marks to the casting director for roping in all Northeastern actors and thus making the story more credible/believable. Of this Karama Takapa stands out as a fantastic performer (After all he is an FTII product), for a change I liked Sanjay Kapoor's performance, it was quite sedate, and he looked like a cop. The writing could have been crisper, the side stories about Sanjay Kapoor's life could have been avoided/shortened. Action sequences were very elementary. Overall, it is watchable web series just in case you enjoy such paranormal thrillers.
The masterstroke of writers according to me is the naming of two main jakhris characters, one who is on the righteous side is called Dev and his antagonist who is on the devilish side is called Yama Nadu. Thus, making it a tussle between Good and Evil. The director could end the season creating intrigue amongst the audience about the next season, which I just can't wait to watch it.
Comments