12 'O' Clock (film)

Lore & Background

The film opens with the unresolved murder of a pedestrian by an old lady at night. The story then follows Gauri, a young woman who sleepwalks and acts strangely at night. Unexplained murders occur in the city, including the deaths of two policemen. Gauri becomes withdrawn and experiences hallucinations. Her parents take her to a doctor who cannot cure her, then to a tantrik who claims she is possessed and attempts an exorcism by beating her, which her parents stop. Psychiatrist Dr. Debashish diagnoses her with dissociated personality disorder, but after more murders, Gauri begins speaking in a manly voice and confesses to the killings. Her father Rao reports to police inspector Francis, who initially dismisses the claim but later visits Gauri. It is revealed that Gauri is possessed by Babu, the spirit of a psycho killer killed by Francis in an encounter a year earlier. Francis later kills his wife and shoots himself, apparently possessed. Dr. Debashish and the police commissioner eventually accept the supernatural reality. Babu declares he will never leave Gauri's body and will continue murdering with other spirits. The exorcist is killed after becoming possessed. With no other option, Rao and his wife immolate Gauri to eliminate Babu. The film ends with Dr. Debashish writing to his daughter about the paranormal incident, stating that the supernatural exists beyond rational thinking.

Reader's Guide

12 'O' Clock is notable as a horror film directed by Ram Gopal Varma, a prominent figure in Indian cinema. The film explores themes of possession, the supernatural, and the limits of rational explanation. Its production began in mid-April 2019, with Mithun Chakraborty in the lead after initial rumors of a collaboration with Abhishek Bachchan. The film received a mixed reception; Archika Khurana of The Times of India gave it 2 out of 5 stars, noting that while it may spook easily frightened viewers, it fails as a psychological thriller and becomes a drag. The film's significance lies in its attempt to blend psychological and supernatural horror, and its ending explicitly argues for the existence of the unexplainable. The cast includes notable actors such as Manav Kaul, Flora Saini, and Makarand Deshpande, with Ashish Vidyarthi and Ali Asgar joining later.

Did You Know?

• The film was first announced under the title Geher before being renamed 12 'O' Clock.
• The trailer revealing the new name was released on 3 July 2020.
• Principal photography began in mid-April 2019.
• Actor Amit Sadh was also in consideration for a role.