Surat (Gujarat) [India], September 17: Out August 27, 2025, Vash Level 2 makes its case as a daring sequel to the 2023 Gujarati psychological horror Vash. Directed by Krishnadev Yagnik, the sequel expands the canvas—more supernatural horror, more set pieces, more spectacle. But in broadening its scope, does it sacrifice some of the close-up horror that made the first one linger in the viewer’s mind? The answer, like most horror sequels, is “yes and no.”
What Is Vash Level 2 About?
Twelve years have lapsed since Atharva (Hitu Kanodia) liberated his daughter, Arya (Janki Bodiwala), from an evil influence. The creepy twist: the evil never really left. In Level 2, Atharva has to confront the comeback of a black sorcerer called Pratap (Hiten Kumar), whose return comes not only to terrorise Arya, but to cling to an entire community when schoolgirls become mysteriously hypnotised, acting out in violent, synchronised manners. The movie mingles supernatural horror with psychological trauma, family obligation, and—most crucially—the cyclical nature of evil and how earlier horrors won’t fade away.
Positives: Where It Excels
-
Atmospheric & Technical Craftsmanship
Yagnik’s direction gravitates strongly towards shadows, abrupt silences, and terror-gripped pauses. Prashant Gohel and Haresh S. Bhanushali’s cinematography produces a visually somber and unsettling reality. The horror is not merely in what is seen, but in what is sensed that could follow. -
Performances That Ground the Supernatural
Hitu Kanodia excels as Atharva, bringing emotional weight and desperation. Hiten Kumar as Pratap is memorably chilling—he knows how to whisper menace. Janki Bodiwala, though less central than in the original in terms of screen time, still offers haunting, lingering moments. Monal Gajjar’s portrayal of a school principal caught in this growing nightmare adds unexpected layers. -
Bigger Ambitions
Where Vash (2023) focused tightly on one family, one household, this sequel broadens the scale. The expanded horror—school children under a mystical spell, the metaphor of society under threat—gives the story more gravitas. The musical score (Andrew Samuel) and editing (Shivam Bhatt) largely succeed in pacing the film so that it doesn’t drag. -
Cultural & Industry Impact
Vash Level 2 underscores how regional (specifically Gujarati) horror is stepping up in ambition and technical quality. It’s trending in social media chatter, doing well at the box office in Gujarat and beyond via its Hindi dubbed version. Fans appreciate that filmmakers are no longer satisfied with safe formulas.
Pulling Back: Where It Wobbles
-
Pacing Issues & Climax Overload
Several reviewers find the build-up persuasive—but once the plot accelerates toward the finale, it feels rushed. The horror momentum dips because the film seems more occupied with spectacle than the slow dread that powered its predecessor. The emotional intimacy of the original’s family dynamics sometimes gives way to set-piece shock and crowd scares. -
Diminished Tension in Middle Sections
The first hour is reportedly strong: eerie, tight, atmospheric. But in the middle, when expanding to school-wide phenomena and community reactions, the horror gets diluted. Some scenes that should terrify feel predictable, or are underwritten, making the threats easier to anticipate. -
Balancing Spectacle vs. Substance
With more supernatural effects, a larger cast, and wider settings, the film risks losing the visceral fear that comes from the unknown. For some, the antagonist’s mystique is diluted when too much is explained or shown. The original earned its power by what it left unsaid; Level 2 occasionally overplays its hand. -
Character Depth Beyond the Leads
While Atharva, Arya, and Pratap are well fleshed, many supporting characters—teachers, schoolgirls, townsfolk—don’t get enough development. In a story about a community under siege, that’s a missed opportunity. When secondary characters are thin, the stakes sometimes feel less personal.
The Ecosystem: Audience Buzz & Box Office
-
Vash Level 2 is drawing a strong audience turnout, particularly in Gujarat, with the dubbed Hindi version helping it cross regional boundaries. Word of mouth on platforms like IMDb and local forums shows substantial positive sentiment.
-
Critics are generally in the mixed-to-positive range: praise for craft and atmosphere; critiques around pacing and emotional resonance.
-
There’s trending chatter about whether Vash Level 2 surpasses the original. Many say it doesn’t—though few argue it’s worse. The nostalgic attachment to the first film’s more intimate horrors biases many reviews.
The Sarcastic Take (Because What’s a Horror Film Without That?)
Yes, Vash Level 2 succeeds in providing more screams, more shadows, and more traumatized schoolgirls than your average ghost story. It’s like the director sat down and thought: “If we’re going big, let’s make it loud, let’s make it sprawling, let’s make it almost cinematically big enough to have people thinking, ‘Did I sign up for a horror or a supernatural extravaganza?’”
And yet: occasionally, more is less. By spreading dread across too broad a canvas, the canvas starts to show its edges. Some moments read like padding between the truly terrifying parts. And yet, for those who prefer their horror served with grand gestures, creepy set pieces, and the kind of scenes that make you look around over your shoulder, Vash Level 2 produces more than sufficient.
Overall Verdict & What It Means
Vash Level 2 is a bold follow-up—a movie that takes the bravery to scale up its original in scope, ambition, and spectacle. It doesn’t always pull off keeping the close, creeping horror of Vash (2023) intact, nor do all of its enlargements hit flawlessly, but it’s still a solid work in local horror fare. Its technical acumen, cast work, and scenes of real terror make it well worth the watch.
For fans of the original, it’s satisfying, though perhaps slightly less haunting in retrospect. For newcomers, it’s a compelling ride—if you’re ready for some uneven pacing and occasional overexposure of the mystery.
