Subham - Serial Killers

 

Subham

2025, Telugu

Genre: Horror-Comedy

Where to watch: local theaters

Director: Praveen Kandregula

Stars: Harshith Reddy, Shriya Kontham,, Gavireddy Srinivas, Shravani Lakshmi, Charan Peri, Shalini Kondepudi, special cameo appearance by Samantha

Mohan's Measure ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐

In my day they were called "soap operas," the cheesy, melodramatic, extremely long running serials that run on TV, sometimes for decades without end.  These serve as the "McGuffin" in this hilarious and creative horror-comedy that is produced by Tralala Productions, owned by Samantha.

First-time and one-time child actors have been brought in to play the lead roles, and they are very convincing, particularly the three clumsy oafs who play the husbands and protagonists in this tale.  Set in the 90s, the plot finds one running a local cable TV company which among includes in its limited playlist one of these never ending serials that people are oddly obsessed with. 

Such an obsession, as with the social media of today, can turn anyone to madness, and in the case of the three leading ladies, and many others in the small town, leads to very dramatic displays of zealotry.  The cure for their strange behavior can only be supernatural.

Enter Samantha, who is refreshing low key as the New Age voodoo doctor who assists the men both with incantations and mystical words of solemn advice.    

The best thing about this small-budget phenomenon is it's absolutely kid-friendly.  So, take them along for a scream and a few good lessons iabout married life.