CTRL Review : Slick and stylish with a skewed narrative

Story: Nella (Ananya Pandey) and Joe (Vihaan Samat) are an influencer power couple whose picture-perfect relationship crumbles when the latter’s cheating is exposed. Desperate for a fresh start, Nella turns to an AI tool to erase Joe from her life. However, the app turns on her and takes control of her life. Will she escape the ever-powerful bot?

Review: We're all aware of the risks of excessive screen time and seeking validation on social media. Writer-director Vikramaditya Motwane's film takes it a step further, exposing the unsettling consequences of letting AI into our personal space, primarily since it’s controlled by humans. The cautionary tale explores the dark side of our digital dependence when we give machines control of our happiness and life — as Nalini (Nella for social media) does.

Nella tries to get over her cheating ex with her AI assistant Allen's help, erasing the former from their photos and videos. The plot thickens when the bot takes over to do more than manage Nella's schedule, secure brand deals, and post on social media. This ‘flirty comic’ tool gradually exerts significant influence over Nella's life.

The movie accurately portrays the world of viral content, cyberbullying, and social media's all-consuming nature for Gen Z. It highlights the ultimate validation sought through likes, shares, and followers. Motwane's direction masterfully captures the blurred lines between reality and online personas.

The story, crafted by Motwane, Avinash Sampath, and Sumukhi Suresh, follows Nella taking charge after her setback and how things spiral out of control. However, the narrative focuses solely on Nella, leaving the omnipotent AI God and conspiracy underexplored. It sounds more detailed and complex as a concept than it translates on screen. Nella's trying to erase Joe from her offline and online lives takes up much screen time. The buildup of a big sinister plan gets underplayed, and the premise is too simplistic.

Despite this, the film's chic treatment and Pratik Shah's cinematography keep viewers engaged. Sneha Khanwalkar's electronic, industrial, and experimental soundtrack complements the movie's vibrant yet edgy tone.

Ananya Pandey gives a decent performance as Nalini ‘Nella’ Awasthi. From the cutesy college student to a diva and how her life eventually shapes up, the actress pulls off the gamut of her role well. Vihaan Samat delivers a good performance, too.

While CTRL excels in depicting social media obsession and AI's influence, its thriller parts are underdeveloped and don’t quite hit the mark. Despite thought-provoking themes and impressive visuals, it leaves viewers craving complexity and depth.