Ghoul – Netflix Series (4/5)

Ghoul is a new horror miniseries on Netflix. It consists of just three episodes that get continuously darker. You really shouldn’t miss this one!

Ghoul is a new horror series on Netflix and this time it’s an Indian production. With the huge Bollywood productions, India is hardly a stranger to filmmaking. The production value is also extremely high on this show.

The same was the case for the Danish horror series The Rain – even if we weren’t that crazy about the story.

For Ghoul, the story works very well on many levels. There are references to many different ideologies and religions, which should make it recognizable and relatable for audiences worldwide.

Could have been a movie

After watching Ghoul, I was left wondering why this is a 3 episode miniseries rather than a movie. Sure, the runtime would be just over two hours, but still, this could’ve made for a good movie.

The storytelling could’ve been a bit tighter in that case. But really, most people will probably binge-watch the three episodes, so you do get the feeling of watching a movie. Just included well-timed snack breaks.

Ghoul is also built like a movie. The first episode is the introduction of both the characters and the overall universe – we’re in the near future.

The second episode focuses on building more of the plot and the suspense. Also, we get to know the characters better and can begin to anticipate where all this is going. Oh, and don’t worry, it does get pretty crazy in this episode as well.

Finally, the third episode is where everything gets really crazy – and bloody!

Loved the characters

For me, the characters really made this story. They’re all pretty well rounded – even if a few of them are a bit more stereotypical than others. Also, I did feel we get explanations for why some of the more crude characters are the way they are.

The lead character is portrayed by Radhika Apte. She’s an award-winning actress from India, who also carries Ghoul perfectly. We follow her character from the beginning until the very end. She’s very honest and determined but does seem to have problems with her subconscious at times.

Basically, she’s a good person who wants to do the right thing always. It’s just tricky to know what the right thing is, when religions and ideologies are battling.

One of my favorite characters is a very tough guard portrayed by Ratnabali Bhattacharjee. The male guards may be bigger and stronger, but she was the one I feared most. She just did not flinch or back down. And everyone clearly respected her.

English is spoken quite a bit

A quick note about the language barrier; It really shouldn’t be a problem for anyone to follow Ghoul. Of course, there are subtitles, but also, English words are part of almost every sentence.

Basically, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what’s going on just by watching the screen and listening to what they say. Yes, even when missing a few lines of subtitles because you’re wanting to catch what happens in the shadows.

And, trust me, you will want to stay alert!

Watch Ghoul on Netflix

Patrick Graham is the creator of Ghoul. He also wrote and directed all three episodes of the miniseries. Depending on the success of this first season, maybe the miniseries will be turned into an ongoing show with more seasons.

I would certainly be interested to see where the story could go next. Also, it could easily be the same theme – and the same demon – even if the story takes place elsewhere. Both in time and location.

Ghoul is out on Netflix worldwide from August 24, 2018.

Details

Creator: Patrick Graham
Cast: Radhika Apte, Rohit Pathak, Bajrangbali Singh, Ratnabali Bhattacharjee, Mahesh Balraj

Plot

A prisoner arrives at a remote military interrogation centre and turns the tables on his interrogators, exposing their most shameful secrets.