Review of Voot Select’s new original The Gone Game is here. Produced by Bodhitree Multimedia, Starring Sanjay Kapoor, Arjun Mathur, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Shweta Tripathi Sharma, Rukhsar Rehman, Lubna Salim, Indraneil Sengupta and Dibyendu Bhattacharya, the series is directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat. The Gone Game is currently streaming exclusively on Voot Select.
Watch The Gone Game Trailer
Immediate reaction when the end credits roll
Question: How to turn the current world pandemic Covid-19 into a thrillingly absorbing whodunit retreat with a Hitchkockian, Shyayamalan, Paranormal Activity and ‘Searching’ kinda tweak?
Answer: The Gone Game
The story of The Gone Game
A global pandemic – Covid-19, a Nation in lockdown, and a mysterious disappearance in the midst of it all! Sahil Gujral (Arjun Mathur) is gone. Did he fall prey to the virus? Or is something more sinister at play? 2020 has changed the world forever, but for the Gujral family – Father Rajeev Gujral (Sanjay Kapoor), Sister Amara Gujral (Shweta Tripathi), wife Suhani Gujral (Shriya Pilgaonkar), Mother Suneeta Gujral (Rukhsar Rehman) and Family friend Barkha Kapoor (Lubna Salim), the nightmare has just begun!
The Gone Game review
An exceptional experiment in film-making / content creation indeed! While the world is cringing on the onslaught, tremendous loss and the glaring economic crises due to the Covid-19 pandemic, these spirited few decided to please their creative hormones and got together to give the audience a uniquely thrilling experience in these lockdown / unlock periods. Reportedly the shoot has been executed through remote direction, ingenious cinematography and limited equipment, while ensuring a captive and engaging viewing experience. Innovatively shot almost entirely from the confines of the artists’ homes.
The Gone Game mixes the world Covid-19 pandemic crises into this mystery and keep the audience in the hook right from the word go.
Respecting the old school whodunit format as ordered by the Doctors like Hitchckock and giving them a tech upgrade like Chaganty’s outstandingly brilliant 2018 Searching, director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat and writers – Radhika Anand, Nikhil Bhat, Ayesha Syed and Mautik Tolia pull off something both novel and accomplished.
An achievement in cinematography by Piyush Puty and full marks in editing to Amit Kumar and Manish Mistry.
The Gone Game is a testimony how technicians can enhance a subject and make something good much better.
The series also comments on the benefits and defects of technology and it’s a clear statement that how our life is so dependent on gadgets, smartphones and the internet that it’s ‘impossible to imagine a ‘real’ life without them in this ‘virtual’ world.
The performances by the artiste are realistic throughout.
Music by Nayantara Bhatkal and Aditya N elevates the tension and it’s rightly atmospheric
Flaws
The atmosphere turns repetitive and it does take extra liberties.
Final words
The Gone Game is a unique refresh button on your OTT thrills. Rewardingly instigating and quite smart in cashing the Covid-19 fear into a satisfactory whodunit cheer. Do visit this game.
