Author
Dahaan movie review: Anupam Patnaik’s Odia horror thriller builds its mystery around an old mansion, a strange wooden box and a family facing an unsettling inheritance.
Film details: Dahaan | Genre: Horror thriller | Director: Anupam Patnaik | Cast: Barsha Nayak, Aurosikha Mishra, Samrat Mahapatra, Pranab Prasanna Rath, Nishant Majithia | Release: 16 October 2026
A property visit becomes a mystery
Anandita returns to an old family mansion near a forest with her younger siblings, Samar and Manu. The estate and surrounding agricultural land are tied to family history, but financial pressure makes a sale attractive. People who work the land oppose the plan. The family settles into the ageing property while questions about its past remain unresolved.
The wooden box at the centre of the story
While Anandita is away handling property matters, Manu enters an outbuilding and discovers a wooden box filled with unusual objects. Soon, the household experiences strange events, and Manu begins behaving differently. Anandita seeks help deciphering writing on the box and follows clues toward an older family secret. The film uses this single object to connect present-day fear with unanswered questions about previous generations.
A slow opening and a stronger middle
The opening spends considerable time establishing the estate, its inhabitants and the reasons for the visit. According to the supplied review, the pace improves after roughly the first half-hour. Questions about the box and the family’s history create more interest than the early setup. The mystery becomes more urgent as Anandita tries to understand what has changed and how to help her sister.
Horror that feels familiar
A deserted house, hidden object and supernatural disturbance are well-known ingredients in the genre. Dahaan uses them competently in places, but the supplied review finds several scare sequences too similar to those in earlier films. That familiarity weakens the element of surprise. Viewers who enjoy traditional haunted-house stories may still appreciate the atmosphere, while those looking for a radically new premise may be disappointed.
Climax, atmosphere and craft
The later sequences increase tension through the family’s efforts to understand the mystery and the arrival of outside assistance. The original Telugu review describes the closing stretch as more frightening than the opening. It considers the cinematography, editing and background music adequate rather than exceptional. The film appears most effective when it lets the central mystery develop instead of relying on standard supernatural tricks.
Verdict: modest scares, limited novelty
Dahaan offers a serviceable haunted-mansion mystery with a stronger second half and an intriguing central prop. Its main weakness is the reliance on familiar horror conventions. This is a reasonable choice for viewers in the mood for a traditional supernatural thriller, but expectations should be moderate. This assessment is based on the supplied Telugu review, not on an independent screening.
What works and what does not
Strengths: an intriguing mystery object, family stakes and a more energetic latter stretch. Weaknesses: slow early pacing and familiar supernatural devices. The film relies on atmosphere more than novelty.
Frequently asked questions
What language was Dahaan originally made in?
Odia.
Who directed Dahaan?
Anupam Patnaik.
What is the central mystery?
A strange wooden box discovered at an inherited mansion.
Is Dahaan available on Aha?
The supplied article claims an Aha release on 16 October 2026, but the availability was not independently confirmed.
Is the film very original?
The supplied review considers many of its horror devices familiar.
Final word
The film may appeal to viewers who enjoy its genre, provided expectations are realistic. Share your view of its storytelling and performances in the comments. This review is an editorial adaptation of supplied criticism, not a firsthand screening.
Also Read: Dorothy Netflix Review: A Powerful Idea, Uneven Execution
418 Movie Review: A Haunted Hostel With Familiar Scares