What Is The Story About?
‘Indian Predator: Beast Of Bangalore‘ is the fourth season of the ongoing ‘Indian Predator’ true crime documentary series on Netflix. The series focuses on one Indian serial killer each season. Through one-on-one interviews with police officials, journalists and social activists involved in the investigation against the serial killer, the series recounts the horrifying crimes committed by them and their ultimate capture. Indian Predator: Beast Of Bangalore centers on serial rapist cum killer Umesh Reddy, labeled the ‘Beast Of Bangalore’ for the gruesome nature of his crimes, committed in and around Bangalore. The man has reportedly murdered 18+ women, and raped 20+ more.
Analysis?
Indian Predator: Beast Of Bangalore suffers from the same flaws that plagued its predecessor seasons in the series. Though the criminal and the crimes at the heart of the story are beyond shocking, the constant retelling and repetition of the same facts begins to irk by the end of the first episode itself.
The series starts off really well, weaving a web of intrigue, suspense and dread from the first minute itself. You begin to anticipate that this season will be different – better – than the previous three seasons, as far as the tediousness of the storytelling is concerned. By the end of the first episode, however, your belief leads to nowhere — this installment of Indian Predator dishes out more of the same – flogging the same repetitive things every few minutes or so.
The dramatisation of the events as they take place in the serial killer’s chequered criminal life leaves much to be desired. The non-linear style of storytelling is a bit confusing. The narrative also doesn’t dwell much on the crimes themselves – which were horrifying, to say the least. Instead, it spends time meandering between the interviewees – various police officers who had investigated the grisly crimes of Umesh Reddy. But unfortunately, none of the police personnel has anything worthwhile to add to the cases beyond what we already know through the Wikipedia page on Umesh Reddy.
The series also doesn’t shed much light on the psychology of the criminal – how Umesh Shetty became a criminal, and why he did what he did. Perfunctory references to an alcoholic, abusive father aside, the series reveals nothing in Umesh Reddy’s growing up years to indicate the reason of his turning into a murderer who terrorised the whole of Bangalore. One only has to look at Netflix’s own Evan Peters-starrer ‘Jeffrey Dahmer’ true crime series to know how to get into the mind of the killer and decode the reason for his criminal genesis. The Indian Predator series at large, and ‘Beast Of Bangalore’ in particular, is gravely lacking in this department.
One significant aspect of ‘Beast Of Bangalore’ is that it shines a spotlight on the ineptness and laxity of our police force, which allowed Umesh Reddy to escape from the clutches of the police a staggering five times. Even more laughable is the fact that he managed to escaped despite being in chains and handcuffs. If that isn’t sheer incompetence then what is?
The third episode of Beast Of Bangalore recovers the momentum set by the first half an hour of the first episode to an extent. It helps that it is the shortest of the three episodes, at 32 minutes runtime. The episode concludes with real-life footage of Umesh Reddy from the time he was caught and sentenced for his crimes. The real-life footage is also where Beast Of Bangalore scores over the preceding seasons of Indian Predator, none of which has such clear footage of the serial killer at the centre of the story.
The flaws notwithstanding, director Ashwin Rai Shetty has done a fine job with recreating Umesh Reddy’s grim and gruesome criminal life. If only the series had dug up more information on his life instead of relying solely on what is already available in the public domain, the series would have been better by several notches. That, and a trimmer and crisper narrative.
Music And Other Departments?
Prolific music studio Salvage Audio Collective has done an excellent job with the background score for Beast Of Bangalore. The music is suitably chilling and spooky, to go with the macabre proceedings on screen. Editor Shahnawaz Khan’s work is flawless and efficient. Director of Photography Remy Dalai deploys aerial shots for superb effect, effortlessly capturing the sweeping lands that are the scenes of the crimes. Ayush Ahuja’s sound design enhances the hair-raising creepiness of the killings and rapes.
Highlights?
The True Crime Story Itself
Starts and Ends Well
Drawbacks?
Too Long and Repetitive
Interviewees have Nothing Worthwhile to Say
Did I like it?
Not that Much
Do I recommend it?
As a One-Time Watch
Indian Predator Beast Of Bangalore Series Review by Binged Bureau
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