Toxic Movie Review

'One of the worst films,' early reviews slam Yash's film

Toxic is one of the most expensive films the country has ever produced and features a star-studded cast including Yash, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Sudev Nair.

Director Geetu Mohandas

Ending Yash fans’ four-year wait, director Geetu Mohandas’s highly anticipated Toxic, marking the Kannada star’s comeback after KGF: Chapter 2 (2022), has finally hit screens. Arguably the most hyped Indian movie of the year, Toxic is also, according to reports, one of the most expensive films the country has ever produced and features a star-studded cast including Kiara Advani and Nayanthara.

The movie is already seeing phenomenal ticket sales and, as of 11 am on August 26, recorded a Day 1 advance booking gross of Rs 72.43 crore (including block seats) in India, according to industry tracker Sacnilk.

But there are extremely negative online reviews. 'Toxic is one of the worst movies I've watched in a long time." Stating that the story, screenplay, logic and performances were all underwhelming, a viewer added, "Nothing worked for me. The movie felt painfully boring from start to end. If you're planning to watch it, save yourself the torture and stay home."

"The first half of Toxic was straight-up torture. Felt like watching a 90-minute trailer. Editing was completely off, zero emotional connection, and scene after scene just dragged on. My friends literally walked out. Pure pain'", says another one.

The initial reviews for Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups indicate that the film has opened to mixed to polarized reactions from critics and audiences alike.

Here is the gist of what viewers are saying:

The Positives

* Yash’s Screen Presence: Fans heavily praise Yash’s commanding performance, styling, and dual-role execution, noting that his charm and screen presence single-handedly carry much of the film.

* Visual Scale and Production Values: The technical aspects—including the cinematography, opulent production design, high-end VFX, and gritty action choreography—have been widely lauded as top-tier and ambitious.

* Strong Final Stretch: Many reviewers noted that the narrative finds its true footing toward the climax and final 30 minutes, delivering impactful thematic reveals.

The Criticisms

* Style Over Substance: A prominent complaint is that the film leans too heavily into stylized, relentless violence and aesthetic flair while leaving the core plot and character arcs feeling thin.

* Pacing and Editing: Running close to three hours, the choppy editing style and breakneck cuts have been criticized for making parts of the screenplay disorienting, cluttered, and exhausting to follow.

* The "KGF" Comparison: Some audience members felt a heavy hangover from Yash's previous work, while others felt disappointed that it lacked the organic mass highs of KGF, leading to a disconnect in expectations.

* Underwritten Supporting Roles: Despite a high-profile ensemble cast featuring Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, and others, several reviews pointed out that the female characters and rival antagonists lacked proper depth or emotional foundation.

Overall, it is being viewed as a visually grand, intensely stylish, but uneven gangster drama that splits opinions—rewarding die-hard fans of mass cinema for its spectacle, while frustrating those looking for tighter narrative writing.