So, here we are, talking about Bandanaya—a film that, much like a slow-moving train wreck, promises a crash but leaves you disappointed when you realize it’s just an agonizing slog toward a nonexistent payoff. Directed by Udayakantha Warnasuriya, this 2017 Sri Lankan horror film, which boasts the ever-so-dramatic black-and-white color scheme, attempts to blend esoteric rituals, devil deals, and sibling rivalry. But, honestly, it’s more of a “why did I even start watching this?” experience than anything else. The film opens in 1932 with a rural village falling under the control of Mahasona Yaka, a character that, like the rest of the plot, fails to make much of an impact despite his cool name. But, trust me, the biggest horror here isn’t the supernatural plot—it’s the sheer torture of sitting through it.
The Plot: A Jumbled Mess of Clichés and Half-Baked Ideas
Let’s break down the plot, or what I could actually piece together after hours of watching the film in utter confusion. Bandanaya starts with a rural village falling under the influence of Mahasona Yaka (yes, another demon name in the long list of forgettable horror villain names). The film then takes a turn to show us Menik Hami, a tantric who has apparently figured out how to leverage this demonic presence to seize land. And while we’re at it, let’s throw in a snake bite and some devilish dealings with Menik’s brother’s granddaughter—because what else says “spooky horror” than random family squabbles and the kind of deal-making you’d find in an overly complicated soap opera?
The whole premise might have sounded decent on paper. I can imagine someone excitedly pitching it: “What if a village is cursed, but the tantric gets involved and uses his power to do evil?” But, Bandanaya isn’t really interested in any of that—what it’s truly after is giving the audience a series of half-baked scenes where characters mutter about rituals, ancestors, and fate. You know, the stuff we’re supposed to care about but never actually do because there’s no real investment in the characters. The movie’s pacing is like an overcooked pot of rice—dry, insipid, and difficult to swallow.
The Characters: So Flat They Could Be Used as a Coffee Table
If you’re looking for fleshed-out characters that you can root for or even feel something for, you’re out of luck. Every character in Bandanaya feels like they were pulled from a hat of generic stereotypes, and unfortunately, no one bothers to even try to make them interesting. Take Menik Hami, played by Cyril Wickramage, who’s apparently the big bad of the movie. But let’s be real: he’s less of a terrifying villain and more of a guy who’s just there to make vague spiritual mumbo jumbo and show up at the most inconvenient times to explain things nobody cares about. He’s about as menacing as the sock puppet your aunt gives you for Christmas—just sitting there with no real purpose.
Then there’s Jayasoma (Hemal Ranasinghe), who doesn’t seem to have much going on in terms of personality—except for being a man caught in the middle of a battle over land he doesn’t care about. And don’t even get me started on Sumana (Saheli Sadithma). She’s your classic horror movie victim—except she’s written so poorly that you’ll find yourself hoping the demon actually does something useful and just takes her out.
As for the demon, who could possibly be the most interesting part of the movie? It’s a demon, guys. It’s supposed to be terrifying. But nope, in Bandanaya, the devil is so underwhelming, you’re almost convinced the filmmakers just couldn’t afford any actual horror effects and decided to throw in a guy with some cheap special effects to do the job instead.
The Horror: So Much Potential, So Little Execution
Ah yes, the horror. The part of the movie that’s supposed to make your heart race and have you peeking through your fingers. Instead, Bandanaya just makes you scratch your head in confusion. Sure, there are some spooky rituals, devilish whispers, and creepy moments where characters interact with supernatural forces. But none of it ever really lands. I mean, if you think a creepy doll and a possessed woman are enough to scare anyone, you’ve clearly never watched The Conjuring franchise—or, let’s be real, anything with decent horror.
The film attempts to lean on its supernatural elements by introducing the Mahasona Yaka as a grand evil presence, but instead of building tension, it just throws a bunch of unexplained, random events your way. A snake bite here, a ritualistic chant there—nothing ever quite ties together, leaving the horror feeling like a series of disconnected incidents rather than a cohesive, spine-chilling narrative.
The black-and-white cinematography, which could have been used to create a sense of eerie atmosphere, only serves to emphasize how dreary and dull the entire movie feels. Instead of adding to the suspense, it makes everything look washed out, like a bad art-house movie from the ’90s that never found its audience. If you were hoping for the film to build toward something sinister or terrifying, you’re better off watching a VHS tape of an old Twilight Zone episode and calling it a day.
The Writing: A Non-Stop Parade of Clichés
It’s no surprise that Bandanaya is drowning in clichés. You’ve got the “evil spirit seeks vengeance,” “sacrifice to the devil” narrative, which is about as fresh as your grandmother’s outdated casserole recipe. The characters aren’t just flat—they’re clichés with no new spin on the genre. The movie tries to tell a story of revenge, loss, and evil at work—but it just fails at every turn.
The dialogue is particularly cringeworthy. “Find me,” the note reads. Really? That’s the best the demon could do? It’s almost as if the script was written by someone who thought “spooky” meant throwing in as many “creepy” phrases as possible without realizing that words alone don’t make something scary. If only the characters had one solid personality or motivation, maybe this would have been somewhat enjoyable. Instead, they shuffle from one scene to another, completely disjointed and totally forgettable.
The Ending: Because What’s Horror Without an Incongruent Climax?
And of course, the cherry on top of this horror sundae is the ending. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that Bandanaya wraps up with all the grace of a toddler attempting to do a backflip. It tries so hard to deliver some last-minute “twist” but ends up feeling more like a deflated balloon than the thrilling conclusion it hoped to be.
Conclusion: A Forgotten Horror, Lost Among the Better Films
In the grand scheme of things, Bandanaya isn’t just a bad movie—it’s a forgettable one. The scares don’t scare, the characters don’t develop, and the plot—well, let’s just say it’s about as compelling as watching paint dry. If you’re looking for a truly terrifying experience, I’d suggest staying far, far away from this one. And if you do decide to take the plunge, well, you’ve been warned. You’ll walk out wondering where your two hours went, but at least you won’t have to think about it for long.
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (Because one star is a little too generous)
