Vash

Krishnadev Yagnik's 2023 Gujarati film follows a family on holiday. A man named Pratap, whom they meet on the way, becomes their guest, and before long it is clear he has taken control of their daughter. The film takes place almost entirely in one house. The supernatural element is not explained; the narrative builds its fear not through effects but through the family's helplessness, with the father's inability to act at the centre. Janki Bodiwala plays the daughter and her performance drew wide praise. The film found unexpected attention in Gujarati cinema and was remade in another language soon after. Who it's for: those who like regional Indian horror. Who it's not for: viewers for whom a young girl being brought under control would sit heavily; the film shows it at length.