Slaughter 2 review: Sanjay Mishra, Neena Gupta work hard to elevate an entertaining thriller
Slaughter 2 benefits from its prison setting and relatable performances, but a familiar plot and uneven storytelling prevent it from delivering the tension it promises.
cast Crew
Sanjay Mishra
There’s a certain joy in watching a classic thriller, especially a whodunit. The fun lies in that delicate thread of suspense – which keeps the audience guessing, alert and involved till the end. For two or two and a half hours you willingly play along, suspecting everyone and trusting no one. But what happens when the audience gets too smart for their own good? What happens when the secret is revealed too early?
slaughter 2Starring the veteran Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta, comes with the same dilemma. Set inside a prison in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, the film released in theaters on February 6 and is burdened with expectations, mainly because of how intense and unsettling its 2022 predecessor was. Directed and written by Jaspal Singh Sandhu, the film is positioned as a spiritual successor rather than a continuation – no shared story, no overlapping characters, just a similar moral universe.
This time, Sanjay Mishra plays a widower, while Neena Gupta plays Manju Mishra, a woman wrongly jailed for a crime she says she didn’t commit. Inside the prison, Manju forms an unexpected, ideal bond with Shambhunath Mishra, a policeman. Their relationship, restrained and honest, forms the emotional center of the film. It also stars Naina, played by Yogita Bihani, a 22-year-old young criminal who looks to Manju for safety and guidance within the brutal prison ecosystem.
Like most prison dramas, slaughter 2 Introduces its center of power – Keshav, better known as Bhuri Bhaiya, a dreaded criminal whose dominance (Dominance) extends beyond the prisoners to the authorities who are meant to control them. Even the jail staff are seen bowing to his will.
That balance begins to change with the arrival of Inspector Prakash Singh (Kumud Mishra), a tough officer determined to clean up the system and rein in Bhuri Bhaiya’s unchecked authority. But one night inside the prison changes everything. By morning, Bhuri Bhaiya disappeared, causing a stir in the jail. A no-nonsense investigator, Atit Singh (Amit K Singh) is brought in to solve the case.
Watch slaughter 2 Trailer here.
On paper, the setup promises intrigue. However, in execution, the film takes a path that is far too predictable. It struggles to recreate the magic it once created so effortlessly. In fact, it is possible and quite easy to piece together the mystery before the interval. To a foolish person, this is a fatal flaw. The film rarely attempts to mislead or challenge its audience, and when it does, the effort feels half-hearted. The narrative meanders along, taking its sweet time with character introductions and world-building, then suddenly moving quickly through important plot points.
The problem largely lies in the script. Sandhu’s vision, which once felt assured and layered, appears shaky here. Scenes go on much longer than necessary, while dialogue often becomes familiar and cliché. There’s a sense that the film wants to say something important about power, justice, and morality within limited walls, but it never quite manages to sharpen its argument. The result is a thriller that lacks urgency and surprise.
What does Work, and good work, is performance. Sanjay Mishra is the biggest strength of the film. Even when writing frustrates him, it still brings a lively weariness to Shambhunath. At times, you can almost see the fatigue on his face from delivering predictable lines, yet he remains compelling. His chemistry with Neena Gupta seems natural and unexpected. Gupta, meanwhile, is superb as Manju Mishra – determined, dignified and quietly powerful. She commands respect even without the theatrics and plays the role with the ease of someone who fully understands the moral significance of her character.
Kumud Mishra brings depth to Inspector Prakash Singh, striking a good balance between authority and arrogance. Shilpa Shukla as jailer Rajni Sharma adds layers to her role, while Yogita Bihani brings vulnerability to Naina. Actors like Nadeem Khan, Amit K Singh and Akshay Dogra contribute to elevate the film where the writing is weak.
technically, slaughter 2 Remains serviceable. Sapan Narula’s cinematography captures the claustrophobic reality of prison life without drawing too much attention to itself. The editing, especially in the second half, could have been much crisper; Many scenes overstay their welcome, which hurts the pace of the film. Rochak Kohli’s music leaves little impact, although Advait Nemlekar’s background score manages to maintain a sense of tension.
slaughter 2 There needs to be honesty in telling its story. The idea had potential and the performance definitely deserved better. Instead, the film ends up being a reminder of how hard it is to live up to your own standards, and how unforgiving the thriller genre can be when it falls short of predictability.
Slaughter 2 2.5 out of 5 stars.
