Review: 12 'O' Clock (2021) – Ram Gopal Varma’s Attempt at Psychological Horror
Released on January 8, 2021, 12 'O' Clock marked director Ram Gopal Varma’s (RGV) return to the horror genre, a space he once dominated with classics like Raat (1992) and Bhoot (2003). Initially titled Geher, the film was the first major theatrical release in India following the COVID-19 lockdowns. Plot Overview
The story follows Gauri (debutante Krishna Gautam), a young girl from a middle-class Mumbai family who begins experiencing terrifying nightmares and episodes of sleepwalking. As her behavior grows increasingly violent and bizarre—including speaking in a man’s voice and hallucinating—her parents, Rao (Makarand Deshpande) and his wife, seek help from both an exorcist and a psychiatrist.
Parallel to Gauri’s plight, the city is rocked by a series of unexplained night-time murders. The investigation, led by encounter specialist Francis D'Souza (Manav Kaul), eventually intersects with Gauri's condition, revealing a chilling connection to the spirit of a deceased serial killer named Babu. Cast and Crew
The film features a veteran ensemble cast alongside its newcomer lead: 12 O'Clock (2021) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
The 2021 Hindi film 12 'O' Clock , directed by Ram Gopal Varma, is a psychological horror-thriller that centers on the mysterious possession of a young woman and a series of unexplained serial killings in Mumbai. The Plot Summary
The story begins with the city of Mumbai being terrorized by a serial killer who strikes at night. Encounter specialist Francis D'Souza (played by Manav Kaul) is assigned to investigate these brutal, seemingly random murders.
The narrative shifts to Gauri (Krishna Gautam), a young college student from a middle-class family living with her parents and brother. Gauri begins experiencing frightening nightmares and episodes of eerie sleepwalking. Her behavior becomes increasingly erratic and violent at night, leading her family to believe she is possessed. Key Story Beats
Failed Exorcism: Desperate, her family takes her to a "Baba" (exorcist), but they are dissatisfied with his harsh treatment and return home.
The Confession: Gauri eventually confesses to her parents that she is responsible for the recent serial killings.
Psychiatric Intervention: Seeking a scientific explanation, they take her to Dr. Debu (Mithun Chakraborty), a psychiatrist. After meeting Gauri, Dr. Debu receives the biggest shock of his life as he tries to uncover whether the cause is a psychological split personality or something supernatural.
The film focuses on the psychological struggle to extricate Gauri from this "possession" while the police and medical professionals race to understand the truth behind the 12 o'clock killings. Mithun Chakraborty as Dr. Debu (Psychiatrist) Manav Kaul as Francis D'Souza (Encounter Specialist) Krishna Gautam as Gauri Makarand Deshpande as Rao (Gauri's Father) Flora Saini as Maya 12 O Clock -2021- Hindi Movie
For more detailed reviews and viewer ratings, you can check the film's page on IMDb or read the overview on Wikipedia.
The narrative of 12 O'Clock revolves around a series of mysterious deaths that plague a city. The common thread linking these deaths is the time: they all occur precisely at 12 O'Clock.
The story follows a suspended police officer (played by Mithun Chakraborty) who is brought back into service to investigate these bizarre occurrences. As the investigation deepens, the police realize that they are not dealing with a serial killer following a pattern, but rather a supernatural force that is enacting revenge. The plot weaves together elements of a police procedural with classic horror tropes, including possession and spirits, as the protagonist races against time to uncover the truth behind the hauntings.
As of 2025, the film has a small but dedicated cult following on Reddit (r/IndianHorror). Fans appreciate its non-formulaic ending and reuse the phrase “Never let the clock strike 13” as an inside joke.
12 O'Clock is a 2021 Hindi-language thriller that blends supernatural elements with procedural investigation. Below is a concise blog-post-style piece you can use or adapt.
Act One: The Fall
The film opens with ACP Kabir Rana (Irrfan Khan-type role, intense and weary), once the "Supercop" of Mumbai, now a suspended, alcoholic mess. Twelve months ago, a high-profile case went horribly wrong. During a raid at an abandoned warehouse at midnight, Kabir shot and killed a young woman, Riya (newcomer), believing she was a terrorist planting a bomb. No bomb was found. Riya was an innocent college student caught in the wrong place. Kabir was acquitted due to "misfire," but the public, the media, and his own conscience have convicted him.
We meet him on the anniversary of the shooting. It's 11:50 PM. He’s in his dingy apartment, staring at a wall of case photos. He drinks, takes his sleeping pills, and passes out.
Act Two: The Loop
He wakes up to the sound of his antique wall clock striking 12 O’Clock. But something is wrong. The clock's chime is distorted, echoing unnaturally. He gets a call from his former partner, Inspector Anjali (Radhika Apte), saying, "Kabir, the Riya case… we found something new. Meet me at the warehouse. Now."
He drives through an eerily empty Mumbai. The streets are the same, the same homeless man, the same stray dog—but their movements are looped, like a broken record. He reaches the warehouse. It’s exactly as it was the night of the shooting. At 12:15 AM, he hears gunshots. He runs inside and sees… himself. A past version of him, screaming at Riya. Before he can stop it, the gun goes off. Riya falls. Review: 12 'O' Clock (2021) – Ram Gopal
Then the clock chimes again. 12 O’Clock.
Kabir jolts awake in his bed. Same chime. Same call from Anjali. He is trapped in the hour between 12:00 and 1:00 AM. Each loop resets at exactly 12:00.
He tries different things:
Act Three: The Revelation
In Loop 12, Kabir finally understands. The loop isn't a punishment for killing her. It's a second chance to uncover the truth. He pieces together that the real killer was Mohan Bhai's henchman, who fired a shot before Kabir did, meant for Riya. Kabir, reacting to the muzzle flash, fired simultaneously. Kabir’s bullet killed her, but she was already mortally wounded. The corruption case was buried, and Kabir was made the scapegoat to hide the politician's involvement.
But the loop has one final twist. At 12:45 AM, in the warehouse, Riya, before dying, looks directly at Kabir (the time-traveling version) and whispers, "You came back. I knew you would. The card… is in your coat pocket."
He checks his coat. It’s there. The SD card. How? Because he will put it there before the loop ends. The past and present collapse.
Climax: In the final loop, instead of trying to stop the shooting, Kabir stands between Riya and his past self. He takes the bullet—not literally, but spiritually. He yells at his past self to look at Riya’s hands, not her bag. His past self hesitates for one second. In that hesitation, the real killer’s bullet whizzes past. Riya drops the SD card. Kabir grabs it.
The clock strikes 1:00 AM.
The loop breaks. He is back in his apartment. Sunlight streams in. The clock shows 1:01 AM. The SD card is in his hand.
Epilogue: Kabir, sober and sharp, walks into the police commissioner’s office. He places the SD card on the desk. The corrupt politician is arrested. Kabir visits Riya’s grave and places a single white flower. He doesn't ask for forgiveness. He asks for truth. Plot Summary The narrative of 12 O'Clock revolves
Final shot: Kabir looks at his wristwatch. It’s 11:59 AM. He smiles slightly and walks into the sunlight. The clock never strikes twelve again.
End credit text: "Time doesn't heal all wounds. Truth does."
The 2021 Hindi film 12 'O' Clock marks a peculiar moment in the filmography of Ram Gopal Varma
(RGV), a director once celebrated for redefining Indian horror with classics like (1992) and (2003). Originally titled
, this psychological thriller attempts to revisit RGV’s "vintage" style but ultimately stands as a divisive work that struggles to balance atmospheric dread with its narrative execution. Plot and Central Themes The story centers on
(played by debutante Krishna Gautam), a young woman living in a suburban Mumbai middle-class household. Her life takes a dark turn as she begins experiencing terrifying nightmares and episodes of sleepwalking
. Simultaneously, Mumbai is plagued by a series of unexplained, gruesome murders occurring at night.
As Gauri’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic and violent, her family seeks help from various quarters, reflecting a clash of ideologies: Supernatural/Traditional: Her father, Rao (Makarand Deshpande), first takes her to an
(Ashish Vidyarthi) whose brutal methods the parents eventually reject. Scientific/Rational: They eventually turn to Dr. Debashish
(Mithun Chakraborty), a psychiatrist who initially views Gauri’s condition through the lens of a dissociative personality disorder.
The film’s central conflict rests on whether Gauri is suffering from a psychological ailment or is truly by a malevolent spirit. Performances and Technical Craft
The film boasts a strong ensemble cast of veteran character actors, though their impact is unevenly distributed: