**Sister Midnight: An Untamed, Witty, and Unforeseeable Adventure**

*Sister Midnight* is every bit as peculiar, amusing, and surprising as its lead character.

Serving as the directorial debut for London-based Indian director Karan Kandhari, this film invites viewers on a surreal nocturnal escapade through Mumbai. At its core lies a delightfully quirky protagonist—Uma, a newly married woman in an arranged union, whose erratic behavior, endless appetite, and candid demeanor provide a captivating viewing experience.

### A Genre-Blending, Boundary-Pushing Cinematic Journey

Kandhari deftly explores the theme of the “monstrous-feminine,” merging different genres and taking aim at conventional gender norms. Accompanied by an evocative score from Interpol’s Paul Banks—his initial venture into film music—this movie offers an outrageously fun experience. Featuring a climactic scene with actual torches and pitchforks, along with a brilliantly unrestrained performance from leading actress Radhika Apte, *Sister Midnight* is essential viewing for aficionados of the bizarre and whimsical.

### What Is *Sister Midnight* About?

Set against the backdrop of Mumbai, the film chronicles the journey of Uma (Apte), a bride from a small town who relocates to the city to wed Gopal (Ashok Pathak) in an arranged marriage. Both characters are socially awkward and perceived as outcasts by their neighbors, who hardly hide their contempt, labeling them as “village idiots.” As they navigate the challenges of cohabitation, the couple gradually forges a rocky bond, resulting in some of the film’s most comical scenes—such as Gopal consummating their marriage with nothing but a firm handshake, much to Uma’s surprise.

Uma is loud, irreverent, and unapologetically odd—traits that mark her as an outsider in her new environment, leaving her husband puzzled, and making her an intriguing main character. Dissatisfied with her domestic existence and Gopal’s disinterest in her awkward advances at intimacy, she seeks thrills beyond her home. Ultimately, she finds comfort in the company of a group of trans sex workers led by Aditi (Navya Sawant), who recognize her struggles and grant her a sense of community.

However, Uma’s yearning for more soon spirals into darkness—both literally and disturbingly. As she wrestles with her newly discovered, almost primal urges, the film shifts towards horror and surrealism. Is she cursed? Or has this power always resided within her? Either way, something ominous is brewing.

### *Sister Midnight* Employs Deadpan Humor to Investigate the Monstrous-Feminine

A frenetic mix of styles, *Sister Midnight* merges deadpan comedy with creature-feature horror components. As Uma embraces her nighttime instincts, Kandhari draws from Barbara Creed’s notion of the “monstrous-feminine,” depicting a character who becomes more erratic yet openly empowered.

Echoing the themes of feminist horror films such as *She-Wolf of London*, *A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night*, and *Raw*, *Sister Midnight* employs Uma’s unconventional desires as a powerful metaphor for female liberation. And while the film treads into darker territories, it remains richly humorous.

The sharp editing by Napoleon Stratogiannakis and the symmetrical cinematography by Sverre Sørdal amplify the film’s deadpan wit. Scenes featuring a goat carcass, a rubbish heap, and an oblivious passerby induce hearty laughter, as does a montage of Uma’s absurdly repeated apologies—her bid to maintain some semblance of normalcy amid her increasingly savage adventures. Kandhari also utilizes stop-motion animation to elevate the film’s surreal appeal.

At its center, however, is Radhika Apte, delivering one of the year’s most unforgettable comedic portrayals.

### Radhika Apte’s Eerie and Exceptional Performance

In her role as Uma, Apte undertakes a character that is both shocking and immensely entertaining. Her evolution into a creature driven by bloodlust is not depicted as seductive or glamorous, which is often the case in horror narratives. Instead, it’s a comical, pragmatic journey of survival and self-realization.

Apte’s performance is marked by her deadpan expressions and sudden bursts of energy. Whether she’s contemplating snatching an entire selection of potted plants or sizing up an unsuspecting goat, her unflinching gaze and relentless resolve create an unforgettable character.

By the time Uma fully accepts her authentic self, *Sister Midnight* becomes a film that audiences will wish to last forever. It’s a narrative for the misfits, the misunderstood, and those yearning to explore their longings without the weight of societal criticism.

### Where to Watch *Sister Midnight*

*Sister Midnight* is currently screening in cinemas across the UK.