Half is an absolute bloodbath. Directed by Samjad, the Indian action film follows Ethan and Ivy, half-human, half-vampire twins whose road trip turns horrific when a gang of armed bandits attacks them. They survive, but what follows is essentially an all-out revenge mission, and the film wastes little time getting there.
The supernatural premise gives Half an unusual twist, but the film isn’t particularly interested in developing a complicated vampire mythology. The story is fairly simple: Ethan and Ivy have been horribly wronged, and they intend to make those responsible pay. From there, the film becomes a series of violent confrontations, each seemingly determined to outdo the last.
And somehow, it works.
The fight sequences are outstandingly choreographed. They are fast, physical, inventive, and often astonishingly brutal. The special effects are incredibly realistic, which is impressive but occasionally difficult to watch. Bodies are battered, cut, stabbed, deep dried, crushed, and otherwise destroyed in increasingly gruesome ways. There were moments when I winced, but I couldn’t look away.
The two leads are a major reason the film remains engaging. They bring enough intensity and presence to Ethan and Ivy to carry a story that does not give them much emotional complexity on the page. Their connection provides just enough grounding amid the chaos around them, and once their revenge begins, the film rarely slows down.
There isn’t much story beyond that revenge. Characters appear, violence erupts, and the twins move on to the next target. Normally, that kind of repetition would wear thin fairly quickly for me, but the action is staged with enough skill and variety that I remained entertained. Every new encounter seems to introduce another outrageous way for somebody to get hurt.
The setting significantly contributes to the film’s harsh tone. Much of Half unfolds in stark, desolate surroundings marked by poverty, dirt, and decay. Nothing about this world feels comfortable or safe, and that grim environment makes the violence feel even more punishing. At times, it reminded me of Kill, another film that builds much of its identity around relentless, expertly staged brutality.
This is far more gore than I would normally seek in a movie, and Half certainly is not subtle. The story could have used more depth, particularly between the action sequences, and there are only so many increasingly gruesome deaths a film can deliver before the shock wears off. Still, I was surprised by how engaged I remained.
As disturbingly violent as Half is, I found it entertaining. The story may be thin, but the excellent fight choreography, strong leads, convincing effects, and the sheer energy of the filmmaking kept me watching. It is bloody, excessive, sometimes outrageously so—and much more fun than I expected.