Police Complaint (2026) Review: Karma, Black Magic and a Cold Case

This Police Complaint review starts with a simple question: can a Telugu horror thriller that mixes occult dread with a police procedural keep you hooked for over two and a half hours? Director Sanjeev Megoti thinks so, and the film mostly backs him up. It is a solid, sometimes gripping watch that stumbles mainly on its length.

Police Complaint Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Police Complaint plot opens with a grim crime. A pregnant woman is murdered in what appears to be a black magic ritual, and the case goes cold. Years later, a police officer reopens the file.

Soon the people linked to the original crime begin to die in strange ways. The deeper the officer digs, the more the investigation uncovers a web of superstition, corruption and secrets that someone wants to stay hidden. The film's tagline, "The past never stays buried," sums up the mood well.

The film is released in India on 12 June 2026 and runs 156 minutes. It carries a UA16+ censor rating there. If you are searching for the Police Complaint release date, that is the one to remember.

What Works in Police Complaint

The strongest element is the central idea. Rather than leaning only on jump scares, the story is built around a "chain reaction of karma," where old sins keep coming back to claim new victims. That gives the horror a purpose, and it gives the mystery a satisfying logic.

Megoti also handles the genre mix with some confidence. Reviewers have praised how he balances the mystery on one side with horror and action on the other. Scenes of investigation sit comfortably next to supernatural unease, so the film never feels like it is changing channels.

Highlights include:

• A premise that ties the supernatural to real-world corruption.

• A steady supply of suspense as each mysterious death raises the stakes.

• A story that rewards attention instead of relying on volume.

If you like action movie reviews with a darker streak, this fits the bill. It also sits close to horror films and the thriller genre.

Police Complaint Cast and Performances

The Police Complaint cast is led by Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, with Naveen Chandra, Saptagiri, Ragini Dwivedi, Rajshri Nair and P. Ravi Shankar in support. The Hans India singled out the performances as a strength, and the ensemble gives the film the weight it needs.

A Strong Ensemble

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar has a screen presence that suits a story about authority pushing against fear. Naveen Chandra and P. Ravi Shankar help sell the idea that everyone in this world is hiding something. Saptagiri is a familiar face for Telugu audiences, and his presence adds some texture to the supporting line-up.

The film depends on a cast that can make a superstitious, corrupt community feel believable. For the most part, it gets that.

Where Police Complaint Stumbles

The biggest issue is the running time. At 156 minutes, the investigation has room to sag, and a tighter edit would have sharpened the scares. Mystery stories live on momentum, and the pace slackens in places.

The film's ambition also works against it. Horror, action, procedural and social commentary all compete for space, so some threads feel less developed than others. Critics who rated it 3 out of 5 reflect that mixed feeling: well made, but not flawless.

If you want a brisk, lean chiller, this may test your patience.

Is Police Complaint Worth Watching?

Yes, Police Complaint is worth watching if you enjoy Indian horror thrillers that put story ahead of shocks. It has a clever core idea, committed performances and a mystery that keeps you guessing without cheating.

The reception so far points the same way. Both The Hans India and IndustryHit gave it 3/5, and the film holds a 6.1/10 on IMDb according to the Amazon Prime Video listing. That is a decent, if not spectacular, response. For more background, see the Police Complaint page on Wikipedia.

If you want something similar in tone, our review of I'm Undercover covers another cop-led story.

Who Will Enjoy Police Complaint

• Fans of Telugu cinema who like genre mixing, with horror, mystery and action in one package.

• Viewers who prefer atmospheric suspense and a thematic idea over constant jump scares.

• Anyone who likes cold-case investigations with a supernatural twist.