Fantastic Fest 2026: HALF (2026)
Image courtesy of Fragran Nature Film Creations
One of the most exciting elements of genre film festivals over the last handful of years has been the steady influx of Indian movies hitting the international scene. This isn’t necessarily due to the release of RRR in 2022, as films were already making their way west, but it certainly helped put a wider target on the region. The latest film to make the international leap is director/co-writer Samjad’s horror-action vehicle, HALF. And without setting expectations too high from the jump, it’s one of the best action films of the last decade.
Since birth, both Ivy (Aiswarya Raj) and Ethan (Ranjith Sajeev) have been inseparable. The kind of unbreakable bond that forms when you’re siblings and half-vampires, and one that’s tested early in their lives due to the sudden passing of their mom. A bond that stays tight until the day comes when the pair take a long road trip for a job Ivy has set up in a neighboring border town.
Unfortunately, the stretch of road they’re crossing isn’t only in the middle of nowhere, but also policed by a marauding family of car thieves, led by the tenacious Selli (Abbas). As the two groups cross paths, things quickly go haywire. Ivy and Ethan aren’t quick to take the bait, and the thieves improvise, causing a terrible car accident where the twins are left for dead. Yet not before all their belongings have been taken and one nasty character puts Ivy through an unsavory act before she passes.
Given their obvious background and lineage, you can see where things are heading. Yet that doesn’t make the journey any less fun. When the dark of night descends upon them, the two battered siblings take off to get revenge in some of the most glorious action sequences to blaze across the screen. That’s due to producers Anne Sajeev and Sajeev P.K. making the incredibly smart decision to hire Very Tri Yulisman to serve as the film’s fight choreographer/action director. If that name doesn’t sound familiar, it's because he's the fight choreographer of THE RAID, THE RAID 2, and THE NIGHT COMES FOR US.
Of course, with the state of action continually setting the bar rather high every six months or so, your movie has to have more than just good fights. HALF gets this and makes sure to have just enough elements scattered about to make everything work as a whole. The needle drops have an Edgar Wright quality to them, helping elevate moments where words would fail. Cinematographer Pappinu catches the fights in various ways, shifting from close-ups to wide shots and even a sequence framed from the dashboard of their battered Chevy Cruze. Yulisman complements the camera work by changing up how the fights unfold, making sure that each new set piece is different from the other and keeping the audience’s eyes on the screen when they might otherwise wander should things get too samey.
Truly, what separates HALF from other films of its ilk comes down to the screenplay and the performances of the two leads. The relationship between Ethan and Ivy is strong as they constantly bicker, as siblings are wont to do, but they’re fiercely loyal and protective. Making every scrap they get into together that much better. What Samjad does with his script and how he sets the scene is different. He laces little hints and signs throughout the film that you pick up on if you’re looking. While this writer noticed a few, it was a veteran screenwriter who pointed out just how much can be gleaned from a second viewing. That’s special.
If you’re not convinced to give HALF a chance whenever it comes out, then take this to heart: even if you only give the movie three stars yourself, you’re still going to have a whale of a good time. This is the golden era of action we’re living in; might as well drink it all in while we can.
