Parents' Guide to Naga

The performances are pretty good, but a long runtime and some sudden tonal shifts hold back this thriller. Beginning with a bloody burst of violence, Naga certainly wants to set an ominous tone. But the reason why it starts with an assault rifle-wielding man shooting people in a hospital isn't clearly articulated. Sure, the father of the main character, Sarah, was a baby in the hospital at the time, but beyond this connection, it isn't clear what this is meant to mean. The same goes for the demonic camel that periodically terrorizes Sarah throughout her adventure, although, admittedly, the camel is the most interesting and compelling element of the film. Everything else that happens seems to be excessive, drawn out, and largely unneeded. A lot of the drama around getting to the party and around the party itself is drawn out a bit too much, and the boyfriend is quickly and easily cast aside when the plot needs it.

And finally, when Sarah's climactic final race back to the city begins, it feels a bit unintentionally haphazard, even if this final act is more than welcome at that point. Up until then, it feels like there has been simply too much thrown at the wall, without even seeing what sticks: a drug-induced hours-long trip, random petty criminals assaulting an ice cream truck vendor, a camel fight, a false poet, a boyfriend betrayal, an ex-girlfriend, a police chase, a savior ice cream truck vendor, a building explosion, and so on. By the end, it's hard not to wish that this film was simply and purely a demonic camel slash killer monster movie.