CTRL Movie Review: Ananya Panday’s Netflix Thriller Will Shake You to the Core!

Ananya Panday’s new film CTRL, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, is now streaming on Netflix, and it's set to shake you to your core. The movie presents a stark reminder of the digital world we live in and how our lives are increasingly controlled by the very devices we use daily. Before diving into the film, here’s a review that will help you prepare for the unsettling ride that CTRL offers.

What is CTRL All About?

The title CTRL might remind you of a simple key on your keyboard, but the film dives deeper into how technology, specifically the apps we use every day, holds immense control over our lives. From scrolling endlessly through social media reels to signing up for games without reading the terms and conditions, we’re all unknowingly being tracked and manipulated. CTRL explores these themes, showing how our online activity is being stored, analyzed, and used against us.

One of the film’s most striking points is how it subtly highlights situations many of us have experienced—talking about a product with friends or family, only to see an advertisement for it the next time we open our social media. It’s convenient but also disturbing to realize that our devices may be listening to us without our knowledge.

The Story of CTRL

The plot revolves around two main characters, Nela and Joe, who meet in college and find solace in each other’s company. They soon turn their lives into a public spectacle by becoming influencers, just like many of us who share moments of our lives on social media. Their joint channel, named “Njoy,” becomes a hit as they continue to vlog about their daily experiences.

But things take a dark turn when Nela, planning a surprise for their anniversary, discovers Joe with another woman. This leads to a heart-wrenching breakup. To erase the painful memories, Nela turns to an AI tool, which promises to wipe Joe from her digital memories. However, something goes terribly wrong, and Joe doesn’t just disappear from her phone—he disappears completely.

From there, CTRL delves into the dangers of how powerful technology can be. It exposes how these tech giants control and manipulate our lives in ways we can’t even imagine, leaving us trapped in their web of apps and social media.

Realism and Relatability

Vikramaditya Motwane’s direction is flawless, crafting a realistic atmosphere that mirrors the current digital world. The story, written in collaboration with Avinash and Sumukhi, focuses on just a few characters and small spaces, similar to how our lives are often confined to the screens of our mobile devices. This simplicity makes the film even more terrifying as it closely resembles the realities we live in every day.

Watching CTRL is an eye-opener. The film makes you question how much control these apps have over your thoughts and life. The cinematography by Prateek Shah, paired with Nobel’s editing, ensures that the film stays sharp and tightly controlled, much like the technology it's critiquing.

CTRL is not your typical thriller. It doesn’t rely on jump scares or dramatic plot twists. Instead, it offers a subtle but chilling commentary on how technology is silently taking over our lives. With Ananya Panday’s grounded performance and Motwane’s direction, CTRL will leave you thinking long after the credits roll.

It’s a film that speaks to the modern viewer, making us reconsider how much of our lives we freely give to the digital world. If you’re ready to confront these realities, CTRL is a must-watch on Netflix.