Hisss (2010)

Hisss Review

Bollywood isn’t exactly the first place one would look to for a horror movie, but after the success of Slumdog Millionaire it seems almost natural that Hollywood’s Indian sister would turn to the genre.

Hisss, written and directed by Jennifer Lynch, stars Bollywood-stunner Mallika Sherawat (and she’s taking heat for her nudity in the film) as the Nagin. If you’re unfamiliar, the Nagin is an ancient Indian myth about a shape-shifting cobra that can take human form. And what a form she is. If Avatar made you want to do the nasty with a 10-foot blue alien, then Hisss, or rather Sherawat, will make you want to piss off the Nagin to have her human form come after you for vengeance.

Basically, that’s what Hisss is about; the Nagin seeks revenge for her kidnapped mate and with a bit of feminist empowerment she also “saves” women in need along the way by either fanging to death or swallowing the perpetrators of crimes against women.

Lynch enlisted FX master Robert Kurtzman (Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness, Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, The People Under the Stairs, From Dusk Till Dawn, etc.) to do the makeup. While his makeup is impressive, the trailer shows that the special effects dealing with the Nagin’s transformation is a bit questionable. However, true horror fans should be able to overlook this slight fault in Hisss and enjoy an interesting story with a sexy lead.

Hisss Trailer