Devil’s Double Next Level Movie Review

The makers of Devil’s Double Next Level (DD Next Level) promoted it as a sequel to the 2023 film, but in reality, it bears no narrative connection to its predecessor. Instead, it ventures into a completely new premise. Directed by S. Prem Anand, the film features Santhanam in the lead, supported by Selvaraghavan, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Geethika Tiwary, and Yashika Anand.

The story revolves around a movie critic (Santhanam) known for his rap-style reviews. He’s invited to a special screening, but something feels off about the theater. As he returns, he discovers that his entire family has already entered the cinema hall. Upon entering, he’s pulled into the movie screen by a supernatural force (played by Selvaraghavan), only to find his family trapped as reel-life characters. His love interest is in a life-threatening situation, and alongside new characters like the intense Cop Raghavan (Gautham Vasudev Menon), he must navigate this eerie reel-world. The central conflict: can he save his loved ones and escape the screen, or will he be trapped by the ghostly antagonist’s twisted game?

Santhanam and the DD franchise have had their share of blockbuster moments, but this time, the confidence seems to have backfired. The film stumbles due to its confused identity—trying to blend franchise-style humor with a complex storyline that doesn’t quite land. Historically, Tamil cinema has struggled with films centered around the film industry (Star, Vellithirai, Kuselan, Uttama Villain) and DD Next Level is no exception. Worse, anchoring the core around “reviewers” as characters fails to resonate with the broader audience.The screenplay is convoluted, making it difficult for viewers expecting a laugh-riot to connect. It’s not that the story lacks potential—but the attempted fusion of genres derails it.

A maze thriller approach could have worked, but when a script demands intellectual engagement, it’s hard for humor to breathe. The writers should’ve recognized this fundamental clash before drafting the plot.Performance-wise, the actors do what’s required of them, but the film doesn’t give them much scope to shine. Humor is sporadic and often lost amidst the screenplay’s complexity. When the writing leans heavily on cerebral elements, the wit naturally takes a backseat.On the whole, Devil’s Double Next Level offers very few genuinely funny moments and pales in comparison to the previous DD entries. We’d rather revisit DD 2 or DD 3 than sit through this one again.