Logout review: Babil Khan delivers in this taut cyber thriller that packs a punch and ensures you're logged in!

Amit Golani's 'Logout' explores the story of a social media influencer whose life spirals out of control when an obsessive fan gains access to his phone.

It’s a digital world and we’re all slaves to our screens unless you are a sage who has mastered the art of restraint. This cultural phenomenon has been mirrored in a lot of films in India, especially over the last five years where themes of social media or mobile phone addiction have been mixed with classic genres to give the viewers a refreshing experience that is also relatable. Amit Golani’s Logout does the same and ensures that your attention is ‘logged in’ to the movie throughout its 1 hour 50 minute runtime. A desktop system, a dim-lit room, and Babil Khan; that’s 90% of Logout for you but thanks to its gripping screenplay, tight direction, and compelling performance, the film packs a punch and keeps you at the edge of your seat. 

As a cinema enthusiast, I consume a lot of content but the last couple of years have been a bit disappointing where even mediocrity was touted as a masterpiece and one was left with nothing but some above-average viewing experiences. However, this wasn’t the case with Logout as it turned out to be a captivating experience that proves you don’t need much to make a slick, thought-provoking, and entertaining movie. 

Watch the trailer here!

Logout sees Babil playing a social media influencer grappling with the duality of digital fame, who faces dark consequences of the virtual world when an obsessive fan gains access to his phone and starts controlling and manipulating his life. Babil as Pratyush showcases a nuanced understanding of his character, portraying the dual life of a social media star who performs for the world while battling loneliness behind the scenes. 

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A scene that stood out for me was where Babil’s character is shown constantly refreshing his feed to check the number of likes on his post and the count of his followers. The sequence is a mix of anticipation, anxiety, and excitement as he sees the rapidly changing figures on his social media profile. Babil’s subtle and nuanced manner of expressing these emotions alone displayed his prowess as an actor. His breakdowns, moments of certain realizations, and pure fear as he tries to crack negotiation with his fan which constitutes most of the film, also keeps you engaged.

Pratyush is a layered character whom you won’t be sure of rooting for. At the start, you’ll feel he is just a desperate self-centered influencer who can milk anything for fame and content but, as time passes by, you start understanding his side of the story and grow a liking for him. 

Logout is an intelligent diatribe against social media addiction, refreshingly packaged as a racy thriller, which at some points reminds you of Shah Rukh Khan’s Fan. The script is another hero of the film as Biswapati Sarkar’s intricate writing does a fine job presenting a relatable character, highlighting the modern-day struggles of digital addiction and the invasive nature of online life. The screenplay, despite its visual limitation keeps you invested in the movie as Sarkar’s ability to weave loops inside of loops elevates the overall watching experience.

Besides extracting a mind-blowing performance from Babil, Golani’s other triumph lies in relating the film to our current conditions, avoiding speed breakers, and keeping your interest pinned despite filming the entire movie at one location. At a time now where people are obsessed with social media to an extent that they have surrendered their entire lives, individuality, self-worth, and authenticity only for the dopamine release stemming from a like or a comment on a virtual platform, Logout comes as a topical and thrilling watch that aims to explore how one’s sense of self gets lost when digital validation becomes the sole purpose of their life. 

Logout premieres on ZEE5 on April 18.

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