India, April 17 -- I'll admit it upfront, I'm a sucker for the comic gems that Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan have given us over the years. Just a night before Bhooth Bangla's release, I happened to rewatch their cult Bhagam Bhaag (2006), a reminder of how effortlessly they once nailed comedy. So naturally, seeing them reunite for another horror comedy after Bhool Bhulaiyaa had me excited. What we get, though, is a reunion that feels a little... bittersweet.

The story of Bhooth Bangla revolves around London-based Arjun (Akshay) and his sister (Mithila). She suddenly inherits a fortune and a palace, of their grandfather. Arjun travels to Mangalpur, India, to set up the palace for his sister's upcoming wedding. But the lore goes that nobody...