Vishwak Sen Unveils Trailer for Self-Directed Thriller ‘Cult’

Actor-filmmaker Vishwak Sen has unveiled the trailer of Cult, an upcoming thriller that he has written, directed and headlined. The film is scheduled for a worldwide release today.

Sen plays DSP Sankalp Nayak, an aggressive police officer known for his uncompromising approach to criminals and opposition to drugs. The story follows more than 300 young people attending a party in Goa, whose celebrations turn into a terrifying fight for survival on an isolated island estate.

The location is reportedly surrounded by electric fencing, with RDX explosives placed at the entrance, forcing participants into deadly games. Billed as India’s first slasher film, Cult combines graphic violence, high-voltage action, suspense and dark humour. Its premise has drawn comparisons with Project X and Squid Game, offering a violent survival-thriller experience aimed at younger audiences.

The supporting cast includes Gayatri Bharadwaj, Tarak Ponnappa, Murali Sharma and Srikanth Iyengar, alongside Karthikeya, Anirudh Bhaskar and EZY. Produced by Sandeep Kakarala under the Tarak Cinemas banner, the film features music by Ravi Basrur, dialogues by Tharun Bhascker, cinematography by Aravind Viswanathan and editing by Ravi Teja Girijala.

Sen revealed that career setbacks and anxiety following the underperformance of three consecutive films influenced his decision to take creative control. Recalling his experience with Falaknuma Das, he decided to direct Cult himself after initially approaching his acting mentor, Tajuddin.

Targeting Gen Z and younger audiences, Sen promises an adrenaline-fuelled film that moves away from conventional hero-centric storytelling. He has also indicated a runtime of approximately two hours and 20 minutes. Reports differ on the planned release languages, with the final lineup awaiting confirmation from the makers.