Human Cocaine Movie Review: A Dark Ride That Promises More Than It Delivers
Archika Khurana TNN, Jan 31, 2026, 5:11 PM IST
Story: Arjun, a struggling cab driver in the UK, accepts a risky delivery job to earn quick money and reclaim his broken family. But the shortcut drags him into danger, forcing him to choose between survival and his dreams.
Review: Writer-director Sarim Momin’s film opens on a familiar and relatable note — that of an Indian family trying to survive and stay afloat in the UK. Financial anxiety, fractured relationships, and the quiet desperation of migration form a grounded emotional base. From here, the narrative takes a darker turn, plunging its protagonist into a nightmarish chain of events driven by one reckless decision.
The idea is clear: there are no shortcuts in life, and when easy money comes calling, the cost is often far greater than anticipated. The story follows Arjun (Pushkar Jog), a struggling cab driver who agrees to deliver a seemingly harmless parcel for a large sum of money, hoping to reclaim his lost family. Along the way, he picks up a hitchhiker, Liza (Ishita Raj), and reaches a remote location where things quickly spiral out of control.
The parcel goes missing, Arjun is held captive by a bizarre family, and he soon discovers that they are not petty criminals but pawns of Europe’s biggest drug lord. What unfolds is a grim tale involving human trafficking and the creation of a horrifying new narcotic, with Arjun trapped as an unwilling participant in a brutal crime network.
Strengths and Weaknesses in Narrative Execution
The film’s biggest strength lies in its pacing — at least in the first half. The screenplay moves briskly, maintaining suspense and intrigue, and manages to keep viewers invested in Arjun’s predicament. However, the underlying motivation behind the villains and the logic of their operation feels underdeveloped and difficult to fully digest.
The second half, in particular, loses momentum, stretching certain scenes unnecessarily until a climax that is only moderately satisfying. This uneven pacing detracts from the overall impact, leaving audiences wanting a more cohesive and logically structured narrative.
Performances That Shine Amidst Flaws
Performance-wise, Pushkar Jog emerges as the film’s strongest asset. He convincingly portrays Arjun’s helplessness, guilt, and eventual descent into addiction, lending emotional credibility to an otherwise uneven narrative. His portrayal adds depth to the character, making Arjun’s journey more engaging and relatable.
Siddhant Kapoor, Zakir Hussain, Ishita Raj, and Ainy Jaffri offer competent support, though their characters remain sketchy and lack depth, reducing their overall impact. While they perform adequately, the script does not provide them with enough material to fully develop their roles, which limits the emotional resonance of their performances.
Themes and Messaging: Noble but Heavy-Handed
Ultimately, the film remains engaging but flawed. Its themes — anti-drugs and the dangers of moral shortcuts — are noble but delivered through heavy-handed dialogue and exposition rather than organic storytelling. The backstories and motivations are often explained instead of shown, weakening the emotional payoff.
This approach makes the messaging feel forced at times, detracting from the potential power of the story. A more subtle and integrated presentation of these themes could have enhanced the film’s impact and made its message more compelling.
Final Verdict: A Watchable Yet Imperfect Thriller
Overall, Sarim Momin’s film is a watchable thriller that thrives on atmosphere and performance but falters in writing and narrative cohesion. It keeps you hooked, yet leaves you wishing for a tighter, more logically structured script that could have elevated its powerful message into a far more compelling cinematic experience.
With a runtime of 1 hour 47 minutes, released on 30 January 2026, in Hindi, and categorized under Crime, Thriller & Action, Human Cocaine earns a critic's rating of 2.5 and a user's rating of 2.5. While it may not be a masterpiece, it offers enough suspense and strong performances to make it worth a watch for fans of the genre.
