Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- psychological
- gripping
- crime thriller night
- mystery marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the film gripping in parts and praised Rajkummar Rao and Sanya Malhotra’s performances, pacing, and direction, while noting weaknesses in the second half and writing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Vikram’s investigation of Preethi’s disappearance unfolds alongside his struggle with a traumatic past.
Preethi’s disappearance is the concrete case that drives Vikram’s pursuit and the film’s whodunit structure.
Vikram is a Hyderabad police officer whose professional investigation structures the narrative.
Critics specifically identified the whodunit element, while the investigation uses red herrings and reversals to sustain uncertainty.
Films like HIT: The First Case, and why
Drishyam
shared whodunit structure, police investigation, psychological trauma, and contemporary Indian thriller atmosphere
Ratsasan
shared crime mystery framework, police pressure, missing-person investigation, and tense procedural pacing
Talaash: The Answer Lies Within
shared Hindi-language investigative thriller mode, troubled detective protagonist, and dark urban suspense
Memories of Murder
shared missing-person case, psychologically burdened investigator, and escalating mystery-thriller tension
Movie Details
- Director
- Sailesh Kolanu
- Release Date
- 2022-07-15
- Runtime
- 136 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (40)
Cast
- Rajkummar Rao
- Sanya Malhotra
- Dalip Tahil
- Milind Gunaji
- Shilpa Shukla
- Jatin Goswami
- Sanjay Narvekar
- Akhil Iyer
- Nuveksha
- Rose Khan
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is HIT: The First Case about?
- A psychologically scarred Hyderabad police officer races through a dangerous whodunit to find a mysteriously vanished girl.
- What is HIT: The First Case like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of HIT: The First Case as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is HIT: The First Case violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in HIT: The First Case as moderate.
- What did critics think of HIT: The First Case?
- Critics generally found the film gripping in parts and praised Rajkummar Rao and Sanya Malhotra’s performances, pacing, and direction, while noting weaknesses in the second half and writing.
- Which films are like HIT: The First Case?
- Films with a similar feel include Drishyam, Ratsasan, Talaash: The Answer Lies Within, and Memories of Murder.
- How long is HIT: The First Case?
- HIT: The First Case runs 136 minutes.
- Where can I watch HIT: The First Case?
- In United States, HIT: The First Case streams on Netflix.
