Toxic bursts onto the scene with a confidence that sets high expectations. With Yash back in action and Geetu Mohandas at the helm, the film aims to deliver a dark, stylish gangster drama. However, after enduring over three hours of it, the lingering question is why it needed to stretch on for so long in the first place.
Yash takes on a dual role as Raya and Rumi, also known as Ticket. He certainly has the charisma and attitude, but even his star power can't save a screenplay that keeps tripping over itself. Raya is meant to be dangerous and unpredictable, yet after a while, he starts to feel more like a series of stylish poses rather than a fully fleshed-out character.
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Kiara Advani plays Nadia, Nayanthara portrays Ganga, Raya's sister, Huma Qureshi is Elizabeth, Tara Sutaria takes on Rebecca, and Rukmini Vasanth plays Mellisa. Nayanthara injects some much-needed seriousness into the film, but many of the female characters come off as underdeveloped. They’re introduced with a sense of importance, only to be sidelined as the story progresses.
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Aug 2, 2026Visually, the film looks lavish. It boasts impressive sets, striking visuals, and action sequences that clearly aim to make a mark. The downside is that a polished look can't mask weak storytelling for three hours.
Toxic often confuses scale with substance. Just because a scene is louder, darker, or more elaborate doesn’t mean it’s automatically more engaging. There are moments where the film seems to be shouting at the audience that something significant is happening, rather than actually making us care about it.
Pacing is another significant hurdle. The first half drags on for too long, while the second half feels like it’s scrambling to justify everything that came before. There are some solid ideas buried within the film, but they’re overshadowed by so much unnecessary content that their impact gets lost in the shuffle.
The biggest letdown in this film is that it doesn't really dive deep into its characters' emotions. We get glimpses of their struggles, their anger, and their relationships, but the writing often falls short of making those feelings feel genuine. You can sense the filmmakers trying to create a big emotional moment, but too often, the scene wraps up before it truly earns that impact.
Geetu Mohandas should be applauded for aiming high, but Toxic really could have used a bit more restraint. A tighter screenplay and some ruthless editing might have transformed this into a much more powerful film. Instead, it feels draining long before it manages to captivate.
Yash still has that star quality that lights up the screen, and there are moments where he shines like the performer we all know and love. But even a star can only do so much. Toxic needed a stronger story to support the rest of the film's weight.
