“Not a toy. Not a joke. Not for kids.” Vishwak Sen sets stage for bold horror with ‘Cult’

Telugu actor filmmaker Vishwak Sen has sparked intrigue across social media after unveiling a chilling new poster from his upcoming film Cult , presenting what he calls India’s first slasher villain , a horned teddy bear named ‘Jee boom baa’.

Sharing the poster on X, the actor described the character as a brutal new face of horror, instantly drawing attention from fans and film circles alike. The unsettling image of a blood stained teddy bear with sinister horns signals a sharp departure from conventional horror tropes in Telugu cinema.

Cult marks Sen’s third directorial venture after Falaknuma Das and Das Ka Dhamki . Interestingly, the project reportedly began as a party thriller before evolving into a full fledged slasher horror film. The shift in genre appears to reflect Sen’s attempt to explore darker, more experimental storytelling.

The film is being produced by Tarak Cinemas, with music composed by Ravi Basrur , known for his intense background scores. The writing credits go to Tharun Bhascker , adding further curiosity about the narrative depth behind the horror spectacle.

Sen has announced that a major update will drop today at 11:11 a.m. IST, with the official teaser slated for release on February 21. While many fans have praised the bold and unconventional concept, some social media users have questioned whether Cult can truly claim to be India’s first slasher film.

Regardless of the debate, the poster has already succeeded in doing what horror aims to do best, unsettle, provoke and spark conversation. With expectations building rapidly, all eyes are now on whether Cult can deliver a genre defining experience.