Chaneil Kular starring Accused is based on 2021 real-time drama Boiling Point, driven by Stephen Graham's performance, director Philip Barantini immersed viewers in the nerve-wracking world of misplaced walnut dressing and nut allergies. 

However, Barantini has now shifted his focus from the chaos of the kitchen to a tension-laden narrative where the slightest creak of a floorboard could betray you. "Accused" presents a unique take on the home-invasion thriller genre, as the invasion begins not with an axe through the door, but with the subtle buzz of a phone notification.

Chaneil Kular, known for his role in Sex Education, portrays the self-assured young protagonist, Harri Bhavsar. Harri's initial plan was a simple trip to his family's sprawling countryside estate in Yorkshire to care for their dog during their holiday absence. 

However, as he traverses the train station, his life takes an unexpected turn. First, he encounters someone who looks strikingly identical to him, concealed under a cap and hoodie, heading in the opposite direction on an escalator. 

Then, as his train departs from London, phone notifications flood in, informing Harri and his fellow passengers about a terror attack at the station they just departed.

Shock quickly transforms into anger as the police release an image of their prime suspect: Harri's doppelgänger. Faceless and anonymous social media users, along with forum enthusiasts, spring into action, engaging in what one describes as "CSI Twitter." 

An offhand tweet from a former classmate points the internet's investigative prowess in Harri's direction. Suddenly, his friends refuse to answer his calls, his girlfriend Chloe (played by Lauryn Ajufo) decides not to meet him at Bhavsar Towers, and the police offer little more than advice to "tough it out." 

Racist sentiments spill over from the digital realm into the real world, and Harri finds himself isolated, while the internet pats itself on the back for its amateur detective skills. In the darkest corners of the web, racist vigilantes call for Harri's demise.

The film adeptly portrays this unfolding drama, particularly in a sequence where Harri slowly comprehends the gravity of his situation while navigating Twitter and watching a Frankenstein film simultaneously. Rendering the visual essence of social media on screen can be challenging, but Barantini's skillful manipulation of tension as we shift between screens, all while an oblivious Harri becomes Britain's most despised man, is nothing short of masterful. Additionally, some of the radio presenters depicted in "Accused" might warrant a reprimand from Ofcom, as an aside.

For substantial portions of the film, Kular's character, Harri, is left to fend for himself, with his loyal Golden Retriever, Flynn, as his only companion. Kular brilliantly conveys Harri's impotent fear and desperation with an everyman's authenticity.

The second half of the film transitions into a more conventional, visceral home-invasion thriller, losing a bit of its distinctive flavor in the process. Nevertheless, an extended, nearly silent cat-and-mouse pursuit within the dimly lit mansion is exceptionally tense, with Barantini's camera deftly maneuvering around corners and peering into the darkness. 

While the denouement may feel slightly underdeveloped, it delivers a clever conclusion to the racist anger that initially sparked the manhunt for Harri. While Harri may be the titular "Accused," the movie's finger is pointed at those too eager to play detective and allow their prejudices to overshadow facts.

"Accused" manages to hold itself together as Harri's situation deteriorates, and it prominently features a potentially breakout performance from Kular. However, it truly shines when it leans into the atmosphere of dread rather than opting for larger-than-life moments; when it simmers gently, rather than reaching a boiling point. Engaging and meticulously crafted, Accused is a tightly wound, superbly acted thriller that showcases Barantini's talent for intensifying suspense.