Vadakkan

Its been a while Ive given a horror movie only 1/10 but this movie made me open up another category on my horror movie list "so bad that i stopped watching" I gave up after 1 hr 20 The story line is pretty boring, acting is meh, the effects are insanely cheap and overall im not much of a Fan of these camera perspectives but thats subjective tbf. I wouldnt recommend to anyone who enjoys horror movies with paranormal activity, I cant believe this movie has such a good review. I was waiting 40 Minutes for something interesting to happen since i found the Story line boring and when it did I was amazed by the quality of effects, Ive rarely ever seen something so cheap.

Movie Vadakkan has a Plot though seemingly comparable to several others, have some extra twists added to keep it different.

Selection of the cast is generally ok. The lead actor is good to watch till the end.

Direction needs improvement especially in the 2nd half lagging parts when the investigation is ongoing in the bungalow at night.

Cannot be treated as a visual treat niether a thrilling horror, though it has its own suspense factors.

Acting of kishore is commendable and a good attempt but far below that when compared to kantara.

Ending is almost predictable from the bridge scene, though it could have been made different.

Overall a good attempt...

The movie felt like an adaptation of found footage horror into a Kerala setting, involving folk like Theyyam. But still they failed to deliver something original to the table. I expected a more smoother blend, but this was just American wine poured into an Indian bottle - superficially repackaged without tasting either flavour. The premise had a lot of potential and they just ruined it.

The cinematography was pretty good, capturing the eerie beauty of rural Kerala. Kishor's acting too, was decent. I also appreciate the experiment. These are the only positives I felt.

I don't understand how it got such a high rating. Maybe people liked the experimentation angle. But for a dedicated horror fan like me, this was a below par attempt.

I'm honestly surprised by the high ratings for Vadakkan (2025). Many people keep praising it as a "good attempt," but I don't see it that way. It feels like the filmmakers simply tried to imitate Hollywood-style horror by mixing found footage elements with some bits of our culture. There's nothing wrong with experimenting, but this felt more like copying than creating something original. Instead of trying to replicate Western horror tropes, they should have focused on building a horror experience rooted in our own rich traditions and storytelling. That would have made a much stronger impact.

Meh/10 for me.

Don't rely on user ratings and reviews; the movie was too boring to hold the audience's attention. Better avoid it. By the end, you're not scared-you're just relieved it's over. A horror film where the only thing that dies is the audience's patience. The film boasts dim lighting, endless walking scenes, and dialogue so slow, a meditative journey into absolutely nothing. Watching this film was like opening a horror novel and finding a user manual inside.

Vadakkan is less a horror film and more a cautionary tale about what happens when ambition isn't matched by execution. Watch it only if you're conducting sleep experiments.