Commentaires des utilisateurs

The sheer talent in the Shane Nigam, the much-maligned bad boy of Malayalam cinema has never been in doubt ever since he captivated us in Parava (2017), Kumbalangi Nights (2019) and Ishq (2019). He ventures into new territory with Bhoothakaalam donning the producer's cap along with the lead role in a film that beautifully merges the psychological with the supernatural, to devastating effect.

Shane stars as a quintessential just-out-of-college youngster, struggling to find work in his hometown so that he can take care of his clinically depressed mother. It is hilarious that he chose to embrace rather than shun the image the media has painted of him to enhance his character arc here, with alcoholism and addiction to cigarettes and drugs depicted convincingly to give us more insight into the character's mental and physical breakdown.

The first half of the movie is definitely a drag, but one gets the feeling that it was by design by director Rahul Sadasivan, to let the audience feel how mundane, depressing and repetitive the lives of this consistently down-on-their-luck family has become. It is into these psychological scars and mental anguish that the director then deftly throws in a supernatural element, to catch the characters and more importantly, us, the audience completely off-guard.

I personally loved the use of minimalistic sound design and lighting, especially shadows to generate genuine scares and spine-tingling suspense. Revathi delivers an absolute tour-de-force performance as the protective but often overbearing mother, who struggles to let her son spread his wings and become independent. Shane Nigam plays an able foil to the veteran actress, with his mannerisms and demeanour deftly changing to suit the diverse circumstances his character goes through.

Bhoothakaalam is a cerebral amalgamation of the horror and psychological thriller genres and despite pacing issues, is rendered an absolute must-watch due to the performances of its two leads and an absolutely chilling final act that will leave you stunned.

Highly recommended!

Why do we watch horror movies.. obviously to get scared and this movie does the job..some people didn't like the movie bcoz the ghost didn't have any overdramatic flashback which the hero on hearing feels bad for the ghost and avenge for the ghost..typical clishe ..thats what people still want..white saree ghosts are not gonna work these days..i liked the movie bcoz its made as realistic as possible..yeah i don't believe in ghosts but when u watch a horror movie you should believe..if something similar happens to us ,this would be whats gonna happen..so the climax feels apt for the movie..

Bhoothakaalam is not just a normal horror film, it's about a relationship between a mother and her son. As the house of our protagonist had been shown many times you'll relate to their situation. Most of the horror elements are there in the climax and that will definitely scare you. Background sound is very important in any horror film and it was very good here.

Revathi is a great actor and no doubt she had done her job perfectly. But, l loved Shane Nigam more in this film, he was amazing. Lastly, there are certain questions I didn't get answers, that's the reason I liked the film more. So, if you're a horror/psychological genre lover you should definitely watch this.

Available on Sony LIV.

© MandalBros.

Human mind is Very dangerous and subtle, Once on the edge, We are in really no control.

Revathi and Shane do a Class act and makes us feel to go through their experiences.

The movie is made very clean. It has a lot of scary elements. For a Malayalam film this movie has done well to the standard of an international horror film. There are movies that promise you horror but this movie delivers it very well. There might be areas that could have been better, aome would say. But technically for the malayali audience this horror thriller is better than all horror films that came before it.

1) ALL AREAS OF THE FILM WAS TECHNICALLY BRILLIANT.

2) SHAINE NIGAM PERFORMANCE WAS LITERALLY AWESOME ESPECIALLY SOME SCENES.

3)AVOIDING THE JUMPSCARE SCENES AND CREATING AN ARC OF HORROR ATMOSPHERE, THE WAY THEY PRESENTED AND CREATED THE MOOD WAS SOO GOOD.

4)THE MOVIE PUT FORWARD TWO PARALLEL THOUGHTS WHICH MAKES THE AUDIENCE ENGAGED TILL THE END.

5)THE CONCEPT MAYBE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST BUT IT STILL WORTH A WATCH.

What did I just watch? Wow! Just wow!! To get the chills of fear and feel uneasy from watching a Malayalam movie hasn't happened to me in a long time.

Bhoothakalam. A trip into the psyche of the human mind interlaced with horror elements and superlative perfomances by Revathy and Shane Nigam!

The movie taps into the deepest parts of your senses, taking you along with the characters into their home and mind and then evoking in you, all the emotions and feelings that they enact/feel! And that's too damn creepy! I mean that in a good way.

Director Rahul Sadasivan captures the disturbed minds of a Mother and Son effectively, showing their strained relationship, placing the scenes inside a home, in natural settings and making us feel like we are a part of the narrative, due to the very fact that this is probably how every Parent/Children relationship is in Kerala. The bond and love for a Mother is always there but on the surface level there is always resentment and dissatisfaction.

I had watched the Director's previous work, "Red Rain", a sci-fi story which he calls an experimental movie. It was quite ahead of it's times and being a sci-fi junkie, I liked it. It was very underrated, not getting the recognition it deserved. It had good actors like Narain, including foreign artists which was quite rare in Malayalam movies and a unique story of connecting Kerala's Red Rain phenomenon with extra terrestrial presence. The CGI was pretty decent enough too. I appreciate Rahul for showing the will to try something new back then. I guess the general Malayali audience wasnt ready to accept such genres in Malayalam movies back then, with the popular saying being.....leave these themes to Hollywood!

But times have changed and so has a movie goer's taste in cinema. People are well aware of how movies are made around the world as they are readily accessible at their finger tips with the advent of OTT platforms.

This time around Rahul manages to move and shock the audience with a superb story, script and screenplay. And to get two supremely talented stars from two different generations to perform together was the icing on the cake. I have never seen Revathy like this. As a distraught and mentally disturbed mother, she nails it! Shane gets better and better with each movie. A sequence in a metro stands out. His helplessness when he realises that his girlfriend also doesnt understand his plight was enacted brilliantly. He was able to comminicate his mental trauma with subtle facial expressions and body language. Definitely a very talented actor. The director said in an interview that he wrote the story with Revathy and Shane in mind, hoping they will eventually agree to do the movie. Saiju Kurup's mental health counsellor character is probably used to bring out the viewer's rational thought process in such situations. A good performance by him also. One main character to be metioned here is the House itself! Is it haunted? Or it is just bad mouthed about coz of it's horrific past? The neighbours contribute a lot in that aspect. Just like how it happens in real life. Such things makes us identify more with the movie.

An intriguing movie that is open to interpretation. The final 15/20 minutes of the movie is quite terrifying. Without giving any spoilers.....One would think.....Are the apparitions real? Is it something the Mother and Son manifest due to their disturbed mental state? Something that made them understand as well as stand up for each other? It could be interpreted as a Mother and Son's journey filled with trials and tribulations, towards self discovery but cloaked as a horror movie. Whatever be the case, the Director effectively makes us tensed to the core! He makes us fear the dark corners of the house, the shadows and the silence. The brillianlty used bgm makes the fear much more gripping! Kudos to Music Director Gopi Sundar for that. And hats off to Rahul for emotionally bonding us to the characters and scaring us without the usual horror tropes used in countless other movies! The title of the movie has an interesting word play to it. The word "Bhootham" alone means Ghost. And "Bhoothakalam" means one's past. Food for thought!

Definitely watch BHOOTHAKALAM. You will have questions. There will be discussions. And that's always good.

Watch it at anytime but I do suggest a late night viewing as it's the perfect time for such a movie. Enjoy!

Bhoothakaalam presents itself as a mental health drama, but it scores immensely when it becomes a full-on horror movie. Some obvious inspiration (from films like Hereditary and It Follows) aside, Rahul Sadasivan's debut film is thoroughly engaging. On the one hand, it presents the troubled lives of mother and son - played by Revathy and Shane Nigam - as the mental health of the duo begins taking a nosedive. Vinu is unsuccessful at finding work, gets drunk too often, and according to an acquaintance, a "weakling." His mom Asha has clinical depression breaks down more often than not, crying buckets every night.

But the worries of these characters do not end there. Very soon, it becomes apparent that the episodes they're facing aren't just hallucinatory. That's when the film transitions from psychological drama to terrifyingly atmospheric horror. The "house" where much of the film takes place is a great choice. It does hold a sense of mandatory eeriness.

Another thing that works for the film is the casting. Both the leads are sensational - of course, Shane Nigam adds yet another "devastated youngster" character to his filmography, which he handles well while Revathy gets an equally meaty presence. Some of the scares in the latter half are well-staged, even when they present themselves as "jumpscares with a suspenseful score."

One of the bummers arrives in the form of a misplaced song featuring generic romantic couple shots. It's a lovely song (composed by Nigam himself), but it doesn't need to be in Bhoothakaalam. Also, the tonal shift isn't the smoothest. In fact, it's the leads' efforts that make the whole ordeal feel less abrupt. I'd have liked a little less background score in the climactic finale, as the director was already able to hold my interest visually.

Man What a movie experience this has been! Started watching with zero Expectations to be Frank and I didn't know then that I was into a spine chilling experience..! Shane Nigam and Revathy has played their roles to perfection! The movie keeps you guessing the very last minute and a few genuine jumpscares here n there..! Watch it in a good sound system to get an awesome cinematic experience :)

Bhoothakaalam (The Past) has an eerie vibe that is enough to make you uncomfortable. Starting from the opening sequence, you know there's something wrong - the house, the mother, the son - but you just can't put your finger on it. It is in this suspicion that the film weaves its subtle horror and takes you on a journey of scare. This is one of those rare Indian horror films that will scare you. Don't watch it alone.

I was quite amazed to see why this movie have got high rating IMDB. Started watching only after such a high review but to my surprise the only horror takes place in last 20 minutes and that too very predictable. There is no story , just day to day activities of a mother and a son.

Direction is good but story and narrative is quite a let down. Acting of 2 lead actors, Revathi especially is good as usual.

I would advice don't waste your time in case you are anticipating a horror movie.

Totally satisfied with the way, the story has been pictured.

Unwinding the trauma of a crazy family that has been rocked by the mysterious shrouded from the past.

You are sure feel chill down your spine.

Be scared!

Awesome horror movie without the usual cliche.

There multiple nice scenes that are scary.

Terrifying mind games with Revathy and Shane Nigam on board.

RATED 6/10 Language: Malayalam Media Partner: Sony Liv

Watchable horror drama... its so raw and authentic... the perfect making and spine chilling horror moments are overshadowed by the dead slow narration...The final momentum and the conclusion is not justified to the making...The depressed characters and the sadness on all scenes makes this bit less interesting one.

One time watchable horror DRAMA.

Tenants who live alone are not recommended to watch this film. This will spoil your sleep. I compare this film to the nun. Especially the last 15 minutes. I was really sweating due to fear. This is really one of the best horror movies i watched.

First of all, this movie had everything pitch perfect, acting, cinematography, and background affects.

Now story wise, movie is bit slow in 1st half, but picks up pace in the 2nd half and goes on until the end in good fashion. Now we already had so many movies with similar theme of haunted house etc but still, the sincere attempt of the whole team makes the movie a worth watch. It is highly atmospheric , will make you feel sorry for the characters while dreading at the same time for what may happen next.

Movie is a good one time watch and needs appreciation from fans, go watch it on sonyliv.

Bhootkalam ( The Past ) starring Shine Nigam, Revathy in lead role..

Written and Directed by Rahul Sadasivam

Released on Sony Liv on 21st January 22

The movie intially goes through a dull, down phase of a youth Vinu ( played by Shine ) who deals with his depressive life followed by his mom's mental trauma & agony... That journey might be relatable to many families who is passing through the mental hurdles...

Later on the story takes a turn and the viewer able to travel through the horror thrilling moments...

Without much Vfx or I can say No Vfx, but with the perfect situation concatenated with scary mood of BGM, movie able to stick the viewers bump into their seats...

108 minutes of watchable movie...

Shine Nigam & Revathy astounding performance..

A classic thriller experience movie.

There's no denying that it is incredibly distinctive in nature as well as an ambitious take (In terms of filmmaking) in the space of horror (Especially, in regional Cinema). You barely see this kind of subject being dealt with in such a symbolic fashion. Conventional ideas alongside thespian characteristics made Bhoothakalam an interesting proposition on paper. However, the outcome turned out to be quite anticlimactic; at least from my perspective!

The problems mainly appear when these two opposing approaches run into each other's path! On one hand, we get this quite connotative relationship between a mother and her son (Complemented by Revathi and Shane Nigam's terrific performances) that took precedence with deep emotions and applicability of the subject (Clinical Depression). On the other hand, there have been more than a few persuasive attempts to illustrate the same in comparatively related methodologies.

For me, these two ideations contradicted one another and in due course, they ended up hampering the comprehensive prospect of the plot. Despite having a great deal of potential; the inherent qualities the script might have had in its possession didn't evolve in a way I was expecting them to! Gotta admit I'm a little bit disappointed.

"BHOOTHAKAALAM" is a gripping Malayalam psychological thriller that takes the audience on a thrilling and suspenseful ride. Directed by Rahul sadashivan, the film keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its intriguing storyline, well-executed performances, and spine-chilling moments. What follows is a nerve-wracking journey filled with unexpected twists and a psychological battle between the characters and unseen forces.

The cast of "BHOOTHAKAALAM" delivers commendable performances that add depth and authenticity to the storyline. Leading actor Shane Nigam portrays his character with conviction, effectively conveying the fear and vulnerability experienced by his character, while revathy who plays a crucial role, impresses with her nuanced performance and ability to evoke a state award for that academic year... The supporting cast also deliver commendable performances, further enhancing the overall impact of the film.

"BHOOTHAKAALAM." He successfully creates an eerie and suspenseful atmosphere throughout the film, keeping the viewers engrossed in the narrative. The film's cinematography, handled by Shehnad jalal, deserves special mention for capturing the haunting beauty of the location and effectively conveying the atmospheric elements of the story.

The sound design of "BHOOTHAKAALAM" plays a crucial role in intensifying the viewing experience. The subtle use of ambient sounds, coupled with well-timed background music, enhances the eerie and suspenseful atmosphere.

The screenplay of "BHOOTHAKAALAM" is well-crafted, allowing the story to unfold at a steady pace. The writing effectively builds tension and keeps the viewers engaged, unraveling the mystery layer by layer. The dialogues are natural and serve the purpose of character development and plot progression... "BHOOTHAKAALAM" is a commendable addition to the Malayalam psychological thriller genre. With its intriguing storyline, impressive performances, and skillful direction, the film successfully keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats throughout. It is a must-watch for those who enjoy a thrilling and suspenseful cinematic experience. Prepare to be captivated and thrilled by the haunting world of "BHOOTHAKAALAM."

It is not appropriate to use psychopaths for the main characters in this film. Because India is a country that believes a lot in myths. These things seem to be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. So movies like this send the mentally ill on the myth.

Worst movie waste of time. Don't watch nothing is there in the entire movie. Full lag entire movie it is not suitable for suspence and horror movie. Worst movie waste of time. Don't watch nothing is there in the entire movie. Full lag entire movie it is not suitable for suspence and horror movie.

In Bhoothakaalam there are two parallels : One set in night with horror tone and the other set in broad daylight with psychological aspects. Unlike other movies , here the events that happen in the day are more scarier because the events that happened in the past reflects in the present. The horror portions doesn't add much and are weak till the last 20 minutes. Has an A24istic tone since the cinematography , music and the acting are so good. This movie is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. Wanted to give 7.5 but the attempt was good so rounded off to 8.

You will be thinking about this movie for a long time. Going to be a classic. The ghost or the host is not the answer you need to look at. The core is about mom n son.