Motif had all the right ingredients to become a compelling and gripping Malaysian thriller, yet its potential was squandered due to weak storytelling and inconsistent execution.
At its core, the film presents a solid plot twist-one that could have left a lasting impact if only the storytelling had been handled with more precision. Unfortunately, the sloppy narrative structure and underdeveloped characters result in a film that struggles to maintain engagement, ultimately making it feel dull rather than thrilling.
One of the biggest letdowns is the wasted potential of an incredible cast. With seasoned actors like Sherie Merlis and Azhan Rani, their characters (Suri and Kamal) should have been given more depth and complexity. Instead, they felt underutilized and weak, making their presence almost insignificant. A stronger focus on character development could have significantly elevated the film's intensity and emotional weight.
Given the film's stellar mix of veteran and emerging talents, Motif had the potential to be an Asian box-office hit. However, weak scriptwriting and unclear visual storytelling turned it into a forgettable experience. The supporting characters, which should have added layers to the narrative, were disappointingly one-dimensional. If they had been written with more depth, the protagonist's struggles and journey would have felt far more compelling.
The director clearly wanted to establish an eerie and suspenseful mood, but the overuse of fog in nearly every scene became unintentionally distracting. Even a bathroom scene was filled with mist. This excessive atmospheric manipulation felt forced rather than organic, diminishing the film's realism.
Moreover, the film follows a familiar Bollywood-esque formula-an outsider investigator solving a crime in a small town. However, instead of offering a fresh take, Motif falls into predictable tropes, failing to bring anything innovative to the genre.
Adding to its shortcomings is the poor character development and incoherent visual storytelling, which ultimately weaken the film's intended message. Whatever deeper themes the director aimed to convey were lost due to unclear execution, making it difficult for audiences to fully grasp the film's underlying messages.
