Bhoothakaalam

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.

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.

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!

"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."

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.