Ezra

It is indeed a very good attempt to give a horror movie in Malayalam based on Jewish horror legend. The director has succeeded in creating a eerie atmosphere to keep the audience engaged right up to the climax. The filming, photography deserves appreciation as it attempts to match with Hollywood style filming of horror movies.

But it appears the Director have taken some inspiration from Hollywood movie particularly 'The Possession ( 2012)' directed by Ole Bornedal which deals with the possession of Dybukk over a girl.

There are of course scenes that are of pure cinematic portrayal which eludes our logic particularly the reappearance of the antique box from the sea shown in the post credit roll rescued by two youths. How can a metal box dropped into the sea can all of a sudden reappear at some seashore of Mumbai?It evidently shows the Director's clear cut intention to produce a sequel.

On the whole a good horror movie to watch out for.

The plot centers around Ranjan (Prithviraj Sukumaran) and his wife Priya (Raashi Khanna), who move into a new house in Fort Kochi, only to find themselves caught in a chilling chain of eerie events. The couple soon discovers that their new home harbors a dark secret-one that threatens to destroy their lives. The narrative follows Ranjan's desperate attempts to uncover the truth behind the supernatural occurrences and save his wife from an evil force tied to an ancient Jewish relic. Ezra is a solid entry in the Malayalam horror-thriller genre. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it is a well-crafted film that offers suspense, atmosphere, and strong performances, especially from Prithviraj. The supernatural elements, coupled with a chilling narrative, make for an engaging watch, though some predictable moments and pacing issues prevent it from being a truly standout film. Fans of horror and mystery will likely appreciate the film's tone and direction.

No Spoilers

Positives: Ezra is something of a horror movie which you can either expect from Hollywood or Malayalam Cinema. This film has beautiful scenes, this film tries to connect with youth, which I think lands well.

Being honest the way the story is narrated is something you would love, screenplay is also cherry on the cake, Acting is extremely good, everyone did justice to their roles.

Film has a twist which you won't even guess anywhere in the film.

Some may realize the twist but majority would not.

Drawbacks: 1. It has that typical horror film setback, a mysterious house, a new place, a new couple, gets into problems.

2. At times you may feel the film is getting boring if you haven't seen these types of films earlier.

3. Malayalam Cinema again tries to get into political, Religious problems yet sugarcoated propaganda is present but is ok at this time.

It does not disses other religions. But Malayalam cinema has dived into this side of Cinema where entertainment is combined with forceful Religious controversies.

Conclusion: Overall, better than most Indian Horror Films You can watch it 2 to 3 times.

Thanks for Reading.

Horror films are hardly made in Mollywood these days. So, when such a film comes in, one has to welcome it with open arms and unmitigated support. It will be very difficult to not be impressed with debutante Jay K's horror period drama as it tries to be one of Malayalam industry's defining films of the 21st century.

Ranjan (Prithviraj Sukumaran) and Priya (Priya Anand) are a happily married young couple who decide to move from Mumbai to Kochi after the former gets a promotion with transfer from his company. The duo quickly purchase and move in to an old villa with the thought of creating a family. With Ranjan busy with his new responsibilities, Priya shows diligence as a homemaker and tries her hand to give the villa a makeover. One such thing that she thinks will help her in her quest is an antique Jewish box. Ignoring the ominousness surrounding it, she buys it and brings it home without having an iota of hint about the horrors that she and Ranjan are going to be subjected to by the vengeful spirit that it houses...

Starting from the opening sequence, director Jay K succeeds in pulling its audience into the story that seems innocuous at first, but slowly starts to pick up, ultimately turning into a fast-paced, intense thriller. The first death in the film is so frightening that you will feel the characters' fear and pain in your own heart as it will begin to beat faster with every inch the story takes. Writers Manu Gopal and Jay (seem to) have done enough research when they introduce the Jewish myth about the dybbuk box and carve their story around it. Despite being a popular concept in the Jewish folklore, I'm sure it is going to be something new to the Indian audience.

With sufficient doses of jump scares in the first half, the makers perfectly create a base in the film which escalates so quickly in the second half that you will sit in your seat wondering whether you are watching a Malayalam film. The style of narration as it explores the two central characters and their movements is phenomenal. With a flashback story and a winning twist at the end, there is no way you will feel a decline in the entertainment. You will want to focus on every detail as the story unfolds and slowly starts to make sense.

Three of the biggest achievements here are the background score, production design, and cinematography. Without them, a horror film like this wouldn't even survive the first 10 minutes. Sushin Shyam enthralled us with his track in one of 2016's best films, Kismath, and in 2017 returns to score a film which half works because of his genius. The eerie soundtrack, supported by the jump care sequences and brilliant camera work is all that Jay K needed to make his debut a roaring success. Even the songs by Shyam and Raj are great to sing along to. Sujith Vaassudev may be a bad director, but boy, he can crank that camera. I am especially in love with those sequences where the camera tilts leftwards so as to make the audience move like puppet just because we want to know what happens next. Brilliant technique right there. Fabulous production design supports the makers in making the film look real and convincing. You cannot tell a horror story without getting creative, for which Ezra gets at least 8 out of 10.

Cast performance is another thing which propels the film into almost being a triumph. Sukumaran finally gets mature and manages to portray a character with believable conviction. He does his part very well, and the final 15 minutes are going to be important for his future career. Newcomer Anand may be hot, but she still has a long way ahead. Supporting actors like Tovino Thomas, Vijay Raghavan, Sudev Nair, and Sujith Shanker are all brilliant in their respective roles. Pleased to see Babu Antony, and expecting more from another newcomer Ann Sheetal. All in all, the cast need to be lauded for pulling out those intense sequences which may look easy on reel but are, in real, very difficult and toiling.

Of course, there are plenty of plot holes in the film on which I have had heated discussions with my friends, but once you accept the fact that you cannot narrate a horror story without taking few cinematic liberties, you will start loving it. Director Jay has to be lauded for his attempt at opening a window of fresh air into Mollywood and giving us this exceptionally well-told and well-executed horror film without compromising on quality or bending the genre. His attention to details is another attribute that contributes in making the film a fine affair. Sure, John Varghese's Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015) was a brilliant horror comedy, but this one here is on a whole another level. The story as a whole, with its iconic back story, may look typical to some, but that is not the primary element here. It is the visual extravaganza and the new style of horror in a Malayalam film that needs to be highlighted. One has to just look at the title scene and he/she will understand why Ezra is going to be on the top 10 films lists of 2017.

To conclude, if you are looking for a horror film to enjoy with your friends and family so that you can discuss it on the drive back home, watch Ezra. You will not be disappointed. The visuals are going to haunt you for days.

BOTTOM LINE: Jay K's "Ezra" is an excellent horror film that samples an age-old Jewish myth to narrate a story that incites sheer fear and gives 100% entertainment. There are just no bad parts. Watch it in your nearest theater today.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

While I certainly liked the ideas in this film, it is way too long, overly melodramatic with subpar acting, and has a very predictable story that a horror lover will get bored by pretty quickly. The good parts of this movie really do shine though, I loved the Jewish religion spin on the film and the Dibbuk box plot is an underused horror story so I was glad to see it on the big screen. The world building was very good and I did care about the characters (but more due to the writing over the actual acting unfortunately). I think if the runtime were cut down a bit and the focus was drawn more towards the horror and less to melodrama, this would've been a much much better film.