Despite the shortcomings in the second half, "Phoenix" remains a commendable effort from the team of Vishnu Bharathan and Midhun Manuel. The film showcases their potential and ability to create captivating enigmatic elements that engage viewers.
Gist of the Story
“Phoenix” is a film that revolves around John and his family’s relocation to a secluded island community, motivated by their aspiration for rejuvenation. But when a frightening sequence of events is triggered by a recent family member, raising the possibility of the aftermath of an enigmatic love story, their hopes take a dark turn.
| Directed by | Vishnu Bharathan |
|---|---|
| Screenplay by | Midhun Manuel Thomas |
| Story by | Vishnu Bharathan Bigil Balakrishnan |
| Produced by | Rinish K. N. |
| Starring | Aju Varghese Chandhunadh Anoop Menon |
| Cinematography | Alby |
| Edited by | Nithish K. T. R. |
| Music by | Sam C. S. |
| Production company | Front Row Productions |
Detailed Plot
Phoenix opens with introducing us to the main family, which is set in the 1990s. Lawyer John Williams (Aju Varghese), who got caught up in a scandal about document falsification, is looking for a place to live. Like many Indian married couples, he lives with his wife Daisy (Nilja K Baby) and their three children despite having an uncomfortable relationship. He is an egoistic, conceited, and self-centered guy. Eventually, John purchases a home along a beach. But once they move in and there are no other houses around, they begin to notice strange things happening there, including a bird that keeps chirping all the time, a lady singing under the foundation, and a letter that comes in every day from somewhere in the inland that is addressed to someone called Freddy.
With the assistance of his buddy Ameer (Bhagath Manuel), John examines the letters and finds that Rose, who is excitedly awaiting Freddy’s return, signed them. No one in the neighborhood knows who Freddy and Rose may be, despite several inquiries. John realizes that Rose’s (Anna Rose) soul is the reason for the strange behaviors as they intensify in the meantime. She starts inquiring of the family—to which they have no response—when “her Freddy” will come to meet her through a variety of ways. However, who exactly are Freddy and Anna? As John and Ameer work to learn more about their past, the remainder of the movie plays out.
Artistes’ Performances
The performers’ performances are what kept the movie interesting, notably those of Abhirami and Chandhunadh, who play Rose and Freddy, respectively. Abhirami makes a commanding screen debut, while Chandhunadh demonstrates that he is more complex than he appears in each picture. With his stunning appearance and endearing grin, Chandhunadh is the making of the ideal hero. If given more chances, he has the potential to become the next big thing. Aju Varghese demonstrates once more that switching to character roles was the right decision. With her flawless performance, Nilja K Baby also makes an impression. Anoop Menon gives a remarkable performance as a priest despite having little on screen time. He largely departs from his typical characteristics.
Direction / Technical Side
In this Malayalam horror movie, Vishnu Bharathan directs for the first time, with Rinish KN handling production and Midhun Manuel Thomas crafting the screenplay. The film’s storyline, which mostly focuses on a sad love story, has a ‘Bhargavi Nilayam’ feel to it as it navigates a horror scenario. By emphasizing the feeling of desire as the motivation behind Rose’s comeback, Phoenix adopts a different tack from the conventional horror films, which concentrate on vengeful spirits or possessed beings. Although the film’s second half is unquestionably good; it may be challenging to fit an incredible love story into a horror film, and at times it feels like it will detract from the overall sparkle of the picture—especially for those who are searching for a really terrifying experience. ‘Phoenix’ leaves us emotionally shook at the conclusion, but we still long for the suspense and the terror that engulfed us in the early part.
Midhun takes his time, avoiding the usual propensity in normal genre films to overdo jump scares, instead creating moments that send shivers down the spine and methodically setting the basis for the horror to unravel. Rather of depending on needless special effects, Midhun’s screenplay attempts to arouse terror by emphasizing the sequences in which the ghost reappears as well as those that show the crowds battling cholera. Even though this is Vishnu Bharathan’s first film as director, he has made a powerful impression on audiences by creating a creepy universe that faithfully combines themes of romance and horror. His understanding of character tension and scene staging, which successfully conveys the eerie mood, is captivating.
As previously said, the best part of the picture is the first half, which has the added benefit of mystery. Despite their best efforts to imitate the 1970s, the second half’s love story between Freddy and Anna is formulaic and tiresome. The early part of the film is better lit thanks to Alby’s photography, and the heavy close-up shot framing contributes to the atmospheric effect. The background music by Sam CS also helped to build suspense in the scene.
Verdict;
Overall; The first half of Pheonix captivates viewers with its enigmatic elements, leaving them intrigued and eager to uncover the secrets hidden. However, the second half fails to maintain this level of intrigue, as the love story becomes predictable and monotonous, lacking the depth and complexity that made the first half so captivating. Still “Phoenix” is a Good Attempt from Vishnu Bharathan & Midhun Manuel Team!