Pattampoochi movie review: A silly psycho-thriller that banks majorly on shock value

A lot has been tried and examined within the psycho-thriller/ police process style, that the efficacy of newer movies depends closely on how they introduce freshness to the topic or how they renew older tropes. Barring the exterior stylisations, the arc of the psychopath’s character, how menacing they’re, their modus operandi, and the pathos that made them who they’re, are of foremost significance. In Pattampoochi, whereas writer-director Badri will get most of those elements proper, the screenplay, staging of the scenes, and dialogue writing, go for a toss.

That is shocking provided that the movie had a somewhat intriguing premise that confirmed promise. The yr is 1989, and we’re launched to Sudhakar (Jai), a prisoner serving a loss of life sentence for murder. Simply weeks earlier than the execution, Sudhakar reveals to a press reporter named Vijayalakshmi (Honey Rose) that he’s harmless of the homicide he’s accused of, however provides that he’s the notorious serial killer referred to as ‘Pattampoochi’. That is no odd confession. Pattampoochi is understood for killing seven folks gruesomely, portray a mural across the scene, and leaving a butterfly determine as his signature. The information report sends the authorities right into a spiral, and the court docket orders to postpone the execution till the police end re-investigating the 2 circumstances. “Now I realise why they are saying that selecting to inform the reality does one good,” says Sudhakar, with a creepy grin.

An investigation drama with an clever, mysterious psycho-killer on the centre begins. From right here, the one who spearheads the narrative is Kumaran (Sundar C), the staple ‘suspended police officer with PTSD who comes again to research’. Kumaran asks reporter Vijayalakshmi to proceed interviewing Sudhakar, in an try to get the piecemealing confessor to disclose his conquests. The chilling background rating, intricate cuts, and a Mindhunter-ish interview setting, all add as much as the temper, just for unhealthy writing choices to play spoilsport.

Pattampoochi struggles with not realizing when to dramatise its moments and in selecting which particulars to be spelt out loud. Equally, it additionally would not know when to withhold data and when to disclose it. Watching this movie is an odd expertise. At one second, the movie shocks the viewers by way of an sudden reveal or a grotesque sequence. That is instantly adopted by an absurd second, the presence of which, in a critical movie like this, is baffling. For example, a stunning revelation concerning the killer’s previous (one thing that offers with cannibalism!) is straight away adopted by a foolish dialogue alternate between the killer and the cop. The excessive that comes from one of many largest twists within the movie will get immediately killed with a dialogue that places a pun on ‘killing time’. A sequence that has a constable named Francis (Imman Annachi) operating for his life, is staged like a Tom and Jerry chase!

Such absurd dialogues, staging of the scenes, and loopholes are mockingly…humorous. It makes one surprise if the movie would have labored higher had it deliberately integrated darkish humour. The writing even takes a detour and establishes a wafer-thin romantic subplot between Kumaran and Vijayalakshmi, which for the main a part of the movie, serves no assist to the larger narrative.

Including to its writing woes, the visible language of the movie shouldn’t be seamless and somewhat inconsistent. Additional, apart from the presence of a bunch of classic film posters and old-school ambassador vehicles, nothing concerning the mise en scene of Pattampoochi establishes its interval. The choice to make it a interval movie appears to be simply one other scheme to make the narrative extra handy, provided that most of the mishaps that occur within the story might have been averted if this world had cellphones!

The dearth of depth in its core characters is disappointing, although the performances salvage a few of it; in reality, Jai is so snug within the pores and skin of Sudhakar. Sundar C’s Kumaran, alternatively, is a multitude. He comes off simply as one other foolhardy cop who finds no redemption arc within the greater scheme of issues. Individuals shunning his warning calls, youngsters sneaking into his automobile, and characters who’re unaware of the foundations of hide-and-seek can’t be the kryptonite of a hero cop.

Pattampoochi is operating in theatres