‘The Priest’ movie review: Mammootty’s horror-thriller falls short after initial promise
Debutant director Jofin. T. Chacko balances Mammootty’s star energy with the script’s content material impressively, however repetitive sequences uninteresting an fascinating premise
Subtlety in presentation is one thing that makers of new-age thrillers (and even horror flicks) give attention to — as a lot because the plot twists and storyline. However when a mainstream star comes into the image, particularly in a star-oriented business like in Kerala, typically subtlety turns into a casualty. In The Priest, debutant Jofin. T. Chacko has the unenviable job of placing such a steadiness, however will get away virtually unscathed in letting the content material take priority over the star… though the identical can’t be mentioned if the film as an entire is taken into account.
Father Carmen Benedict (Mammooty), who spends extra time on felony investigation than on priestly duties, is investigating a collection of suicides within the Alatt household, which he suspects to be murders. In the course of the investigation, he comes throughout younger Ameya Gabriel (Child Monica), who appears to have a number of mysteries of her personal.
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The Priest will get many issues proper within the first half, which stays centered on a collection of deaths within the household. In reality, the primary half might even work as a stand-alone film, for the latter half takes off from there on a special tangent, which has nothing a lot to do with the preliminary investigation. The one component of shock the makers saved in retailer for the interval won’t be a shock in any respect, for individuals who have paid sufficient consideration all alongside.
The Priest
- Director: Jofin. T. Chacko
- Starring: Mammootty, Manju Warrier, Nikhila Vimal, Child Monica
- Storyline: A priest tries to resolve a set of mysterious suicides, which ends up in sudden discoveries
Even within the second half, when the horror components kick in, the script is on monitor initially, when it manages to retains us guessing and alternately evokes some chills. However earlier than lengthy, issues find yourself everywhere, with the viewers getting greater than a clue on what the thriller is all about. From this level on, one has to plod on by way of tedious, repetitive sequences for the script to tie up the entire thing formally. The weakest hyperlink is probably the explanation for a number of the mysterious happenings, which might make some go, “That’s all?”
Just a few sequences at ‘explaining’ what really had occurred appears to have been included most likely as a result of the makers underestimated the intelligence of the viewers. The tone and temper of the entire movie is a bit loud and uneven at numerous factors, however it’s nonetheless a notch higher than a number of the horror flicks in Malayalam.
Mammootty the star, takes a back-seat a lot of the occasions, letting the investigator priest take over, aside from a number of fan-pleasing scenes, which is a welcome shift from lots of his latest motion pictures. Manju Warrier’s position is sort of a brief cameo, whereas Child Monica steals the present as Ameya. Nevertheless, a number of the moderately violent sequences involving the kid might be exhausting viewing for different children and even adults.
Coming from a debutant, The Priest works in components, however falls brief after some preliminary promise.
The Priest is at the moment operating in theatres
