Samharam Movie Review: Samharam’s narrative is haunted by the image of a masked man escaping into the darkness of a forest, having murdered someone. It’s a minor, but significant element of the film, as it encapsulates the direction Ram Prabha wants to take, one that keeps something just out of reach all the time. A disturbing crime turns into a tense one night drama in what turns out to be a large bungalow populated by family tensions, forbidden love and surprising guests. The film is a slow-burn and as Prajin’s character attempts to shape his sister’s destiny, more questions and new layers of mystery are added. Not all surprises hit with equal force and some events turn out to be more predictable than they should. Despite all of this, with dedicated acting, dark cinematography and a finale full of satisfying surprises, Samharam does succeed in maintaining an interest until its final moments.
The story kicks off on a disturbing note. In the middle of a forest, a man with a mask on his face is killing a person. He goes back to play again, before viewers can know who he is or why he’s there. The movie purposefully leaves questions unanswered, making it an interesting mystery from the get-go. The story then takes a turn around Prajin’s character, who is residing in a big bungalow, and is preparing for his younger sister’s nuptials on the next day.
His sister tells him that she loves another man, which creates the conflict. Prajin does not agree with her decision and wants her to marry the groom that he has picked, who happens to be their uncle’s son. He decides not to let anything get in the way and seals her up in the house. Her lover soon shows up looking for her, and enters the bungalow. Intrigue is added to that when a father and daughter also enter the same house. Now, some questions start to emerge. But who is the masked killer? Why have the father and daughter come there? What becomes of the young man that enters the house for love? Most importantly, who does end up marrying the girl? Over the course of the script, the questions are answered gradually and the script does not lose its sense of curiosity.
The acting is one of the major strengths of the movie. Prajin gives a very good and dedicated performance, supporting the drama in a lot of ways. The actress who plays his sister is also outstanding, as is the emotional and believable performance. Her execution is special as she manages to portray these feelings of being vulnerable and determined throughout the narration.
In a nutshell, Samharam has a fantastic cinematography. The camera shots are frequently reminiscent of horror and psychological thriller movies, adding to the suspense and creating an uneasy atmosphere. There are several sequences that are interesting to watch and keep the story moving. Another plus is the pacing. The first half is very fast and sets the mystery and character dynamics at an adequate pace. The second half keep the pace going high and keeps the attention of the viewers engaged throughout.
The end was my favourite thing. The last few turns are two or three big twists that really surprised me. These revelations bring in a lot of excitement and for those who don’t give up on the mystery, these revelations are really rewarding. Luckily, the film doesn’t spoil too much.
There are, that said, some flaws in the screenplay. At times I got a little ahead of myself as the story became predictable in a couple of places. But there are moments that give the game away too much and it undermines the suspense that the story strives for. This could have been tightened up and made even more interesting a mystery.
Even with these faults Samharam is a compelling film to watch. It takes the mystery buffs enough spills to keep them entertained, the family drama buffs enough drama to keep them in suspense, and the romantic element is enough to make the movie attractive to any enthusiast. It doesn’t reinvent the thriller genre, but it does provide a gripping one-night story that is chock full of tension, drama and surprises. If you like suspenseful stories and stories with emotions, definitely watch this movie once.
Rating: 3/5
If you liked this review then I will recommend you to read the movie review of Anali, which is an action thriller Tamil movie.
