203. Forensic; movie review

FORENSIC

Cert TBA

132 mins

BBFC Advice: TBA

The consistency of the Malayalam movie industry is now becoming seriously impressive.

From the south-west corner of India, they are turning out regular thrillers of a quality which would compete with Hollywood as well as Bollywood.

Hot on the heels of Trance and Anjaam Pathira, two of my favourites of the year, comes Akhil Paul and Anas Khan's intense thriller, Forensic.

Here there are no heroes who can take on 20 bandits simultaneously or misplaced singing and dancing - usual staples of Indian cinema.

This is a raw and shocking and demands two hours of concentration to enjoy the nuances of the investigation into its ghastly crimes..

It stars Mamta Mohandas as a senior police officer who is lading the inquiry into the motiveless abduction and murder of two young girls.

She requests a forensics team but there is a frosty frisson after she is allocated the brother (Tovino Thomas) of her ex-husband (Saiju Kurup).

Despite their awkwardness, she is forced to accept findings which not only suggest a serial killer is on the loose but the perpetrator is likely to be a child.

That is just the beginning of Forensic's surprises. Indeed, whenever there seems to be a clear resolution, it quickly spins in an unexpected direction.

Thomas is an engaging hero, clever in his reading of people as well as his Sherlock Holmes-style ability to unravel a crime scene.

But what sets Forensic apart are the children who have unusually gritty roles, either helping to perpetrate murders or as the victims.

Indeed, the movie demands a high certificate because it could well prompt nightmares among the young.

I confess to being shocked at a couple of scenes - even as hardened as I am to thrillers or horror movies.

But that is probably because Forensic leaves bloody killings to the imagination and there is nothing more effective than the mind.

It was certainly racing after Paul and Khan's impressive movie.

Reasons to watch: Gripping thriller

Reasons to avoid: Overly melodramatic at times

Laughs: None

Jumps: One

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8.5/10

Did you know? In India, there are forensic science courses at 75 Colleges, with 119 different courses offered.

The final word. Akhil Patel: "I saw an opportunity to do something that could potentially be of some interest to not just Malayali or non-Malayali audiences but also the rest of the world. So we constructed the film keeping that in mind. We tried to incorporate elements and information not explored in other films before — at least, not in Indian cinema." Cinema Express

• es
• 22 Exams
• 75 Colleges
• 119 Courses








• 22 Exams

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