Star cast: Prithviraj, Aditi Balan
Movie director: Tanu Balak
Movie ratings: 1 star
Cold Case, a 'hybrid film' starring actor Prithviraj, had the potential to be a gamechanger for Malayalam cinema, but it ends up being nothing more than a synonym for mediocrity. The film follows a cop, played by Ezra hero, who is assigned to investigate a sensitive homicide case.
Lacklustre execution
The basic plot has pretty much everything you'd expect from a thriller, from a few attempted twists to investigation scenes. Due to the half-baked screenplay, the premise, on the other hand, fails to make an impact.
Weak first hour
The police investigation and the horror elements are two distinct but related tracks in the story. While the makers try their best to make the two blends, the end result is appealing. Cold Case starts with a pair of predictable and mundane exorcism scenes that have no impact.
The first hour wants to build the film's universe by introducing the main characters to the viewer. But it's marred by clichés and predictable twists. The interaction involving Suchitra Pillai and the 'presence' is a good example of this.
Lame climax
Only an effective climax can help a thriller film hit the right notes. Drishyam, for example, was successful mostly due to the big reveal towards the end. It was simple, yet no one saw it. It also added more depth to George Kutty's character, making it simpler for the audience to root for him. This is where Cold Case falters. While the second hour is markedly better than the first. The twist near the end lacks shock value.
In general, for a horror-thriller to connect with the audience, it must have a certain level of depth. The Priest, for example, was an okayish watch despite its flaws because the track involving Manju Warrier, who played a caring and protective sister, served as the emotional fulcrum of the film. Even by these modest standards, Cold Case falls short, providing a shallow experience.
Also Read: “She’s too irrelevant” says Tapsee on Kangana’s absence on Twitter
Talent wasted
With his sincere performance, Prithviraj tries to save the film. However, the problem is that the role is too generic and one-dimensional to do justice to his abilities. ACP Sathyajith comes across as a caricature because he has absolutely no backstory. While it is possible to argue that Cold Case is not a "star vehicle," this argument does not hold good.
Nanna Prakara, a Kannada film about a policeman who investigates a case that becomes personal, is an example of how characters can be given backstories even in thrillers.
Aditi Balan, who rose to fame with the Tamil film Aruvi, suffers from a shallow character, just as Prithvi. The writers make an effort to highlight the character's personal life, but it's for nothing because the subplots aren't explored properly.
Pillai is underutilized.
Final thoughts
That said, Cold Case has a few merits. The sound design in a few sequences is quite chilling. The editing is up to the mark as it does not really drag too much. The other technical aspects have been handled well.