Karuvanam

Horror narratives that emphasize the emotions of female characters tend to capture our attention effectively. Whether it's Eeram or acclaimed films like Mama from Hollywood, this theme is consistently present. In Karuvanam, the story focuses on twin sisters. The opening episode presents a stage play where one sister must shoot the other character, but she hesitates to do so. This moment hints at a potentially similar climax, which indeed shares that connection, albeit with an unexpected twist. While it may seem like a spoiler, there's much more to discover.

The cinematographer has done an exceptional job with the visual composition. Many scenes showcase a deliberate use of shadow and limited lighting in the interiors, yet the visuals remain striking. The pinnacle of the technical team's achievements unfolds in the final episode.

I find common ground with many viewers regarding the standout moment: the revelation of the true ghost.

IMO, Karuvanam is a best horror watch many years after 'Eeram'.

When this web series was launched on YouTube, it was released regularly with couple of episodes every week, with each having a duration of approximately 45 mins. But then, when few started going for the binge-watch, they started feeling it's lengthy. I thought let me start watching it with remote constantly glued to my hand, so that I can wrap up the entire show in a short span. To my surprise, I felt that every scene had a significance, and nothing is added here unwanted.

The little girl going to the local photo studio to restore the old film roll brings more mystery on par with the main crisis dealt by Shalini and Meera. Similarly, we are introduced to a lunatic character in the mental health center, where Shalini's husband gets admitted, only to get shocked that the guy who was considered as a clown has a biggest mystery to break.

OMG! The final moments between Shalini and her husband at the hospital, where the mystery gets broken send ultimate fear into the spines.

You don't walk into Karuvanam like you do other shows. You're lured - like Meera and Shalini, drawn to a house that should've stayed locked. A house where silence weighs more than bricks. Where the dead don't haunt... they remember.

Two orphaned twins. One mother they never met. And a home that isn't welcoming - it's waiting. That's the hook. But Karuvanam is not just a haunted-house story. It's a slow, breathless excavation of shame, abandonment, and the mess families make when no one's watching.

And it's terrifying - not because of what jumps out - but because of what never leaves. The air is thick. The framing is surgical. Doors creak not because something's coming... but because something never left. The horror is so still, so still, you don't realize it's on you until you're carrying it around all day.

The performances are taut wires. The twins don't just act - they unravel. One seeks truth. The other clings to denial. Together, they walk the fault line between closure and collapse. Every conversation crackles with tension, every silence feels earned.

And that final reveal? No spoilers - but it doesn't explode. It exhales. And that's scarier.

Final Word: Karuvanam is trauma told in whispers. Horror told in restraint. It's not content - it's confrontation. And once you watch it, you'll never look at family the same way again.

Karuvanam strives to compete with the International 'Horror' genre, and manages to keep it standards on par with those acclaimed works on global platform. The characterisations are neatly written, and the way, the actors have inhaled the qualities, thereby delivering promising performances is appreciable. The first four episodes keeps us glued to the screens, and yes, the middle episodes go back in time to establish what's the actual mystery existing inside the house. But it's 'BOOM' moment from the Episode 9, especially, where an unexpected character turns out to be the 'Ghost' hunting down the victims. That's a spoiler, you would never like to reveal. Special mention to Sound Mixing and Background score. I loved the character of 'exorcist' who comes after 7th episode. His appearance is limited, but he just eclipses other actors with his realistic performance.

You can go through the entire singapore database of series and you won't find a better one..the quality of making is way better than many OTT platform horror series/movies. This director deserves a OTT partnership. Everything works in this series. The cast are all spectacular. The introduction of every character makes sense and they all add strength. I've seen so many lacklustre horror recently that I am beyond happy and surprised that a Singaporean tamil series have set a good benchmark. Honestly I never wanted the series to end. That's how it was. I can only hope more Singaporeans support this.