Identity

A Gripping Start, A Confusing Descent: The first half of this movie is undeniably gripping and engaging. It pulls you in with a compelling story and keeps you hooked with its suspenseful atmosphere. The pacing is excellent, and the characters are intriguing enough to hold your attention.

However, the second half takes a dramatic turn for the worse. In an apparent attempt to deliver unexpected twists and surprises, the writer seems to have derailed the narrative. The plot becomes increasingly convoluted and confusing, leaving the viewer feeling disoriented and ultimately unsatisfied.

While the initial promise of the film is undeniable, the second half unfortunately diminishes its overall impact. I'd recommend waiting for this semi-thriller to arrive on OTT platforms. The first half is definitely worth experiencing, but the second half might leave you feeling disappointed.

Overall: * Strengths: Gripping first half, engaging pacing, intriguing characters.

* Weaknesses: Confusing second half, convoluted plot, underwhelming twists.

* Recommendation: Wait for OTT release. Enjoy the first half, and be prepared for a potential letdown in the second.

To start with, the movie is not a cheaply crafted entertainment: the team has done efforts to make it something that seems like a suspense thriller: unfortunately, the efforts have not succeeded. Wholistically speaking, it is a slow paced thriller that does not get into the audience to be connected with the characters, or to feel for them. Not even a single character leaves a sentimental impression on the audience while the cinema is over. There is little emotional content that can be felt and related.

The thriller part does not excite audience who have witnessed better movies. There is a whole load of stuff as thrilling packed, but without any effect.

The theme is somewhat new, however, not novel. There are many occasions where improbable surpasses reality, which fails to connect to the audience. There are so many questions unanswered for the audience, such as the identity of the protagonist himself. In a nutshell, it is cheap parody of a suspense thriller.

I'm starting to question the trustworthiness of IMDb ratings. I decided to watch the movie based on its high rating, and it turned out to be a letdown. The first half had some suspense, the story drifted off course and became utterly boring in the second half. From fake accents to cringe-worthy slow-motion scenes, it felt almost laughable. Random characters popped up without purpose, and the plane scenes were completely unnecessary. At nearly three hours long, the movie was a tedious slog. The story writing and editing were poor, and while the cinematography was decent, it couldn't save the experience. Don't be fooled by the IMDb rating, pretty sure these are bots.

Right from its announcement, I was intrigued to watch this on the big screen, yet I missed it due to fewer shows in Mumbai. Now, I'm glad I didn't spend money on it.

A suspense thriller where police officers hunt down a twisted criminal with the help of a lone eyewitness and a sketch artist. With many twists in the tale, there's much more to the crime than meets the eye. But will they nab the real culprit?

Suspense dramas make for a riveting watch, but there's a thin line between maintaining suspense and creating confusion. This film blurs that line, leaving you scratching your head in confusion and disconnecting you from the main plot. With excessive name-dropping and disjointed incidents, it becomes a mess. It takes almost half the movie to make sense of it all. The screenplay is haphazardly written, making you restless and even bored at times.

Tovino Thomas brings his A-game, only to be let down by weak writing. Vinay Rai gets a meatier role and does a good job. Trisha Krishnan's appearance in a Malayalam film created hype, but this is one of the worst choices she could have made-her role is poorly written, with no screen time or substance to perform. In their limited scope, Archana Kavi, Aju Varghese, Shammi Thilakan, and others are decent.

The BGM works in the movie's favor, creating a sense of eagerness. However, the suspense isn't something that will leave you shocked-it's predictable, and you can guess some twists from a distance. Logic also takes a backseat at many junctures. Tovino's backstory makes no sense, and many developments in the movie seem to exist just for the sake of it. Midway, everything seems resolved, yet the movie starts again with a new plot, testing your patience.

At 150 minutes, this below-average film could have been improved significantly by trimming the last 30 minutes for a better impact. With such a good cast and a promising premise, this is a missed opportunity. Watch it for the leads or your love for the genre-otherwise, there's not much else.

#PranuReviews #Identity #IdentityReview.

Identity, starring Tovino Thomas, is a technically impressive film that offers an engaging start. The movie hooks you right from the beginning with its gripping narrative and outstanding technical aspects, especially the music by Jakes Bejoy, which elevates the intensity of the scenes.

The first half is a treat-tight, thrilling, and supported by a strong cast. Tovino shines throughout, with his action sequences and the car chase standing out as highlights of the film. The layers in the story are commendable as the movie attempts to address several important issues, showcasing depth and ambition.

However, as the movie progresses, the pace takes a hit. The second half feels overstuffed with complex narratives and too many viewpoints, leaving viewers feeling exhausted and occasionally lost. While the intention to create a multilayered story is clear, the excessive writing and overwhelming content dilute the impact. The complexity becomes the film's biggest drawback, making it harder for the audience to stay connected.

Despite its flaws, Identity deserves appreciation for its ambition, technical brilliance, and Tovino's compelling performance. If the storytelling in the latter half had been more streamlined, it could have been an exceptional thriller.

Verdict: A bold and technically excellent movie that falters under the weight of its overambitious narrative. Worth watching for the first half and Tovino's stellar action scenes.