Helen

A survival drama with absolutely no exaggeration and perfectly depicted certain elements

Helen (given name) made me tear up not because of the survival element - which is a rarity in Malayalam cinema, I should add - but because of standout performances by Lal and Anna Ben who play a father-daughter duo with so much delicacy and warmth it drives the thriller forward without being hammy. It is when Ben's character gets stuck in a cold storage unit one day that things take a turn in the plot as the director uses the event to highlight a series of issues currently plaguing the country: police apathy and their morality lens, caste discrimination, and work stress. It is rather delicious to find these topics scattered as garnishing in a film that is by and large about survival. How Ben manages to enact her challenging role is definitely an attracting element here but what I would like to move your attention to is the range of Lal and how effortlessly he plays the role of a father figure with ultimate finesse it reminded me of my own. Helen has been made well with slight issues in screenplay in the first half and a little bit of convenience storytelling but overall it comes around and will make you feel emotional towards the end. There's no way you'll feel disappointed. TN.

" Helen " Malayalam movie.

Widower father and her ambitious daughter-nurse.... their relationship, their daily interactions...all started a simple family drama... unfolding into an unexpected thriller- a survival thriller.

Anna Ben on her second outing as the movie star, has definitely outlived her 'Babymol' shades from 'Kumbalangi nights'. She handled Helen Paul, in a very matured manner. Lal, as her father, Paul supported Helen well and scored very well, in the emotional scenes.

Director with his team of script and screenplay writers, are bold enough to introduce the Mallu audience to a rare thriller. Camera work and art direction is creditable. Makeup' of the heroine during the climax scenes are excellent.

8 on 10 for this 'freezing thriller'.

Even though the story line and some of the scenes had similarly with the Hollywood movie 'Freezer', this presentation gives a distinct, different feeling.

Screenplay drags at places, still the anxious moments keep the audience on the edge of their seats..... Thrilled... Frozen thrilled... Extra frozen thrilled.

Nile biting thriller, every moments of the movie will keep audience engaging,no borong moment,feel good moments..

What a year is 2019 for Malayalam cinema. So many movies that takes this industry to further heights. Helen is the recent wonder and a film Mollywood can be proud of in survival thriller genre. Helen starts as a family movie and slowly turns into a survival thriller. The movie keeps us engaged all the time. Anna Ben's electrifying performance as Helen Paul deserves a standing ovation and was simply one of the best performances of the year. She has improved much better from her previous role and debut movie in Kumbalangi Nights. She was very good in that movie too. Lal and Aju Varghese has also done an excellent job in supporting roles. Mathukuttu Xavier never compromises the quality of the movie and has done everything he could've done to make the best out of this thrilling story. Anend C Chandran's cinematography and the makeup artists also deserves applause. Overall, Helen is a movie that Mallu's can ve proud of and it is a must watch in theatre experience.