Vazhiye

Employing found footage in a way that actually makes sense in the context of the plot, Vazhiye is the story of two Youtube vloggers that decide to make a documentary film about a mystery land, where they confront perilous, nightmarish situations. That feels frighteningly plausible.

The acting of the film was very believable and realistic, the special effects (and yes they are some, I think,)are surprisingly good for a low budget flick but the main standout feature of this film has to be the story.

Vazhiye is a groundbreaking entry in Malayalam cinema-an experimental horror-thriller that dares to break conventions and succeeds with chilling effectiveness. Directed by Nirmal Baby Varghese, Vazhiye is not just a film; it's an experience that pulls you deep into an atmosphere of mystery, fear, and psychological tension.

What makes Vazhiye truly stand out is its daring use of the found-footage format-rarely explored in Indian cinema, let alone Malayalam. The narrative feels raw and real, pulling you into the story as though you're watching actual events unfold. The realism of the camera work and the minimalistic soundscape amplify the sense of dread and urgency.

The film smartly avoids overused horror tropes and instead builds its fear from isolation, suspense, and the unknown. The setting is eerie and atmospheric, and the pacing keeps you on edge, always wondering what's around the next corner.

Performances feel natural and immersive, as if you're part of the journey alongside the characters. And despite the film's experimental nature, the storytelling remains tight and engaging, with a sense of authenticity that elevates the horror.

Vazhiye is a refreshing and courageous attempt that proves Malayalam cinema is not afraid to explore new cinematic languages. It's a must-watch for fans of horror, indie films, and anyone looking to experience something truly different.

Attempting to jump-start his channel, an aspiring Youtube creator and his girlfriend set out to look into the stories about a haunted section of woods nearby that would be perfect fodder to explore for his channel, but when they arrive find a far greater evil than they expected.

There's a lot to like with this one. Among the better features here is the traditional and formulaic setup that introduces everything and sets the film off rather nicely. Introducing his channel's content and the frustration at its lack of growth hints at the need to be spiced up with more appealing content while also setting up the idea of the journey to the mysterious area nearby. None of this is particularly original or unique, but it nicely serves the function of getting the group out into the woods nearby away from help. It's also helped along nicely by the constant check-ins with his girlfriend and the gorgeous travelog footage to create an impressive starting point. That setup provides the film with some creepy moments once everything gets going. After arriving at the spot in the woods, they go hiking through the area providing some immensely atmospheric sequences. These take on several impressive attributes, from the random walking through the woods filled with chirping bird calls to the fishing adventure, or the strange encounter with them inside the tent at night which sets the stage for the chilling finale to come. The twists and turns that emerge here are quite enjoyable, introducing the hunters and their quest to track down and knock off the various intruders resulting in the frenetic chases to get away from everyone. While there's a lot to like, this one also has a few issues. The main drawback featured here is the wholly unnecessary and outright confusing storyline involving the kidnappers getting involved in the story. They come out of nowhere with no build-up or proper introduction, have no proper plan spelled out for the whole operation, and waste large amounts of time. It comes about either through flashbacks showing them trailing the couple the entire time or stopping the film cold for a native dance performance that doesn't need to be there. With the formulaic setup also coming into play, these aren't completely detrimental but bring the film down somewhat.

Rated Unrated/R: Language and Violence.

Horror...my favorite genre. This was the BEST horror movie I have seen in a few years. I was very excited for this movie "Vazhiye" and it was so much better than other FF movies.

100 % Horror!

100 % Mystery!

100 % Thrilling!