Dreadful Chapters

A set of friends went to a house which is situated in middle of forest and soon they find one of the cave then they get into in deep trouble... Excellent screenplay

Love mind bending movies that make you think, and I must say this is one of the better ones I have seen lately and I am glad that I did. The writing and story was top notch, kept us guessing, and intriguing. I never had any issue with the acting and it drew me in very well. It's not a traditional horror movie. Believe me it's not. At least not anything like any films I have seen. Kudos and props for originality, and also being able to tell a well told story. I do hope that this team makes more films, and they have more stories up their sleeves to tell.

Dreadful Chapters (2024) Movie Review

A group of friends-Albin (Jeffin Joseph), Pooja (Arya Krishnan), Arjun (Varun Ravindran), Martin (Nibin Stany), Shyam (Shyam Salash), and Sreedha (Lasya Balakrishnan)-sets out on a road trip to a vacation home. Their journey takes a turn when their vehicle breaks down in a remote forest. Though they manage to reach the house eventually, their fun-filled plans are disrupted when they discover a mysterious cave on the property. As they venture inside, they encounter a dark, supernatural force, and must confront it if they ever hope to escape. Movie now streaming on YouTube.

Nirmal Baby Varghese's Dreadful Chapters is a Malayalam indie horror film that blends psychological terror with supernatural elements. Set in a secluded forest, the film follows a group of friends who stumble upon an eerie cave that unravels a series of chilling events. While the movie showcases an intriguing premise and commendable atmosphere, it does come with some rough edges.

The story starts with six friends on a road trip that takes a dark turn when they get stranded near a vacation home. The discovery of an ancient cave nearby serves as a turning point, introducing a lurking supernatural force that feeds on their fears. The film attempts to craft a slow-burning horror narrative, focusing on tension rather than outright jumpscares.

One of the strengths of Dreadful Chapters is its ability to capture camaraderie among the friends, making their eventual descent into horror more impactful. The mystery surrounding the cave is also well-structured, keeping viewers engaged as the story unfolds. However, certain plot points feel underdeveloped, and some character decisions lack logic, which may take away from the immersive experience.

Despite its flaws, Dreadful Chapters is a notable attempt at atmospheric horror within the Malayalam indie space. It shines in its eerie setup and genuine effort to tell a unique horror story, though some technical shortcomings and pacing issues hold it back.

Taking a road trip together, a group of friends arrive at a vacation home in the middle of the forest and decide to start partying and having fun, but when they discover a strange cave nearby the group is soon inundated with a series of strange incidents with a malevolent force inside the cave and must stop it to leave the area.

Overall, this one is an intriguing and enjoyable indie effort. One of the strongest points here is the rather fun setup that provides a multitude of excuses for the group to engage in their shenanigans. Taking the ever-popular storyline of a group of friends heading out for a weekend of fun and partying only to come across an unsuspecting terror instead, this wisely gets the group out to the house early on with minimal stalling to engage in their planned fun. The requisite partying, drinking, and having laughs together paints everyone as a genuinely likable friend group that enjoys hanging out with each other that's incredibly rare to see in such fare as the usual arguing and yelling is absent from the beginning. The discovery and exploration of the cave that they find nearby is an equally intriguing setup that serves to be the igniting factor for the terrors to come as their blissful ignorance of the near non-existent safety precautions brings them into contact with the strangeness of the cave. With this in place, the film moves into a rather intriguing amount of supernatural flair demonstrating the evil inside the cave. The discovery and initial exploration of the cave are fine enough, taking the group through the tight corridors and spacious clearings while the dimly-lit surroundings the deeper they descend add immensely to the tension of the location. Once they leave, the strange acts that unfold are quite fun with the one group member being terrified of something inside the cave but unable to explain it, the group being unable to leave makes the rest of the action somewhat intriguing with the escalating need to discover what's going on. That causes the group to stumble into the evil influence living inside that brings about some thrilling stalking and slashing in the final half as not only the action inside the cave but a solid flashback reveals the true nature of what's gone on before it which adds nicely to the film as a whole. All told, these come together for a lot to like here. That said, there are some minor drawbacks in place for this one. The main detriment featured is the all-too-obvious indie-level budget featured that's on display quite frequently and may not be for everyone. With a small cast, limited locations, no real spectacle-grabbing effects, and a generally scaled-down production, the film falls right in line with standard low-budget genre fare. Opting more for characterization and story is a very common trait for films without much in the way of budget and while there's a means of getting around that it's still pretty apparent. This ties into the other issue where the stilted pacing leaves a lot of the running time devoid of any action. It's great that they arrive so early, but it's only in the final twenty minutes that anything major happens. Not having a lot of action is another note for a low-budget effort as the lack of budget for action leaves more time for the film to rely on dialog like this so it can be a problematic factor for some out there.

Rated Unrated/R: Violence and Language.

Dreadful Chapters is a masterclass in atmospheric horror that grips you from its eerie opening frame to its unsettling final moments. Director Nirmal delivers a chilling and immersive experience that doesn't just rely on jump scares, but instead masterfully builds tension through mood, sound, and storytelling.

Each "chapter" in the film unfolds like a twisted short story, stitched together by a unifying sense of dread and psychological unease. The anthology format works brilliantly, allowing the film to explore a range of fears-both supernatural and deeply human. The cinematography is hauntingly beautiful, capturing dimly lit corridors, mist-laden forests, and shadowy figures with a poetic eye for horror. The sound design and music elevate the fear factor, creating a constant sense of anticipation and discomfort.

The performances across the board are exceptional. The actors embody their roles with conviction, making each character feel real and their terror palpable. The writing is sharp, filled with eerie symbolism, disturbing revelations, and clever twists that keep you guessing until the end.

What sets Dreadful Chapters apart is its ability to blend psychological horror with emotional depth. It doesn't just scare you-it lingers in your mind long after the credits roll. This is intelligent horror, crafted with care and purpose.

Whether you're a longtime fan of the genre or a newcomer looking for a sophisticated fright, Dreadful Chapters is a must-watch. It's a rare horror film that manages to be both terrifying and thought-provoking-a truly dreadful delight.