Sumathi Valavu

I usually do not catch films on the week of their release due to high ticket prices but went for Sumathi Valavu last day due to low prices. I have to say it was an entertaining watch. Save the aberration that are most of the songs in this, there's a cool story somewhere in here that uses folklore to a good extent. More than the horror, it was the dark humour that got me, delivered in a deadpan manner by the likes of Siddharth Bharathan and Balu Varghese. Although the finale was lukewarm and did not use the buildup properly, there's more to like here than dislike. If you ignore the petty elements and focus on having fun, you may like it. I saw this just after Detective Ujjwalan, I have to say, I really like what I'm watching these days.

Rating - 3/5

A fun horror film with a cliche storyline.

The plot of the story revolves through the lives of the villagers and the scary myth and strange incidents surrounding the mysterious road curve forms the base for the story.

Abhilash Pillai has penned a simple story with horror sequences for entertaining the family audience to enjoy with a bag of popcorn. This is a generic film that is enjoyed in festival seasons with fun, humour, drama, romance, emotions, but misses out on high goosebump moments in the story though managed with good technicalities.

Abhilash Pillai as usual has ensembled a huge cast and all has managed to performed their character decently. Good BGM's by Ranjin Raj and Shankar P V has effortlessly captured the night sequences. Good sound design by Rajakrishnan/Vishnu P C enhancing the visual experience.

Vishnu has executed the story technical well but the story treatment with simple horror elements makes Sumathi Valavu a one time watchable entertainer.

Sumathi Valavu is a one-time watchable film. While it carries the label of a horror movie, don't go in expecting real horror - the scary elements are too minimal to make any impact. If you just want to spend some time and relax without thinking too much, this might work for you.

The cast did a good job, and the performances were solid across the board - that's one of the few highlights of the movie. However, the story felt weak, and the film lacked a proper finish, leaving things feeling incomplete and underwhelming.

Overall, it's more of a casual watch than a real horror experience.

A good subject spoiled by bad direction. Never thought a director could possibly churn out this hazy patchwork of a movie. Poor screenplay... Horror elements failed miserably...Could not connect to the characters emotionally...Feels like the work of a child...Arjun Ashokan was far better in Romancham. I rarely visit the theatre, the fake hype lured me to watch this film, needless to say I am massively disappointed. Moreover, the topic had immense potential but they ruined it is a pity, infact a crime..

Sumathi Valavu attempts to blend horror with comedy, but the results are mixed. While the horror elements shine through effectively-especially the forest sequences which were genuinely eerie and well-executed-the comedic portions fail to land. The timing and delivery often fall flat, making the humor feel forced rather than natural.

The film's tone during daylight scenes leans heavily into typical drama, losing the quirky charm that horror-comedies usually rely on. Moreover, the songs feel unnecessarily inserted into the narrative and don't add any emotional or entertainment value-rather, they interrupt the flow of the film.

Several scenes appear disconnected or included just to stretch the runtime, without contributing meaningfully to the plot or character development. This lack of rhythm throughout the movie makes it difficult for viewers to stay engaged or emotionally invested.

Sumathi Valavu had potential with its horror elements, but the lack of effective humor and a disjointed narrative weakens the overall experience. A one-time watch for horror lovers, but not much beyond that.