Phoenix movie review: A riveting story of love/horror in the time of cholera | Movie-review News

Set in the 90s, Phoenix begins by introducing us to the central family. Advocate John Williams (Aju Varghese) is on the lookout for a house after finding himself embroiled in a controversy over document forgery. An egoistic, arrogant and self-centred man, he maintains an uneasy relationship with his wife Daisy (Nilja K Baby) but they still live together, akin to many Indian married couples, along with their three kids. In due course, John secures a house adjacent to a beach. However, upon moving in, with no other residences nearby, they start observing unusual activities there, including the constant chirping of a bird, the sound of a woman singing from beneath the foundation, and, notably, the daily appearance of an inland letter addressed to someone named Freddy.

While examining the letters with the help of his friend Ameer (Bhagath Manuel), John discovers that they have been signed by a person named Rose, eagerly anticipating Freddy’s return. Despite enquiries in the neighbourhood, there is no information about who Freddy and Rose might be. Meanwhile, the unusual activities escalate, leading John to realise that Rose’s (Anna Rose) spirit is the cause. Through various means, she begins asking the family when “her Freddy” will come to meet her, a question to which they have no answer. But who are Freddy and Anna really? The rest of the film unfolds as John and Ameer try to uncover their backstory.

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Unlike the typical horror movies that focus on vengeful ghosts or possessed entities, Phoenix takes a different approach by highlighting the emotion of longing as the driving force behind Rose’s resurgence. Rose isn’t on a mission to seek revenge against those responsible for her untimely demise or to disrupt the lives of the house’s residents forever. Her only desire is to reunite with Freddy and be with him for eternity.

Simultaneously, one of the most brilliant aspects of Phoenix’s script, penned by Midhun Manuel Thomas, is the backstory’s setting amid the outbreak of a deadly cholera infection. This choice adds depth to the narrative, avoiding the conventional method of having the central character killed off by someone. Given our recent collective experience of overcoming the challenges posed by coronavirus, the moments depicting a similar catastrophe in the past are likely to resonate with viewers, as the haunting of a pandemic is something we have all lived through in real-time.

By meticulously laying the groundwork for the horror to unfold and crafting instances that send shivers down the spine, Midhun takes his time, avoiding the common tendency in typical genre films to overuse jump scares. Instead of relying on superfluous visual effects, Midhun’s script aims to evoke fear by enhancing the moments, not only when the spirit resurfaces but also in scenes depicting the masses grappling with cholera. Simultaneously, the decision to weave the love story between Rose and Freddy into the midst of a cholera outbreak, as a tribute to Gabriel García Márquez’s classic Spanish novel, is commendable. This is noteworthy as horror films often shy away from experimenting with such intricate plots.

However, the romantic conversations between Freddy and Anna feel lacking due to their overly dramatic tone. Moreover, the narrative attempts an unnecessary effort to portray Freddy in a more positive light, despite his self-centred nature, seemingly to emphasise that he is not entirely negative; an aspect that could have been approached differently.

Vishnu Bharathan’s Phoenix can be seen as a horror story against the backdrop of love or a love story against the backdrop of horror. (Image: Midhun Manuel Thomas/Facebook)

Despite it being his debut directorial effort, Vishnu Bharathan has effectively left a strong impression on viewers, skillfully building an eerie world that seamlessly blends elements of horror and romance, remaining true to both genres. The way he conceived the tension in the characters and staged the scenes, effectively communicating the eeriness in the atmosphere, is mesmerising. At the same time, the transitions to the chilling scenes depicting a parallel (once-existing) reality, thanks in part to editor Nithish KTR, are riveting, though reminiscent of the Insidious franchise and Stranger Things series. However, the first half of the movie is plagued by the excessive use of suspenseful music even for minor events. Makers should recognise that relying too much on such techniques might actually backfire and disrupt the viewing experience.

With Phoenix, Aju Varghese has effectively conveyed that he is capable of more than slapstick humour, delivering a performance surpassing even his excellent work in the Kerala Crime Files series, demonstrating his ability to convey tension and portray nuanced shades effectively. Nilja K Baby also impresses with her spot-on performance. Despite having limited screen time, Anoop Menon breaks free from his usual mannerisms to a significant extent, delivering a memorable performance as a priest. Chandhunadh, who plays Freddy, and Bhagath Manuel are equally commendable in their roles.

Among all the actors, Abhirami Bose, portraying Anna Rose, truly shines with her captivating performance. Despite some cheesy dialogues, Abhirami masterfully rises above this flaw, exuding sophistication and effectively conveying the feeling of yearning in a perfect manner.

Phoenix is undoubtedly a film that showcases the talents of its technical team, with cinematographer Alby delivering exceptional work. Despite the film diverging from typical horror-film lighting patterns, Alby expertly captures a sense of dread in his frames, maintaining an elegant aesthetic, even in the midst of some avoidable/unnecessary low-angle shots. Shajie Naduvil’s outstanding production design successfully captures the essence of both the 70s and 90s, creating a captivating visual experience. Dino Davis and Ronex Xavier have also brought their A-game to the table, excelling in their respective departments of costume and makeup.

Sam CS impresses once again, providing Phoenix with amazing tracks that perfectly complement the film’s tone. The song “Ennile Punchiri”, crafted by Sam, penned by Vinayak Sasikumar, and sung by KS Chithra and Kapil Kapilan, is bound to linger in the hearts of audiences long after the movie concludes.

In short, Phoenix has adeptly established a new standard for Malayalam horror movies, which is still haunted by the ghosts of their past.

Phoenix cast: Aju Varghese, Nilja K Baby, Abhirami Bose, Chandhunadh, Anoop Menon, Bhagath Manuel
Phoenix director: Vishnu Bharathan
Phoenix rating: 3.5 stars