Malayalam cinema has always been good at making smart horror movies, and Rahul Sadasivan is now one of the most important people in this genre.
Sadasivan is back with his third horror movie, 'Dies Irae,' after the 'horrific' success of 'Bhoothakaalam' and 'Bramayugam.' 'Dies Irae' is a slow-burning, spine-chilling movie that shows that Indian horror can still be smart, stylish, and very scary.
Story:
The movie is about Rohan, a young architect from a rich family in Kerala. He is in the US by himself while his parents are in India. His life of luxury and partying takes a terrible turn when he learns that his old schoolmate Kani (Sushmitha Bhat) killed herself. He is unaware that by going to her house to pay his last respects, he is letting a series of bizarre occurrences that will drive him mad and put his own life in danger.
Dies Irae slowly reveals the mystery of who is haunting Rohan and why over the course of more than two hours. The ending is scary and does a great job of balancing fear and emotion.
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There are a lot of scary aspects in 'Dies Irae' that are common in horror movies, like creaking windows, flickering lights, moving curtains, and noises that make you jump.
But Rahul Sadasivan makes these old sayings into serious threats. His direction keeps the audience on the edge of their seats the whole time by combining classic scares with a level of psychological depth that isn't often seen in popular horror.
Pranav Mohanlal gives one of the best performances of his career. His calm speech and soft features show how scared and confused a man is when he starts to lose control. Gibin Gopinath, Manohari Joy, and Jaya Kurup are also great as supporting actors. Their acting makes the drama seem more real.
The sound design and Christo Xavier's creepy music really help the movie's vibe. They make every gasp, whisper, and shudder sound louder. The sound work is so good that it makes the theater feel haunted, which makes the fear much worse.
Technicalities:
Sadasivan is quite good at mixing fear and emotion. Dies Irae has a lot of jump scares, but that's not all it has. It also shows how the main character's mind slowly breaks apart. This horror movie is scary and makes you think because the filmmaker pays attention to every detail, the photography is beautiful, and the story is basic. This makes things more exciting and hints that there is more to find in this universe in the future.
Verdict:
Dies Irae proves that Rahul Sadasivan is a horror director who knows more than just the basics. The story, the acting, and the technical skills are all great, making this one of the best Indian horror movies in a long time.
If you like Bhoothakaalam and Bramayugam, this is another victory for you. If you want to witness a scary play, you should see 'Dies Irae.'
Director: Rahul Sadasivan Cast: Pranav Mohanlal and others Producer: Chakravarthi Raamchandra, Sashikanth Rating: 3/5
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