Phoenix: First look of the Anoop Menon, Aju Varghese film heralds a horror mystery

Horror thriller remains a genre that is yet to be fully tapped into by Malayalam filmmakers. Now the first look of Phoenix, which is touted to be a horror thriller, has been released. The poster of the upcoming mystery drama features the character played by Aju Varghese, accompanied by his wife and children sailing at night. While five people are seen riding on the boat, the reflection in the water shows one more.

The release date and other specifics are yet to be unveiled, but the first look has sparked considerable curiosity among the audience. Helmed by debutant director Vishnu Bharathan, Phoenix is written by Midhun Manuel Thomas, after the super hit film Anjaam Pathiraa. Vishnu’s previous venture was a short film, titled The Chef, which received critical acclaim.

The producers of the thriller 21 Grams are backing Phoenix. Along with Aju, Anoop Menon and Chandhunadh play crucial roles in this movie. Sam CS, who is known for his tracks in the Tamil films Kaithi and Vikram Vedha, has composed the songs for Phoenix. The shooting of the film was completed in June, and its post-production work is also under way.

Earlier, Midhun had shared the title poster of Phoenix, which also looked a bit eerie. The poster featured a graveyard and human skulls, conveying the horror genre of the film.

Midhun’s last directorial venture was Anjaam Pathiraa, which was also penned by him. The story revolves around Anwar Hussain, a consulting criminologist, tracking down a serial killer, who purposely leaves behind clues. Despite the loopholes, the film received a positive response for its captivating storyline.

There are also rumours about Midhun’s involvement in scripting a film featuring Mammootty. The upcoming project is said to be directed by Vysakh, who is known for his work Pulimurugan. Additionally, reports are suggesting that Midhun might be directing Mammootty in his latest film, titled Ozler, with the possibility of the megastar making a cameo appearance.

Meanwhile, Garudan is another upcoming film written by the Anjaam Pathiraa director. Suresh Gopi and Biju Menon are playing the central characters in the film. Both the actors join hands after a gap of 11 years, with their last collaboration being the multi-star film Christian Brothers.