Irul movie review: Predictable but watch out for Fahadh Faasil

2.5/5

Irul is not a crime thriller, it is a psychological thriller. The film, featuring Soubin Shahir, Darshana Rajendra and Fahadh Faasil in the lead roles, is a 1 hour 30 minute journey into the psyche of their characters.

Alex (Shahir) is a writer who has written a dark story in his book which is titled Irul. He has nightmares and struggles with finding peace. He often hears a woman scream in agony. Further in the film, it is revealed that he had been keenly investigating a case, where five women are murdered brutally, as part of the book. The killer would leave them to bleed to death, with various cuts on their bodies.

He is dating Archana (Rajendra) who is a lawyer that cannot find time to herself, thus straining their relationship.

In order to find some time to themselves, Alex and Archana leave on a weekend getaway, which becomes an experience of a lifetime for them both.

To keep distractions away, they decide to not bring their mobile phones with them. Thus, they end up in an old mansion, where they meet a mysterious man, who later reveals himself to be Unni (Faasil).

He greets the couple with a smile and guesses everything correct about them (how did he even guess that they were dating just for three months?). While Archana, slightly flattered by Unni's charm, opens up to him instantly, Alex is more cautious.

The trio's curiousity in the case, which is covered in the book Irul, is one of the best scenes in the film. It also gives the audiences an insight into their psyche. Through the scene, it is easy to understand what they are thinking. Interestingly, as they all discuss the case, the three actors turn suspicious. While Unni's eyes glow at the mention of the case, Alex makes sure that the viewers know he has seen an environment where violence and torment was common. Archana, on the other hand, showed a softer side than most lawyers, who would fight for justice for the crime.

The scene actually brought out the best in Faasil, who was completely immersed in the role of Unni. Shahir, as Alex, on the other hand, was nothing but mediocre. He did not bring anything new to the role, unlike Faasil, who was covered in an air of mystery. Darshana, unfortunately, was nearly sidelined in the film and thus, her character could not shine any further than she tried.

The movie drags on, attempting to take the audiences by surprise. However, that too leads to disappointment, for the plot is too predictable.

Unnecessary dramatization and scenes that have no explanation (how did Unni suddenly break free?) fare poorly for the film. After all, Irul could take inspiration from another Malayalam psychological crime-thriller, Love. The film, unlike Irul, managed to keep us at the edge-of-our-seat from the first to the very last scene.

Verdict: Watch Irul only if you wish to witness Fahadh Faasil's acting chops. The film, otherwise, is yet another yawn-fest.