Bougainvillea Review

 

"Bougainvillea," directed by Amal Neerad, brings together a talented cast featuring Kunchacko Boban, Jyothirmayi, Fahadh Faasil, and Veena Nandakumar. It is a psychological thriller with mystery elements, following a family entangled in a police investigation over the disappearance of tourists in Kerala. While the premise has potential, the execution feels not up to the mark.

Visually, the film impresses, with stunning cinematography capturing landscapes and the eerie atmosphere of the house where much of the story takes place. The locations are used effectively to create a sense of tension, but the suspense that should be gripping is often lost in the average storytelling.

One of the film’s biggest letdowns is the misuse of its star cast, especially Fahadh Faasil. Known for his nuanced performances, Fahadh is given little to work with here, and his role feels underwritten. It is disappointing to see such a talented actor playing a part that adds little to the narrative. In contrast, Jyothirmayi delivers a strong performance, adding depth to her character.

The pacing is another issue. The first half feels a bit slowly written, as the film spends too much time setting up the characters and their relationships. Though the second half picks up with more twists and turns, the tension never quite reaches the levels expected from a psychological thriller. And there are unexplained scenes of, what happened to certain characters or what happened at that time. These lack of explanations also gave a incomplete feel. The final revelations, while not entirely predictable, If you are a fan of this genre you could guess it easily.

Despite the film’s atmospheric visuals and strong performances from some of the cast, "Bougainvillea" fails in maintaining suspense and fully utilizing its talent. Sushin Shyam’s background score adds to the film’s tone but can not make up for the uneven writing and pacing issues. While it is a decent watch for fans of the genre, it does not deliver the thrilling experience it promises.

6.5/10⭐️