Kalamkaval

Despite a strong story, which evidently draws on the life of real-life serial killer Cyanide Mohan, Kalamkaval disappoints by failing to keep viewers glued to the screen. From the very beginning, the script, penned by director Jithin and Jishnu Sreekumar, fails to build tension or raise the stakes. Although the writers use Deepa’s murder to pull the audience into the film’s world and offer an early close-up of the notoriety of Mammootty’s character, the way this sequence is crafted — relying heavily on dialogues — leaves it flat. Not only does it fail to send a chills down viewers’ spines, but it doesn’t even evoke a feeling of heaviness in their chests. Instead, it simply passes off as an impactless opening sequence, which would have completely fallen flat if not for Mammootty’s presence.

Kalamkaval works primarily because it presents a disturbing portrait of a serial killer without judgment, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions about what creates such monsters. For thriller enthusiasts, Kalamkaval offers enough twists, strong performances, and atmospheric filmmaking to warrant a watch, even if the runtime tests patience occasionally. It's a solid addition to the psychological crime thriller genre in Malayalam cinema, elevated by a career-defining performance from Megastar Mammootty.

That said, “Kalamkaval” is not flawless. It feels like the protagonists have relatively narrow arcs, like the cop seeking justice and the killer driven by compulsion. The flow looks one-dimensional, at times. Then, there is definitely a trade-off. It is this: clarity and focus come at the cost of psychological depth. Supporting performances, especially from some central women actors, occasionally pierce through. Sometimes, we feel that the stories behind them deserve more space.

Even with these stumbles, Jithin K Jose shows strong control over tone. His direction remains steady and intentional. He favours restraint, and that restraint shapes the film’s identity. Mammootty and Vinayakan elevate the material with performances that understand this vision. They never oversell emotion. They let silence reveal character. Kalamkaval is a thoughtful and carefully-crafted thriller that prioritises mood over momentum. Viewers who enjoy slow building tension will find much to appreciate. Those looking for tighter plotting and a more decisive payoff may feel slightly unsatisfied. Yet the film stands as a bold attempt to explore fear, secrecy, and moral decay through patience rather than spectacle.

Kalamkaval is a story in pursuit of the answers to not these two questions but many more. It's a perfect example of a thriller that demonstrates that sometimes more fun can be had with a crime story where the killer's identity is already known to us, but not to the sleuths. And Kalamkaval delights with numerous surprises, achieved through the combined virtuosic zeal of Jithin K. Jose's economical filmmaking and Praveen Prabhakar's seamless, magical editing. The surprises don't cease to come even when the end credits roll. Of course, some are bound to question the lack of completeness with regard to certain resolutions, but where's the fun in that? When two heavyweight talents like Mammootty and Vinayakan are involved, why settle for something ordinary? The latter’s police role is his best since the one in 2022's Oruthee.