Introduction to a Cliched Nemesis
Serial killers have been a recurring archetype in cinematic narratives, often captivating the audience with a chilling blend of intellect and brutality. It’s a well-worn trope that these masterminds behind gruesome crimes tend to leave breadcrumbs for their pursuers, supposedly to be admired for their cunning. There is an implicit relationship between the killer seeking validation and the detective forced to acknowledge their adversary’s craftiness. Crucial to the cat-and-mouse game is the latter’s gradual discernment of a pattern and the perverse joy of the former in orchestrating it all, mostly as an act of revenge.
‘Abraham Ozler’ – An Evident Strain in a Familiar Premise
Midhun Manuel Thomas’ film ‘Abraham Ozler’ carries forward this tradition, but spins a different yarn by avoiding the cliché of Biblical quotations as the killer’s signature. Authored by Randheer Krishnan, the film boasts of several conventional elements, one of them being the dour protagonist, the eponymous police investigator Abraham Ozler, portrayed by Jayaram. Ozler is a man haunted by his past, particularly the mysterious vanishing of his wife and daughter. This personal tragedy exacerbates his insomnia, torments him with hallucinations, and colors his perception of reality—at least it does until the screenplay abruptly discards these nuances and thrusts him into the pursuit.
A Plot Set in Motion
The narrative engine roars to life with the murder of an IT employee within hospital confines. It swiftly becomes clear that it’s not an isolated incident as others fall prey in a similar modus operandi. Ozler, flanked by his investigative team, scrambles to string together the similarities among the victims, working against the clock as the killer leaves less-than-cryptic clues that suggest an inevitable next strike.
The Film’s Downward Trajectory
Intrigue initially simmers in the script, promising to rivet the viewers; however, it soon spirals into tedium, with the momentum fading quicker than it amassed. By mid-story, the tension deflates, having handed the audience the bulk of the resolution prematurely. What remains is the lethargic trudge towards an unraveling that fails to pack an emotional punch. A fleeting appearance by Mammootty briefly surges the excitement, yet it doesn’t suffice to hoist a film out of a narrative pitfall.
Narrative Mishaps and Artistic Pitfalls
Viewers witness episodes of clumsy executions alongside dialogue that lacks the sharpness expected of a film engaged in a cerebral duel between good and evil. This is a step back from Thomas’ former directorial venture, ‘Anjaam Pathiraa’, another thriller that hinged on serial killings. Both films overlap in the medical-thriller domain, with an array of experts delivering lectures that should have been startling revelations but instead come off as banal.
Ozler’s Struggles and the Suggestion of More to Come
As the film inches towards its conclusion, Ozler’s personal battles surface, seemingly significant to the character’s fiber yet ultimately amounting to little more than surface embellishment. The narrative ties up with an epilogue that hints at the possibility of a sequel. Whether there’s a substantial story left to explore after a film that barely musters enough intrigue to reach its own end is debatable. It leaves one pondering if the tried-and-tested template of the serial killer genre has run out of creative steam.
In-Cinema Experience and a Reflection on Film Trends
For fans and followers of Malayalam and Indian cinema, ‘Abraham Ozler’ can currently be experienced in theaters. However, one can’t help but contemplate the need for a fresh breath of innovation within the genre. The allure of the serial-killer narrative remains potent, but it is clear that without meaningful enhancement, it might not retain its grasp on audiences seeking novelty amidst familiarity.
With ‘Abraham Ozler’, the shadows of the past continue to linger over the genre, and the verdict weighs heavily on the necessity for evolution in storytelling methods and cinematic expression.
