A Decently Fun Time-Loop Thriller With Good Ideas but Some Plot Holes
If you are a fan of time-loop, mystery and psychological thriller movies, this recently released Malayalam film available on JioHotstar can be given a try. The movie has an interesting one-day time-loop concept, multiple timelines and a group of strangers who become connected to the same mysterious events. code 70
After watching the film, the overall impression is that it is a decently fun watch. The concept and some of the information-reveal sequences work well, especially during the first half. However, the film also has some noticeable problems with editing, screenplay, performances and logical consistency.
Story
The story revolves around a group of characters who get caught in a mysterious time loop. Unlike conventional time-loop stories, the film tries to connect multiple characters and events happening across different periods.
Initially, the characters appear to be complete strangers. As the story progresses, we gradually learn how they are connected and why they are trapped in this strange situation.
The movie takes its time to establish the characters and the central mystery. The narration is slow in the beginning, but once the actual story starts moving, the film becomes more engaging.
The best portion comes around the pre-interval to interval stretch, where several important details are revealed. These revelations create curiosity about how the second half is going to unfold.
The second half then concentrates more on the backstory, the reason behind the time loop and the connection between the lead character and the overall mystery.
What Works in the Movie?
Interesting Time-Loop Concept
The biggest strength of the film is undoubtedly its time-loop idea.
The makers have attempted to combine multiple events and different time periods into a single mystery. The concept itself is interesting, and the first-half revelations make us curious about what is actually happening.
Even though similar concepts have been explored in several movies and web series, the film does try to present its own version of the idea.
Engaging First Half
The first half is considerably better.
The movie takes some time to enter the main story, but once it gets going, the proceedings become interesting. The 15–20 minute stretch before the interval and the interval sequence are among the strongest portions of the film.
The information revealed during this portion creates a good impact and makes us expect an exciting second half.
Good Ideas
There are several good ideas in the screenplay. The way different characters are eventually connected to the central mystery is interesting.
The director has clearly put effort into building a complicated world around the time-loop concept.
For a first film, the ideation and concept are appreciable.
What Doesn’t Work?
Complicated Screenplay
The biggest problem is that the screenplay becomes unnecessarily complicated.
Instead of keeping the time-loop mystery simple and understandable, the movie gives almost every character some kind of connection to the story.
Because of this, the narrative becomes difficult to follow at certain points.
A time-loop film already requires careful writing and editing because the concept itself can confuse the audience. Here, the screenplay adds more layers without always explaining them clearly.
Second Half Loses Momentum
After the strong interval portion, the second half doesn’t maintain the same momentum.
The movie starts explaining the backstory, the reason for the time loop and the characters’ connections. These explanations are necessary, but the execution isn’t always engaging.
The film isn’t necessarily bad in the second half, but compared with the curiosity created before the interval, it feels like a drop in quality.
Plot Holes
Time-travel and time-loop stories naturally require strong internal logic.
Unfortunately, this film has certain plot holes and unanswered questions.
Some characters travel to different time periods, but the logic behind certain events isn’t properly established. There is also an important event that seemingly sets everything in motion, but the movie doesn’t completely explain why certain characters don’t enter that particular timeline.
These things can make viewers question the logic of the story.
Performances
The performances are another mixed aspect.
Lead actor Askar Ali puts in a sincere effort, especially considering the multiple emotional layers required from his character. However, the second half demands more variation from the character, and the performance doesn’t always reach the required level.
The supporting cast delivers mostly generic performances, with some characters working better than others.
There is no majorly poor performance, but the acting isn’t strong enough to completely overcome the screenplay’s weaknesses.
Technical Aspects
Technically, the film is decent.
The cinematography works well, particularly because the movie takes place largely within a forest setting. The visuals, close-up shots and POV shots help create the required mysterious atmosphere.
The background score is fairly generic but suits the proceedings in several places. The music doesn’t become a major highlight, but it doesn’t seriously disturb the viewing experience either.
The film’s technical presentation is therefore satisfactory.
Direction
Director Jeethu Satish deserves credit for attempting an ambitious concept in his debut.
The influence of time-loop and mystery series is noticeable, particularly in the way the characters are connected and how their relationships are gradually revealed.
At the same time, the movie also makes it clear that this is the director’s first film. The lack of experience can be felt in certain portions, especially in the screenplay flow, editing and handling of the complicated connections.
The basic idea is good, but the execution could have been much tighter.
Overall Review
Overall, this is a decent time-loop thriller that works because of its interesting concept and some engaging first-half sequences.
The pre-interval and interval portions are particularly effective, while the second half becomes more complicated and loses some of the momentum.
The screenplay could have been simpler, the editing could have been tighter and several logical questions should have been addressed more clearly.
Still, if you enjoy time-loop, mystery and psychological thriller movies, this is worth trying on OTT.
A decent one-time watch for time-loop thriller lovers.
Rating: 3/5
- Genre: Thriller / Mystery / Fantasy / Psychological
- Movie Name: Sambhavam Adhyayam Onnu
- Movie Link: Click Here
- Language: Malayalam
- Telugu: Available
- OTT: JioHotstar
- Best Part: Time-loop concept and pre-interval/interval stretch
- Weakness: Complicated screenplay, plot holes and uneven second half
- Verdict: Can Give It a Try
If you have already watched it, share your opinion about the movie in the comments.