Director Rejin S. Babu’s sophomore film, Bouma, presents a psychological gothic thriller that draws its title from the word for “earth,” reflecting the environment’s central role in the narrative. The plot centers on Celine, a struggling singer, and her partner Jacob, who works as a food delivery agent. Their lives take a turn when a law firm reveals that Celine is the sole heir to a massive property known as Rose Villa, a site where her family members died by suicide years prior.
As the couple travels to the mansion to sell it, a parallel investigation unfolds. Police officer Esho, played by Dileesh Pothan, finds his current murder case shares chilling similarities with the historical mass-suicide event at Rose Villa. The narrative explores these intersecting paths, building a sense of unease through the mansion’s atmosphere, which the director intentionally renders as unwelcoming to outsiders.
Technical execution remains the film’s strongest asset, with cinematography by Sharan Velayudhan and production design by Appunni Sajan helping to craft a unique, eerie visual identity. The film utilizes a non-linear narrative structure, managed by editor Sooraj ES, and is supported by a score from Christo Xavier. Despite these high production values and strong performances from Dileesh Pothan and Vineeth, the film faces criticism for its uninspired, artificial dialogue and a lack of compelling drama to anchor the characters.
Key facts
- The film is directed by Rejin S. Babu and based on a story by Dony S. Kadamanitta.
- Cinematographer Sharan Velayudhan is noted for his use of tight and wide frames to depict inner turmoil and environmental scale.
- The lead characters are played by Revathy Sharma (Celine) and Sagar Surya (Jacob).
- The film features a runtime of less than two hours.
- The Indian Express gave the movie a rating of 3 out of 5 stars.
Why it matters
The film highlights how high-level technical craft—spanning cinematography, editing, and production design—can create a distinct atmosphere that lingers with viewers, even when the script fails to provide the necessary emotional or linguistic substance. Critics note that while the movie successfully avoids conventional jump scares, the lack of strong drama makes it difficult for the audience to connect deeply with the characters.
Source: Indian Express
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