Irul Movie Review: Fahadh Faasil's solid performance let down by complicated story

What happens when three powerhouse performers like Fahadh Faasil, Soubin Shahir and Darshana Rajendran come together for a film? You marvel at the mere sight of these three actors who have impressed us earlier with their films. Director Naseef Yusuf Izuddhin managed to bring them together for his film Irul.

Irul begins with Alex Parayil (Soubin Shahir) waking up from a nightmare. He had just published his first book titled Irul, which has a serial-killer plot. He is seeing Archana Pillai (Darshana Rajendran), a lawyer who spends most of her time on her phone as her work demands it. Alex plans a surprise no-mobile weekend getaway for them, but on the road trip, their car breaks down, forcing them to seek shelter in a secluded house with a stranger (Fahadh Faasil) and a mysterious body downstairs. Are Alex and Archana trapped? Will they manage to escape? The rest of the story hopes to answer these questions.

Irul begins on a promising note. We are given a neat introduction to Alex and Archana’s characters and how they yearn to spend some time together amid their busy lives. The rest of Irul is a cat-and-mouse game to find who the killer is. The guessing game, though gets tiring after a point, manages to keep you glued. But more than the familiar plot, it is the performances of Fahadh, Darshana and Soubin that hook you.

Director Naseef and writer Sunil Yadav’s story seems rushed towards the second half of the film. It leaves you wanting more answers and the unanswered questions keep piling up as we approach the climax. For example, Soubin’s character does certain things which make him look suspicious. Though it is done to keep the story interesting, it leaves us with a bitter aftertaste.

Apart from the actors' performances, it is cinematographer Jomon T John’s brilliant work that stands out. Since the film takes place inside a house, the lights and shadows have their own characters. The elaborate dining table scene and another scene involving Fahadh and Soubin in the rain are spectacularly shot. A feeling of claustrophobia is conveyed beautifully through the camera movements.

Irul is technically sound. Right from the camera and the background music, everything screams perfection. There are certain jumpscare moments in the beginning, which worked well because of the music. Yet, when you watch Irul, you get a sense of deja vu. It could be because of the setting inside the house.

Besides the underwhelming second half, Irul has some interesting performances and technical brilliance that does the trick.

2.5 stars out of 5 for Irul.

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