Cadaver

Amala Paul is back, not just as an actor, but also as a producer, in Cadaver, a medical thriller that is alive and kicking contrary to its name. It is mostly intense and intriguing, giving us the feel of a properly made investigative thriller, with right mood and tone. However, the film becomes predictable halfway into the story due to its setup, so post the interval, we are only thrown into flashbacks - except for one intelligent twist.

The film starts off with a mystery man abducting and cruelly murdering a chief surgeon of a reputed hospital in the city. As the case proceeds, we are introduced to Badra Thangavel (Amala Paul), an expert pathologist, who aids the city's assistant commissioner, Vishal (Harish Uthaman) in handling the case. Alongside, we also witness a prisoner, Vetri (Thrigun) in jail, who had already vowed to kill the same surgeon by drawing his portrait on the walls of his cell. As this news leaks out, the commissioner and the pathologist are left with no choice, but to interrogate Vetri.

Despite being in captivity, the prisoner manages to kill his second target just as he vowed. This shocks the entire city and they realise someone is helping him from the outside. While Vetri's life unfolds with certain tragic moments, Badra's intelligent move leads to shocking revelations that provide the answers to many questions.

Amala Paul's characterisation and transformation, with respect to looks, is laudable and is definitely a bold move. With short hair and a nerdy look, she convinces as the one who is calling the shots. Her performance as a pathologist amid dead bodies and in a mortuary setup is something to watch out for. That said, the writing is unsteady as it packs all its punches in the first half and lets the second half hanging, barring a few moments. While there are sequences that could have been elevated for a perfect pay off, most of it just falls flat, creating less impact.

What's really surprising about Cadaver are its characters and the making. The cinematography by Arvind Singh is exceptional and it carries the film effortlessly. Ranjin Raj's music is very subtle and fills in seamlessly wherever needed. The supporting characters, including Harish Uthaman, Vinod Sagar, Athulya Ravi and Thrigun, have done a decent job and their performances help the film immensely. The romantic portions - involving Vetri and Angel (played by Athulya Ravi) - do very less for the progress of the narrative. Riythvika, who appears in the flashback sequence, impresses to an extent.

The main pillar of the film is its art director, who has recreated the mortuary and several cadavers, giving an authentic feel to the film.

Cadaver could have been a better film if the screenplay, written by Abhilash Pillai, had been a bit different. That said, director Anoop Panicker has translated what's on the paper neatly and does justice to it, making the film worth a watch.