89 Movie Review
Madhusree Ghosh, TNN, Apr 27, 2015, 03.06PM IST
CRITIC'S RATING:
AVG READERS' RATING:
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Cast: Saswata Chatterjee, Raima Sen, Shataf Figar, Barun Chanda
Direction: Manoj Michigan
Genre: Thriller
- Critic's Review
Story: Purba ( Raima Sen),
a psychiatrist by profession, witnesses a bomb blast in her city. The
trauma unearths some dark secrets from her past. With the help of ATS
officer Anup ( Shataf Figar) and a hypnotist ( Barun Chanda), she comes face to face with a serial killer who changed her life.
Review: What defines a well-made psychological thriller? Is it the intricacy of plot? An element of surprise? Excellent performances? Or the unexpected twist in the end? It's a bit of all and though Tollywood doesn't produce too many of those films, Manoj Michgan's 89 is an honest attempt with a gripping storyline, a good script and smart making.
The non-linear storyline works well here, as we get a glimpse into Purba's troubled past and how her uncertain present is affected by a cold-blooded killer, Sabyasachi. As the mystery unravels, Sabyasachi's character is revealed gradually — from a smooth-talking man to a moody and calculative fiend. The director keeps the audience guessing about his intentions. The best part is, there are no unnecessary songs or tear-jerking melodrama to dilute the tension that holds good through the movie.
With its lonely corridors, creepy alleys, dark cells and more, 89 is somewhat reminiscent of moody psychological thrillers from Hollywood and Asian cinema. The second half flags a bit though and you can second-guess the killer's intentions — not a great advertisement for the film's genre allegiance. However, there isn't a single loose string in the plot that the director forgets to tie up at the end. The performances — Raima with her big eyes and an air of vulnerability, Shataf with his street smartness and suave demeanour and most importantly, Saswata with his subtle but bone-chilling cruelty — also make this film worth a watch.
Review: What defines a well-made psychological thriller? Is it the intricacy of plot? An element of surprise? Excellent performances? Or the unexpected twist in the end? It's a bit of all and though Tollywood doesn't produce too many of those films, Manoj Michgan's 89 is an honest attempt with a gripping storyline, a good script and smart making.
The non-linear storyline works well here, as we get a glimpse into Purba's troubled past and how her uncertain present is affected by a cold-blooded killer, Sabyasachi. As the mystery unravels, Sabyasachi's character is revealed gradually — from a smooth-talking man to a moody and calculative fiend. The director keeps the audience guessing about his intentions. The best part is, there are no unnecessary songs or tear-jerking melodrama to dilute the tension that holds good through the movie.
With its lonely corridors, creepy alleys, dark cells and more, 89 is somewhat reminiscent of moody psychological thrillers from Hollywood and Asian cinema. The second half flags a bit though and you can second-guess the killer's intentions — not a great advertisement for the film's genre allegiance. However, there isn't a single loose string in the plot that the director forgets to tie up at the end. The performances — Raima with her big eyes and an air of vulnerability, Shataf with his street smartness and suave demeanour and most importantly, Saswata with his subtle but bone-chilling cruelty — also make this film worth a watch.
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