Nov. 26, 2021|India|134 Min.|n/A
Genre: Drama;Horror;Mystery;Science;Fiction;South;Indian;Thriller
Description: Vanam is a 2021 Tamil horror film that begins with a chilling opening scene set in an empty men’s hostel. Three workers are renovating the place, and one of them, a painter, decides to stay behind. He calls a girl, blackmailing her to join him for the night. However, after ending the call, the room turns eerie. The painter starts losing his grip on reality, and when the girl arrives, she finds the door locked. Upon opening it, she discovers the painter has hanged himself. As she approaches the body, the dead man’s eyes suddenly open. The story unfolds from there.
The film follows Magizh (played by Vetri), a student at an arts college located in a forest. Jasmine (Smruthi Venkat), a documentary filmmaker and Magizh’s childhood crush, arrives to shoot a film about the college’s sculptures department. Magizh is forced to move into the same room where the painter had hanged himself. Soon, his roommates begin to die mysteriously one by one. As Magizh and Jasmine dig deeper, they uncover themes of reincarnation and revenge. The plot also involves a magical mirror that reveals past lives, a tribal woman who acts as the forest’s guardian (Anu Sithara), and a cruel zamindar (Vela Ramamoorthy) who preys on women.
Despite its attempts to build tension, Vanam relies heavily on overused horror clichés. The story feels predictable, and the filmmaking, although earnest, lacks originality. Composer Ron Ethan Yohann tries to enhance the mood, but the scares fail to leave a lasting impact. The characters are generic, making it difficult for the audience to connect with them. A particularly shocking scene involving a pregnant woman being attacked falls flat due to the film’s uninspired narrative. Overall, Vanam struggles to stand out in the crowded horror genre.
Cast director: Srikantan Anand
Cast actor: Vetri, Smruthi Venkat, Anu Sithara, Vela Ramamoorthy, N. Azhagamperumal
Original name: வனம்