Housemates Movie Review: A fresh fantasy attempt with heart and humour!
Director Rajvel makes a mark with Housemates - A promising and convincing debut. Below goes our Housemates Movie Review.
Housemates Movie Review
An engaging and emotional entertainer with a good fantasy angle!
Performances
Story & Narration
Technical Aspects & Music
Debutant director Rajavel’s Housemates is a welcome surprise – a fantasy drama that defies the impressions set through the trailer, delivering something more heartfelt and innovative. The film attempts something different within the mainstream storytelling format, and it works for most parts.
The first 15 minutes of the film are a slow start, as it struggles a bit to establish an emotional grip with the characters. However, once Kaali Venkat’s character enters the scene, the film takes off and finds its rhythm. The pre-interval block is a major high point, setting the stage for a gripping second half that is unpredictable, emotional and at times, profound too.
Kaali Venkat shoulders the film with a mature and moving performance, once again in a full fledged role after Madras Matinee. He effortlessly transitions between emotional and comical beats which are both in abundance in the film. Vinodhini Vaidyanathan complements him beautifully, and together, they are responsible for the emotional core of the film. Their chemistry works out well especially in the climax, which is one of the best scenes in the film. Darshan and Arsha Baiju have good roles to play, and lend solid support with the young kid adding charm in key moments too.
Technically, the film had good CGI for the ghost elements and engaging sound design too. There is a highlight reusage of a great song, and though it is not fully retro this time, it works out superbly for the film as a theatre moment.
What makes Housemates unique is that it drives home some high concepts that we have seen in Hollywood, like wormholes, time distortions, parallel dimensions into a simple, audience friendly narrative. The writing does not get too deep into the sci-fi mechanism, but it focuses well and more and the emotional consequences, which works out well for the film, and is a smart move for a debutant.
The film does have its fair share of humps such as the pacing dips early on and some underutilized characters, it shines with the intent, execution and the payoff. Housemates is a sincere attempt at innovation in Tamil cinema, and a commendable first film from a promising new voice. Definitely worth a watch.
Housemates Movie Rating: 3.5/5
