Ratchasan would remind you of the reasons why thrillers are still being celebrated when done convincing and uncompromising and what it really means to be a thriller!
Who’d have probably expected such a sturdy thriller from the filmmaker who gave us Mundasupatti, a period drama that only eloped between cheese-like and comedy elements? As the definition goes, thrillers are characterized and defined by the moods they elicit, giving viewers the heightened feelings of suspense, excitement, surprise, anticipation and anxiety. And, this film tackles all the mentioned characteristics like a pro. Even though, a little predictable at parts, Ratchasan is more or less a home-run!
Just as any other film, there are some cinematic liberties taken to look the film more engaging. Like, there’s a reason why the killer is in hunt for girls of age 15. But, there’s no specific reason why he’s to kill the innocents on the second day from the day the girls had been kidnapped. Just because, it adds tension in the screenplay? Come on. And, stop being so mean.
Another impressive note about Ratchasan is that its running length. Even though longing about 170 minutes, this film never misses the audience’s attention. It’s definitely not an overstatement to call this movie an edge-of-the-seat entertainer.
As far the actors go, Vishnu Vishal is charismatic at his chore. The first twenty minutes detail his perseverance of an aspiring film-maker and the remaining film constitutes him as a determinant cop in Khaki uniform. Amala Paul’s elegance adds beauty to the film. It’s no doubt that she’s aging better and the script does not just use her as a click-bait. The little girl who acts as a deaf and dumb and the old, bald dude who plays the role of a Math teacher are perfectly opt to their roles. They deserve their names to be noted.
The main score of the film that uses Piano seems to be slightly inspired by the theme of Coward from Interstellar. And on a whole, the score is purely haunting and adds weight to the whole film. Also, if you’d sought more attention to the title card’s design, there’s so much probabilty that you might come with the clues even way before than our protagonist. It’s craft-fully designed. But, it’s also appallingly revealing in a way.
After all, Ratchasan is one of those ingenuous attempts in Kollywood that builds twists over twists in every turn the screenplay takes; without any swinging that makes it a strong contender for one of the best films of 2018 and one of the best Thrillers of all time.