Gu Review: Without many jump scares, the Saiju Kurup film explores fear in a nostalgic manner

Gu Review - The Deva Nandha and Saiju Kurup-starrer explores fear in a unique way that is sure to appeal to any audience, even in spite of its shortcomings.

Poster of Gu

Gu (2024)

Gu Story: For the first time, Minna and her parents visit her father's ancestral home. She is drawn into the story of Gulikan, a figure from a folklore in the region. Minna and her cousins set out on a valiant "mission" that they believe has the potential to drive out the demon and save their cousin Paru, who is believed to be captured by a demon.

Gu Review: Debutant Manu Radhakrishnan’s Gu adeptly examines the conflict between accepting local myths as true and interpreting them as logical constructs. Through the eyes of the kids, it also explores the central conflict that results from the argument.

For the first time, eight-year-old Minna and her parents go to her father's ancestral home. After spending a lot of time in a busy city, the little girl is thrilled to see the large house and extended family. However, she is greeted with folklore and deeply ingrained beliefs based on local fables. She finds out, along with her cousins, that their cousin Paru is haunted by the ghost of a girl who died strangely on their property many years ago.

Their inquisitive minds embark on a quest to discover more about Gulikan, a local folk legend. They do, however, also encounter some paranormal events nearby that heighten their fear. The remainder of the movie centres on how they get over this fear and "successfully" vanquish the demon they think haunts them.

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Even though the filmmakers did not include too many jump scares to stay true to the genre, they have succeeded in evoking fear in the audience by establishing a spooky atmosphere. Another way to evoke nostalgia is to include mythical elements that evoke anxiousness and curiosity. This will undoubtedly remind viewers of the creepy tales they heard as children from their relatives or cousins.

Another crafty move by the makers is to show what the adults are deciphering from the viewpoint of children, who are more interested in finding a straightforward answer than they are in finding it worrisome. Furthermore, the narrative never stops examining opposing viewpoints, whether they are grounded in science or traditional beliefs. In this movie, a few adults who are troubled by tales from their childhood or by traumatic events they experienced are also portrayed in a true nature.

Even though the majority of the child performers are rookies, they have all acted admirably, with Malikappuram-fame Deva Nandha leading the charge. Saiju Kurup portrays a father who is rationally dotted with beliefs, and Niranj Maniyanpilla Raju adds situational humour to the story. Aside from the performances, music and visual effects heightens the sense of mystery in the film.

The movie does, however, have a few drawbacks of its own, particularly in that it leaves open certain plotlines, like the mystery surrounding a walking scarecrow. In addition, viewers are left with nothing more than a predictable climax, even though the movie keeps them intrigued about how the story will conclude.

Gu Verdict: Gu explores fear in a unique way that is sure to appeal to any audience, even in spite of its shortcomings.

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