Footage movie review: Saiju Sreedharan pushes the envelope with this edgy, immersive thriller

4/5

Footage story: During the pandemic, two vloggers chase an intriguing mystery that takes them from the comfort of their apartment to the wild. As they try to uncover secrets about the strange woman who lives in the apartment below theirs, the couple also stumbles on a trail fraught with danger.

Footage review: Editor Saiju Sreedharan is arguably one of the best ‘hidden gems’ in Malayalam cinema, having been part of some of the best movies in the industry in the last decade including Maayanadhi, Maheshinte Prathikaaram, Anjaam Paathira and Virus. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that he has picked a challenging genre of a footage thriller for his directorial debut.

Set during the pandemic lockdown, the movie follows a young YouTuber couple (Vishak Nair and Gayathri Ashok), who live life on their own terms, and don't quite believe in the conventional limitations imposed by people. They live in the now and document their lives as it happens. They take along their limited viewers on their YouTube channel as they set out to uncover mysteries - be it at abandoned and seemingly haunted places or even in the comfort of their own apartment complex. One such mystery, however, takes them on a trail where they have to confront much more than what they bargained for.

Also read: Anurag Kashyap commends the Manju Warrier's Footage, here's what he said

Director Saiju, who has also edited and co-scripted Footage with Shabna Mohammed, has presented the film through two perspectives. One through the camera of Vishak Nair's character and another through Gayathri Ashok’s. This aspect leaves the audience with intriguing and rewarding gaps that are filled in the second half. The editing - thanks to the footage thriller format - is precise, and the viewers would never feel it's abrupt. One is fed exactly what's required, even though you would feel that the high-point suspense that caps the interval is bogged down by the following 10 minutes that focuses on the protagonists’ relationship rather than deep dive into why they decide to follow this particular case instead.

What truly makes Footage a standout film is its immersive experience. It's a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat during its most thrilling portions. Caution: The shaky camera and the first-person perspective might make some viewers nauseous, because you are constantly glued to the screens as the protagonists swim, climb, fall and even sneak through narrow, dark and dilapidated spaces. The sound department including sound designer Nixon George makes this an absolute must-watch experience. The muffled sounds underwater, the constant rain, and the thud of a fall are all captured in its truest sense, allowing the audience to experience the fear and excitement as the protagonists go on their chase. 

There's always the argument that the beginning of the second half, which has more steady than shaky camera shots, sort of eases the audience a bit before taking them through the roller-coaster ride, but it does take away the fizz a bit. That said, the cinematography of the film, by Shinoz, feels so organic that it becomes one with the performances of the actors, and you forget after a while that you are actually watching a footage-format film.

The performances of the lead cast - Vishak Nair, Gayathri Ashok and Manju Warrier - too add to this. The film has several sensual senses, including an opening sequence of a protagonist spying on another couple having sex. But these are shot aesthetically and also help set that the characters’ aren't shy of invading others’ privacy. The writers also pay enough attention to the characters and not let the format take precedence. Through their philosophies and camera confessions, we get to know a lot about their personalities. Manju Warrier’s character though is left as a mystery except for a few hints here and there to finally explain her motive. The actress is impressive, given that you hardly get a word out of her character. 

Credit must go to the makers, actors and the producers for truly backing such a film, which also benefits from good writing. Not a lot of movies address the angst of a woman and how it's perceived by society; Footage does it in several scenes and also gives it a rational explanation without being preachy. 

The second half of Footage, though it addresses the questions, somehow barring a few scenes, including a brilliant one featuring elephants and that in a wrecked vessel, doesn't quite have the highs that the first half promised. But it still adds to a brilliant experience in theatres.

Footage verdict: Editor-turned-filmmaker Saiju Sreedharan makes a brilliant debut and aces the challenge of making a great footage thriller that is fit for the big screens. The performances and the craft are top-notch, making this edgy thriller both immersive and a must-watch in the genre.