PremiumSecret Home Review – Despite a few standout performances, this predictable thriller-drama leaves a lot to be desired
Overall, Secret Home has every component needed to be a strong thriller drama, but it does not quite manage to leave the audience with a lasting impression.
Last Updated: 01.55 PM, Mar 22, 2024
Secret Home Story
A teacher is horrified to learn that one of her students' mothers is suspected of killing him. Her frequent episodes of hallucinations, though, appear to be a message that the mother is innocent and that there is more to the story. Her search for the real reason behind the murder serves as the central theme of the movie.
Secret Home Review
These days, Malayalam is seeing a lot of films that are based on true stories. But not all of them are well received by the audience due to issues with the film's handling of the incident or the narrative style's lack of appeal.
Abhayakumar's Secret Home is connected to several crime episodes that Malayalis have become familiar with, even though it may not be directly related to any specific real-life case. The film's primary captivating element, though, is not how the makers incorporated these references; rather, it is the characters and performances that will undoubtedly hold viewers' attention for some time.
The lives of Ayana and Sarika, whose paths cross unexpectedly, are the focus of the movie. Their lives, however, take an unexpected turn when Arjun, Sarika's son, falls into a well on the school premises. Although Arjun's teacher, Ayana, saves him, the parents and school administration blame her for being negligent, which caused the incident. Ayana tries to persuade Sarika and Sharan, Arjun's parents, to sign a statement disapproving of any complaints made about her when her job is in jeopardy.
Careless husband and father Sharan take this as an opportunity to flirt with Ayana and invite her over to their home. But everything changes that evening when it is discovered that Arjun and his grandmother were allegedly murdered by Sarika. Ayana, who experiences hallucinations, believes Sarika is innocent and that there is more to this story. The main plot point of the movie is her pursuit of the truth.
The makers of the movie succeeded in captivating the audience by taking inspiration from a few highly publicised crime incidents in Kerala. The storyline and the characters' personas are revealed quickly, giving the movie an immediate sense of suspense.
It is noteable that they were astute enough to avoid elevating the main characters by giving them a supposedly respectable or decent persona. Each one in this movie has a darker side to them, and they all bring out their flaws and mistakes in different contexts. Another good aspect that kept the audience from becoming weary of the story was that it was told in two hours, without creating much lag.
The performances of Secret Home's main actors, Sshivada, Chandhunadh, and Aparna Das, are noteworthy. While Sshivada plays a character that is negative than she typically plays, Chandhunadh demonstrates his talent for convincingly playing a variety of roles, especially antagonistic ones. Even though he gets less screen time, Anu Mohan has made an impressive contribution.
But Secret Home is not without its shortcomings, particularly towards the conclusion. There are a few unresolved subplots, including the question of why Ayana is experiencing hallucinations that later turn out to be real.
The movie falls short of being a good thriller, with moments that become somewhat predictable. Even with a strong cast and intriguing story points, the movie fell short of fully utilising them, leaving viewers with a sense of unfulfilled expectations.
Secret Home Verdict
Overall, Secret Home has every component needed to be a strong thriller drama, but it does not quite manage to leave the audience with a lasting impression. Still, some of the of the performances in this movie really shine.