Anomie Movie Review: A Bloated and Routine Thriller That Struggles to Impress
Riyas Marath's Anomie, featuring Bhavana and Rahman, is a mystery-thriller that rides heavily on genre clichés, resulting in a film that feels bloated and never truly in control of its narrative. With a runtime of 152 minutes, it meanders through predictable tropes before reaching a finale that offers a slight reprieve. The film earns a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars, highlighting its missed opportunities and lackluster execution.
A Plot Burdened by Red Herrings and Cliches
The story begins with Zaara Philip, played by Bhavana, a forensic employee grappling with the loss of her parents. Her personal grief is compounded when her younger brother, Ziyan, who has been battling psychological demons and previous suicide attempts, goes missing. Zaara's quest for answers quickly spirals into a serial killer hunt with a bizarre modus operandi, involving young people facing similar mental health struggles.
Alongside Zaara's journey, the film introduces subplots, such as that of disgraced police officer Ghibran, portrayed by Rahman, who seeks redemption after botching investigations. However, these additions only serve to bloat the narrative, making it feel excruciatingly long and reliant on overused thriller elements. The plot is nudged forward by self-fulfilling discoveries, with cops taking cold showers or drowning in bathtubs while mulling over cases, sticky-sweet flashbacks, and teasing glimpses of potential culprits—all set against a background score that tries too hard to adapt to shifting moods.
Lack of Depth and Believability
In the post-modern era of mystery-thrillers, what separates the good from the mediocre is the gaze with which they explore humanity and the necessities of crime. Anomie, however, uses crime as a perfunctory tool to launch a probe that shows little interest in building a lived-in, attractive, or believable world. The film's title, meaning a condition of lacking social and ethical standards, hints at deeper themes—such as dealing with loss and the desire for altered states of consciousness—but these questions are never adequately answered, leaving viewers exasperated.
The central mystery eventually wraps up in high-concept science and futurism, but this packaging fails to mask the blandness that pervades most of the film. The storytelling remains kitschy, with short shot durations, restless cinematography, and editing that frantically shifts focus, making it hard for characters like Rahman's Ghibran to breathe life or charisma into their roles.
Silver Lining in the Finale
The only redeeming aspect of Anomie is its finale stretch, which attempts to tie all loose ends and reveal the tapestry that was in the works. Here, the concepts feel refreshing compared to the run-of-the-mill investigation that dominates the earlier parts. The filmmaking elements—cinematography, editing, and music—come together more cohesively, allowing Riyas Marath to close on a positive note. Bhavana delivers an earnest performance in the initial scenes, imbuing Zaara with both tenderness and defiance, but even her efforts can't salvage the overall routine feel.
Verdict: A Missed Opportunity
Ultimately, Anomie is a missed opportunity that could have been more impactful if the makers had realized the essence of their story earlier. It ends up being routine at best, with only a few dashes of genuine curiosity. Like a meal that underwhelms with its main course to hype up dessert, it sounds intriguing but rarely works in practice. For fans of mystery-thrillers, it's a watch that might leave you wanting more substance and less filler.
Anomie movie cast: Bhavana, Rahman
Anomie movie director: Riyas Marath
Anomie movie rating: 2.5 stars
