The Malayalam horror thriller 'Dies Irae', starring Pranav Mohanlal, has gripped audiences with its eerie narrative and a climax that completely subverts expectations. For those who have watched the film and are left with questions, or for viewers curious about its buzz, here is a detailed, spoiler-filled exploration of its shocking ending and the revelations that redefine the entire story.
The Premise: A Haunting Begins
The film follows Rohan, a wealthy young man played by Pranav Mohanlal. His life takes a terrifying turn following the death of his ex-girlfriend, Kani. After a brief fling, Rohan had ghosted Kani. Initially unaffected by news of her demise, his indifference vanishes when he visits her home and, on a whim, picks up a pink hair clip from her room. This seemingly insignificant act becomes a catalyst for a series of intense paranormal disturbances in his own home, convincing him that Kani's vengeful spirit has returned to torment him.
The Major Twist: The Spirit's True Identity
Seeking help, Rohan approaches Madhusudanan Potti, Kani's neighbour. The film's interval block delivers its first major twist: the entity haunting Rohan is not Kani, but a male spirit. This revelation sends Rohan and Madhu on a desperate investigation to uncover the truth behind this angry presence and its connection to Kani.
Their probe leads them to a stalker named Philip, who was obsessed with Kani and was believed to have left for Saudi Arabia. The trail points to Elsamma, the househelp at Kani's home, whose son also works in the Gulf. In a tense encounter, Rohan discovers that Philip is actually Elsamma's son, Manu. The horrifying truth unravels further: Manu never went abroad. Instead, his decaying corpse is found locked in a room, having succumbed to cancer. His tormented spirit never moved on.
Elsamma, in a fit of maternal desperation to protect her son's soul, attacks Rohan, revealing her complicity in the haunting.
The Climactic Confrontation and Resolution
Madhu returns with crucial lore: to release the spirit, they must remove Kani's anklet, which is tied to the corpse. A violent struggle ensues. When Rohan fails to untie the anklet, he takes a drastic measure—hacking off the leg and throwing the anklet into a ritual fire. This act finally liberates the vengeful spirit of Manu. The house is engulfed in flames, but Rohan, Madhu, and a subdued Elsamma manage to escape.
The Chilling Final Scene: A New Beginning for the Horror
Just as the story seems resolved, the film delivers its final, masterful scare. Rohan, preparing to leave for the US, notices a familiar, eerie movement under the bedsheet in his room—the same unsettling shift that heralded the haunting's start. With trembling hands, he pulls back the sheet. The camera shows his horrified reaction, but never reveals what he sees. This ambiguous yet terrifying moment strongly suggests that Kani's spirit has now returned, implying that Rohan's ordeal is far from over and a new cycle of horror is just beginning.
The movie, praised for its atmospheric tension and clever plot twists, is currently available for streaming. 'Dies Irae' is streaming on JioCinema in multiple languages, including Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Kannada.
