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Recently released on Netflix, the Indian Malayalam language movie ‘Kaapa’ takes viewers on a pulse-racing journey into the gritty and dangerous world of gang culture in the city of Thiruvananthapuram. Written by G.R. Indugopan and directed by Shaji Kailas, the movie tells the story of a seemingly normal couple, Anand (Asif Ali) and Binu (Anna Ben), whose lives are turned upside down when they are unexpectedly pulled into the middle of a deadly gang war. The movie starts off with an intriguing premise as a police officer enters the couple’s home for a ‘routine’ visit, only to inform them that Binu is being mistaken for the head of a notorious gang because of her family background and typically male-sounding name. This sets the stage for a thrilling and suspenseful story that unfolds through Anand’s naive perspective as an IT engineer who is new to this world. Determined to clear his wife’s name, Anand sets out on a dangerous journey to uncover the truth and seek justice. As he delves deeper into the city’s criminal underworld, he finds himself caught in a web of lies, corruption, and deceit. He meets the city’s most powerful gangster, Kotta Madhu (Prithviraj), and his wife Prameela (Aparna Balamurali) in an attempt to clear his wife’s name. But as he becomes more entrenched in the city’s criminal world, Anand finds himself in a race against time to save his wife and himself from the dangers that threaten to consume them both. And unwittingly, Ananda also finds himself engulfed in the war between two rival gangs, where he has to bear the consequences of his involvement. As an action thriller, Kaapa has plenty of twists and turns in its screenplay that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats throughout its runtime. The plot, which starts with the introduction of a seemingly normal couple, thickens as the movie progresses, introducing the audience to the lives of its characters with interesting backstories. Even as it gives glimpses into the lives of its characters, the movie stays true to its premise and plot. There are also some well-conceived background stories, such as one in which Madhu exploits a boy’s poor economic background to commit a crime but the movie does seem to fail to fully explore the characters it focuses on, especially with its female representation. Both Aparna Balamurali and Anna Ben, who play important roles in the movie, are underutilized and have hardly anything to do for much of the runtime. But to its credit, the movie gives a strong suggestion of a sequel right after its climax. And also promises the audience that the action will be led by the two female characters. The acting in Kaapa is top-notch, with Asif Ali delivering a powerhouse performance as the determined Anand and Prithviraj Sukumaran delivering a chilling and multi-faceted portrayal of the ruthless Kotta Madhu. Among the movie’s many characters, Madhu stands out as particularly complex and intriguing. On one hand, he is a villainous force to be reckoned with, but on the other, we see glimpses of a more vulnerable and even sympathetic side to him. As the movie progresses, our understanding of Madhu deepens and evolves, leading to a satisfying shift in audience perception. The movie also delves into the intricacies of the relationship between Madhu and his wife Prameela, as well as the moral dilemmas that arise from living in a world of crime and violence. Who should watch it? Kaapa is a pulse-pounding and action-packed crime drama that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The powerful performances, well-crafted plot, and even pacing make it a must-see film for fans of the genre. Even if you’re not much intrigued by crime thrillers, the package is enough to lure in connoisseurs of drama. Definitely worth the watch. Rating: 4 stars Genre: Crime/thriller Actors: Prithviraj, Aparna Balamurali, Asif Ali, Anna Ben Director: Shaji Kailas Run time: 2hrs 16mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMEI_nRoLGU&t=3s

The Invitation is a horror, thriller movie that was recently released on Netflix and caught the attention of many due to its star, Nathalie Emmanuel who created quite a stir in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones. It’s inspired by Bram Stoker’s classic ‘Dracula.’ The movie tells the story of Evelyn ‘Evie’ Jackson, a struggling artist in New York City who discovers dark secrets about her family after meeting long-lost relatives for the first time following her mother’s death. The movie begins with Evie taking a DNA test that leads her to a distant cousin, Oliver Alexander, in England. He reveals to her the scandalous past of her great-grandmother, Emmaline, and invites her to a family wedding in England. Once there, at the New Carfax Abbey, Evie starts to notice unsettling occurrences and begins to uncover the truth behind her family’s dark secrets. One of the strongest aspects of the movie is the acting by Emmanuel, who portrays a common New Yorker suddenly thrown into a wealthy British family. Her performance adds depth to the character, and she manages to shine. You could very well say her portrayal of Evie as a strong, bold, and beautiful woman while being the only colored member in a white family is a highlight of the movie. She effectively conveys the character’s emotions and reactions to the events unfolding around her. Other notable aspects of the movie are the cinematography and lighting. The movie switches between the colorful New York City and the somber English countryside and the darkness of the characters and the setting are well captured through the camera and lighting. The movie’s use of lighting is particularly effective in creating a sense of unease and suspense, as the audience is left wondering what horrors will be revealed next. The use of lighting has also helped in creating a sense of isolation, as the audience is left to wonder about the fate of the characters in the eerie and remote setting of the New Carfax Abbey. However, the storytelling in the movie isn’t particularly noteworthy. The plot is similar to many other horror thrillers and it’s only at the end that the horrors of the house are revealed, leaving the audience anxiously waiting for a ghost or demon to appear. This can make the movie feel slow and predictable at times. Furthermore, the audience is not given much background on the characters, and the motivations of the characters aren’t always clear. Despite these shortcomings, The Invitation is still an enjoyable horror thriller for fans of the genre. The acting, especially Emmanuel’s performance, and the cinematography and lighting make up for all that’s lacking in the movie. The movie’s use of lighting is particularly effective in creating a sense of unease and suspense. The movie is not likely to become a cult classic, but it’s still fun while it lasts. I’d say it’s a good way to kill some time and get your horror fix. Who should watch it? The Invitation is an average horror thriller movie that only fans of the genre will enjoy. The acting, especially Emmanuel’s performance, and the cinematography and lighting are the highlights of the movie. The themes explored in the movie add a deeper layer of meaning to the story, making it more than just another horror movie. Rating: 2.5 stars Genre: Horror/Thriller Run time: 1hr 45mins Actors: Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Doherty, Sean Pertwee Director: Jessica M. Thompson

Less than a month into 2023 and I think I’ve already found my favorite of the year. If you think that’s a little premature, I recommend you read ‘Such a Fun Age’ by Kiley Reid. This book has great characters, a solid plot, and smooth language. It also tackles an important issue that needs to be talked about more. Reid’s debut novel is fun and satisfying. The story starts with Emira Tucker, a college graduate in her mid-20s, being summoned to take three-year-old Briar, the child she babysits, to the nearby grocery store at 11 pm while the Chamberlains deal with a domestic emergency. Another shopper gets “concerned” about the child’s safety at the store. Emira is black and Briar is white. She informs the security guard who pretty much accuses Emira of kidnapping a child and refuses to let her leave. In the end, Emira has to call Briar’s father to come and sort things out. All this while, another shopper at the store captures all that has happened on his phone. Alix Chamberlain is Emira’s employer. She is married to a local news anchor and is a social media star of sorts herself. She has managed to snag a book deal and hires Emira to take care of her two children—Briar and Catherine. But it’s mostly the curious chatterbox Briar that Emira has to look after as Alix doesn’t mind spending time with Catherine but can’t seem to deal with Briar. After the incident at the supermarket, Alix vows to make things right. She wants to get to know Emira better and befriend her. But Emira isn’t looking to befriend her employer. She just wants a job that provides health insurance and other benefits. Such a Fun Age is a warmly narrated story that discusses race, the choices we make, and the lies we often tell ourselves to assuage our guilt. It has a riveting plot and characters we can identify with. Kelly Copeland, the man who films the horrible incident, is an ambiguous character. One moment you like him—he seems really nice, and the other moment you are sure all his actions are guided by a problematic ulterior motive. I find myself thinking about why he acted the way he did even days after finishing the book. Reid’s writing infuses a lot of life into the story. The woman who papier-mâchés the toilet seat with toilet paper at the airport, lugging Vera Bradley luggage and clad in Lilly Pulitzer; the house guest who brings a gift of not one but two pairs of what she hopes will become her host’s “good scissors”—the use of details like these help you clearly picture the scenes. In some ways, the novel feels like it was written for the screen. I wouldn’t be surprised if a movie adaptation comes out soon. Till then, I’d recommend this book to just about everyone I meet. About the author American novelist Kiley Reid’s debut novel Such a Fun Age was longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize. Reid started working on the novel while applying to graduate school and the book (including screen rights) was sold before she graduated. The book was also Reese Witherspoons’s first book club pick for 2020. Apart from the novel, Reid’s short stories have been featured in various publications. Four and a half stars Such a Fun Age Kiley Reid Published: 2020 Publisher: Bloomsbury Circus Pages: 310, Paperback

I was excited about Lucy Foley’s latest novel ‘The Paris Apartment’ as I had loved ‘The Guest List’. The book had an Agatha Christie vibe to it and was outlandish and ominous at the same time. Narrated from six different POVs, the story was fast-paced and gripping. Foley gave me a much-needed break from reality. I desperately wanted her to tell me another story. I wanted to be under the same spell. The Paris Apartment is about a journalist who mysteriously disappears from an apartment in Paris. His sister then arrives on the scene and starts poking around. It sounds like an engaging plot, and it’s not bad at all. It’s just that my expectations were sky-high after reading The Guest List. Most of the reviews on the GoodReads app say the same thing. Readers have liked The Paris Apartment a lot less than Foley’s other two books—The Guest List and ‘The Hunting Party’. In the book, we are introduced to Jess, who is lonely, and she’s broke. So, she asks her half-brother Ben if she can crash with him in order to get her life together. Surely, things will be better in Paris, she thinks. When she lands there from London, she finds a nice apartment that she’s not sure how Ben could have afforded in a journalist’s salary. But Ben’s not there. He wouldn’t have just deserted her like that. She knows something is wrong. She starts wondering if the other people in the apartment building know more than they are letting on about Ben’s disappearance. Everyone appears mysterious and each of them seems to have a motive. The more Jess starts digging around, the more suspicious she becomes that the neighbors are involved in something they want to hide. She repeatedly puts herself in harm’s way as someone isn’t happy with all the questions she’s asking. The Paris Apartment is dark and unsettling but there’s nothing new here for thriller and murder mystery lovers. It’s a classic locked-room mystery. It’s just that there’s no sense of urgency or claustrophobia which is what makes stories like these menacing. The pacing is also a bit slow. Foley, while trying to flesh out her characters, has sort of dragged on the plot. But a respite comes in the form of short chapters and the book does take off in the second half. All in all, it’s not a great book but you can pick it up when you want something light to read. Three stars Fiction The Paris Apartment Lucy Foley Published: 2022 Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Pages: 410, Paperback