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9 Review: This Prithviraj-starrer is a visually dazzling, Shyamalan-esque mystery thriller

Barring a few pacing issues in the second half, director Jenuse Mohammed deserves a pat on the back for delivering a one-of-a-kind experience that hasn't been seen in Malayalam cinema before

Sajin Shrijith
@XpressCinema
|
Published: 07th February 2019




It's only fitting that the central character in 9, a child, is named Adam. Why? Well the film presents a scenario where mankind is made to experience the beginning of time thanks to a global catclysmic event. This is a time when electricity hadn't yet been invented and the Earth is firmly under the grip of fear.


"There is no need to fear," assures Prithviraj's astrophysicist Albert to a large audience before the event occurs. "The sun will rise as usual, but the nights are going to envelop everyone in pitch-black darkness. The emergency lamp is not going to work. Buy candles, a lot of them." It's a simple scientific phenomenon, he informs. A supermarket visit is used as an excuse to deliver exposition, something that is best avoided in films like this. In fact, exposition is delivered here more than once, and while it occasionally does seem unnecessary, it does a fairly decent job of helping us imagine the gravity of the situation. Being a man of science, Albert will experience things that will test his faith in science as well as himself. Expect a night full of terrors.Cast: Prithviraj, Wamiqa Gabbi, Mamta Mohandas, Prakash Raj
Director: Jenuse MohammedOne of the things that 9 gets right is that it doesn't have that Interstellar problem: it gives the audience a sense of the event's magnitude by including the entire globe, even though most of the film is confined to a single location and revolves around a few characters.Thisis a film that is not confined to a single genre -- I counted at least three -- in the interest of avoiding spoilers, I won't reveal them here. Instead, I'll simply say that, in terms of scale and concept, 9 is the closest we have come to an M Night Shyamalan film in Malayalam. It's not just Shyamalan's films that 9 reminded me of, but also those of Nicholas Roeg, Roman Polanski, James Cameron, Stanley Kubrick, and even the television series LOST (hello, 'smoke monster').Albert apparently loves his son Adam (Master Alok), but he also appears emotionally distant most of the time, an after-effect no doubt of the demise of Adam's mother during childbirth. The child is aloof, weird, and has no friends -- a fact that constantly bothers Albert. Some of their heated confrontations -- and the fact that some characters keep referring to Adam as an 'evil child' -- brought to mind films like The Omen and The Shining.Why is this event happening? What connection does it have to Adam? What are the intentions of the mysterious stranger who suddenly enters their lives? Is there a world beyond the understanding of science? These are some of the questions that 9 tries to answer. I'm not sure it answers all of them, but there's fun to be found in the film. A few logical inconsistencies do show up now and again, but they make sense when placed under the light of the climactic revelations.What Jenuse and team have also accomplished with 9 is a superlative audio-visual experience. Aided strongly by a remarkably-gifted cinematographer - Abhinandan Ramanujam - the director uses every cinematic tool at his disposal to deliver a visually dazzling, one-of-a-kind experience that hasn't been seen in Malayalam cinema before. The film is a testament to the fact that you don't need to go abroad for photogenic locales. Also, a big shout-out to composer Sekhar Menon for his Hans Zimmer-style background score, without which the build-up wouldn't be half as effective -- a prerequisite for any thriller, especially one that juggles multiple genres.Barring a few pacing issues in the second half, which can be forgiven, 9 certainly deserves a pat on the back for going that extra mile. Films that end on an ambiguous note are interesting because you discover something new with each subsequent watch, and this is one such. It pleased the mystery fan in me, and I hope more Malayalam filmmakers come forward with such compelling and creatively daring ideas in the near future.
Rating: 4 stars/5

 

9 MOVIE REVIEW - Behindwoods.com

The primary conceit of writer-director Januse Mohammed's 9 is about a comet upon entering the atmosphere leads to an electronic/electric shutdown for nine days. This concept has the makings of a wicked satire, but the maker decides to focus on a personal tale of equally intriguing opportunities, like how the obsession of an astrophysicist over the phenomenon leads to ghastly incidents in his household.

The film follow astrophysicist Albert (played by Prithviraj), embarking on a scientific expedition along with his team of scientists as they entangle themselves in a series of spooky events when Albert chances upon a stranger, Ava during his first viewing of a comet. Accompanying Albert is his son Adam, played by master Alok.

The film starts with Albert's father accompanying him in a lunar eclipse. This scene may come across as inconsequential in due course of the film, but the initial portions ground the fable-like storytelling into reality. The first half pays more attention to the setup and world building that unfolds in a Shyamalan-esque manner, elaborate yet engaging. Hence a major portion of it does not happen at a breakneck speed.

The horror sequences are more thrilling in the second half as the stakes become higher and we begin rooting for them only at that point. The expository dialogue involving the comet in the early sequences are less complex and does not alienate the audience, full credits for the writer. The first half engages us with neatly staged and edited stretches, for instance, the stretch involving the supermarket on the eve of the phenomenon had a sense of a well made social commentary in it.

It is the second half that sucks us into the thrilling events as every setup finds its own resolve, like the burst of a buried landmine. The red herring unveils in front of us and when the deceptions become clear the film creates a race against time kind of situation. The film brilliantly uses light and shade to convey the mood of a situation (the film was shot by Abhinandan Ramanujan), for instance, a happy occasion like a father wishing his son a happy birthday is shot in a dimly lit interior, portraying the dysfunctional relationship between them.

Even the visual effects had a certain amount of believability in them. Wamiqa Gabbi's portrayal of Ava lends an eerie presence to the film and Master Alok is a revelation as Adam, as he conveys the desperation of the character with ease and excels even in the close-up shots, a quality that is found in experienced actors. After Koode, this film makes great use of Prithviraj's earnestness.

One wishes that the director had used more silence for us to be absorbed into the atmosphere of the film and Adam had a lot of scenes in the initial portions (the character of Adam feels a bit underwritten). But minor problems aside, what makes 9 work very well is the fact that the layers of sci-fi and horror are used to tell a story about unfocussed parenting, a universal theme that gives a deeper connection with the film.

Verdict: 9 - A spooky experimental mystery that raises questions about modern lifestyle. Must Watch!

3.25 / 5.0

 

9 Review: Malayalam Cinema At Its Best - Pycker.com
Reviewed by: GitacharYa

The premise
Malayalam Cinema has been stretching its boundaries for the last few years both in terms of the scope of the subjects and market. One such film that released this week is 9. Prithviraj Sukumaran's own production venture attracted the attention of movie buffs with the promise of a genre-bending experience and some masterful visuals.

With Sony Pictures foraying into Malayalam Cinema and the promotions were done on a never before seen scale, the hype created for the film reached the sky. A stellar cast and some of the highly talented technicians joined hands for this film and let' see if Prithviraj's risk of pouring his own money into making this film paid off with 9 movie review.

The story
Albert Lewis is a brooding Astro Physicist. He is a single father and being a scientist it is a given that he doesn't believe in the supernatural. But as things pan out, the non-believer becomes a believer and that comes as a surprise twist in the film (more on that later). Prithviraj looked the part. He is a widower and has no time for his son. This leads to some obvious friction between them but it is not the focus of the movie as the core point is something else entirely.
Advertised as a blend of science fiction, thriller and horror genres, the movie packs a punch with an original premise. After the customary set up of the story and establishing the character dynamics and relationships, the movie comes to the subject in hand at the earliest without much ado. A comet is coming into the orbit of the earth which is going to wreak havoc in many ways.
It is not unusual for comets to threat the human earth but here in the film, the ramifications will be vast in scope. For the 9 days, it's in the vicinity of earth, there will be no modern communication possible. Imagine there is no connected world as we got used to in the last one decade. You can't communicate via cellular phones. There won't be any power supply. All you have for entertainment is getting yourself accustomed to mother nature. Live like our ancestors did a century and a half ago.
But those 9 days will play a major role in the evolution of the relationship between our protagonist Albert Lewis and his son Adam. Adam is a precocious child. But Adam faces a severe and near irreversible danger. It is on the shoulders of Albert to save the kid who has intelligence that belies his age (7 years).
The genuine surprise for the scientist protagonist comes when this phenomenon was all predicted by a tribe near the Himalayas where he goes with his son to have a clearer view to observe. How Albert and Adam cope with all this and how the world and humans turn out post-the catastrophe form the rest of this film.

Writing and direction
At times horror, at times thriller. A science fiction film of the highest class. Surprised? Yes. Not just the common audience, even the genuinely informed reviewers and audience have surprise after surprise in store with this audacious creation of Jenuse Mohammed. This reviewer's head reels thinking how this young filmmaker all of one film old convinced a star like Prithviraj (though he is known for going off the beaten path) to not just act but to produce this on such a lavish scale.

The writing is brilliant and the making takes the cake. The visuals are frighteningly gorgeous. The frames are set immaculately. The vision he has shown in certain scenes is fear-inducing even for seasoned directors. Don't nitpick the smaller lapses. Even films like Titanic and The Dark Knight have their goof ups. Just think about this film with an open mind. How! How can such a film be made? Well, you'll get the answers once you watch it in the theatres. The direction is flawless. But just don't give a thought about the filmmaking. Just follow the visuals and dive into the world created by Jenuse.

The performances
Prithviraj has played a role that is tailor-made for him. Though not exactly a scientist (astrophysicist), but we have seen playing protagonists in various thrillers with similar shades as far back as Anandabhadram. But he delivered a powerful performance and became part of the vision of the director. He left all the inhibitions in thin air and unleashed the character like it should be on the screen. Kudos! The boy, Master Alok, who played Adam walked through the character. A fantastic film to be part of for the young actor.

Next mention should be given to Wamiqa Gabbi. The talented actress has done a great job in her limited role but do we need to see her speaking Hindi in Malayalam accent (please, with such a production budget, the makers could have hired a proper dubbing artist) for a Punjabi character? All right! leaving that aside, Mamta Mohandas added value to the film with seasoned performance. Prakash Raj is another asset. We have gotten used to him playing the same roles on and on again these days and delivering the same performance again and again. Here is a refreshing change.

The crew
The music of the film, especially the background score is stunning. We have seen the glimpses of brilliance in the trailer itself with the sounds reaching the peak by the end of it, and in the film, we experience the magic. (Reviewer: Do watch this film with a proper sound system to enjoy it better). The visuals are already talked about. Abinandhan Ramanujam should be given abhinandans (congratulations, pun intended) for his great work. Masterful use of the camera. The Editing is first rate with not a single dull or unnecessary moment.

The production scale is grand and is beyond anything we have seen in Malayalam Cinema. Just based on the production values we can say 9 represents South Indian Cinema at its best. A top job by Prithviraj for his maiden production as a solo producer. The script and the scale and scope of the film impressed Sony so much so that they came out to distribute the film. A first for regional South Indian film. Truly watershed moment for Mollywood. The art department has done a superior job to many higher budget films than this.

Finally
9 is not an ordinary film in any conventional way. An original premise backed by audacious vision. Some top-notch performances and world-class work by the crew. Don't rant about the hits and misses or search for the answers the director has left without commenting upon. Just watch it and interpret in your own way. We can't get such films not even once in a generation. Now is our chance to proudly show Malayalam Cinema at its best. Grab the chance when the time is right. WATCH IT!

Positives

• Production scale
• Original story and premise
• Thrilling narration
• Prithviraj and Master Alok's performances
• World-class visuals and sound design

Negatives

• Don't nitpick

Pycker Rating: 3.75 / 5

 

NINE MOVIE REVIEW - TIMES OF INDIA
Deepa Antony, TNN, Updated: Feb 7, 2019, 03.28 PM IST

Nine Story: As the world prepares to survive a global astronomical event triggering myths and superstition, Albert Lewis, an Astrophysicist, finds that his personal life is threatened by powers beyond his comprehension. Will he be able to save his son Adam before it's too late?

Nine Review: Arguably the first science fiction in Malayalam, Nine is also psychological suspense thriller. With this film, Jenuse Mohamed stretches and tests the limits of either of these genres. And it is safe to say that he is largely successful.

The story is of the nine days during which a red comet passes over Earth, resulting in the entire humanity losing electricity. But soon, supernatural powers are at play and threaten to destroy Adam. Nine is the story of Adam's father Albert Lewis' struggle to save him.

Nine has a tough story to sell. One with a scientific overlay and yet a mystical weave and then a psychological spin in all of it . Whether Jenuse Mohammed sells his story is for each viewer to decide. But he definitely makes a compelling case, and a daring attempt at it. The film has a sound technical backing and it shows. Even everything from the well-crafted background score by Sekhar Menon, to the crisp cinematography by Abinandhan Ramanujam holds your attention into the film, not slipping once, only adding to the allure of the narrative. Wamiqa Gabbi as Ava and Master Alok as Adam are especially good as their respective characters. One wishes if only Wamiqa's character was more layered and had a reasonable ground to stand on. Also, why should Wamiqa, a Punjabi, speak Hindi with a Malayalam influence!

Prithviraj Sukumaran is in his comfort zone as the astrophysicist Albert Lewis. We've seen him play strikingly similar roles, if not exactly as a man of science, at least as a reserved yet affectionate father, in Adam Joan and Ezra.

However, for all the mystery Nine raises, it doesn't answer all of it. There are still too many questions left with few or no answers! Having spent an odd two plus hours in a theatre with such well built mystery and suspense, one can't help but be disappointed at the lack of certain answers at the end.

Nine is technically a well-made textbook thriller, nothing like anything that has ever been attempted in Malayalam before. Except for the huge scientific backdrop and an air of supernatural built around it, the story is one that we've watched Prithviraj perform time and again. But nevertheless, watch it if you like the thrill of sitting at the edge of your seat with an adrenaline rush running down your spine.

Critic's Rating:
3.5/5

 

Jenuse Mohamed’s 9 - Movie is one of its kind which churns multiple genres for a scintillating experience. Nine opens an scientific account, travels rough through supernatural and horror elements while sneaking into psychological genre – it’s an unique opportunity achieved skilfully. While Prithviraj Sukumaran and Sony Pictures debuts in Malayalam as Producers, the end product is satisfying than expected.
Albert’s name is derived from Scientist Albert Einstein while Adam recalls creation of god, it’s an interesting subtext to derive which states the ruddy colour of human skin posed against biblical creation. Jenuse Mohamed skilfully mounts unpredictability of two: nature and human nature, its amalgamation closely resembles experiencing navarasas: the nine emotions. There’s a sublime beauty in Nine, the navarasas – each standing on its own despite being unanswered and unattended. It reaps the human psyche over an astronomical phenomenon, as it resonates an epilogue for the unpredictable nature!