Cold Storage Malayalam Movie
With a title as 'Cold Storage' and with a few bloodied finger prints splashed liberally all over the posters, one shouldn't really be blamed to expect the film to turn out to be a taut thriller. And to be fair to the makers, I should say that the 'cold' part of the title is maintained to the hilt.
So here is this young woman Anu (Jafeena) who shares a flat with her sister-mentor Sathi in Chennai. Originally hailing from Kerala, Anu is in love with Arun (Basil), who decides to head over to her place to meet her mother. Quite coincidentally Sathi too leaves for her home, leaving Anu all alone at her apartment.
In walk three men into her flat, and 'Cold Storage' goes off on a different tangent from this point onwards. Looks like Anu has qquite a story to tell, and if you have the ears and plenty of patience, you might enjoy what the 'Cold Storage' has stacked up its dark, icy chambers.
With plenty of Hollywood films that have dealth with similar icy themes, it wouldn't be much astounding if 'Cold Storage' does not throw any huge shocks right on your face. After much dillying and plenty of dallying later it unveils a twist that is expected to stun you. Whether it does, would depend on how cinematic you have trained your senses to be.
Here is a film that is mostly shot indoors, with very few scenes outside the flat. The narrative seems to begin and end within the confines of the apartment walls, and if you are one of those claustrophobic types, you better be all set to feel a bit edgy.
'Cold Storage' is a revenge tale all right, and the narrative needs to have that extra bit in it, if it is to turn out real electrifying. Unfortunately that is not the case with the film, and things move from fast to slow to very slow to meandering, lessening the impact all the while, and transforming the film into a routine account of vengeance sought.
What makes this movie distinctly dissimilar to the other movies that have hit the screens in recent times is that it centers around a woman protagonist and depends largely on characterization to move the account forward. For sure, it's a bold attempt that needs to be appreciated, though the ultimate result is one that leaves mixed feelings in your mind.
A bit more of a propulsive plotting could have made all the difference to 'Cold Storage'. A few interesting ideas could have been wedged with the set pieces of character then, pumping more life and blood into the happenings.
I have a very special word of appreciation for Jafeena, who has done the role of the protagonist. The men however, have no earth shattering roles, and Basil does what is basically required of him. The other youngsters put in their little bits as well.
'Cold Storage' is less of a bad and more of a disappointing movie. It's disappointing because it could have been much, much better, and could have turned out to be a dark, disturbing thriller, had it not been beleaguered by a dawdling script.
