Mirage Movie Review: Jeethu Joseph Thriller Fails to Deliver Twists and Thrills

Mirage Movie Review: Jeethu Joseph Thriller Lost in Weak Writing and Overused Twists

Jeethu Joseph, renowned for thrillers like Memories, Drishyam, and 12th Man, returns with Mirage, starring Asif Ali and Aparna Balamurali. Unfortunately, the film struggles to live up to his earlier work, succumbing to weak writing, shallow characters, and overindulgent twists that fail to engage.

Plot

Mirage revolves around Abhirami (Aparna Balamurali), whose fiancé Kiran is suspected to have died in a train accident. She becomes the center of a high-stakes chase involving a missing hard disk containing sensitive data. Alongside her friend Rithika (Hannah Reji Koshy), she must navigate threats from a cop, a goon, and an investigative journalist Ashwin (Asif Ali). While the premise offers potential for a taut thriller, the execution is muddled. The story’s twists arrive late and feel forced, leaving viewers disengaged rather than on the edge of their seats.

Performances

Asif Ali delivers a restrained performance as Ashwin, but his character lacks depth and development until the final sequences. Aparna Balamurali handles the emotional moments competently, but Abhirami’s character is underwritten and inconsistent. Supporting actors, including Hannah Reji Koshy, Sampath Raj, and Hakim Shahjahan, perform adequately but cannot elevate the film beyond its script limitations.

Direction and Screenplay

Joseph’s direction, typically his strongest asset, falters here. The screenplay relies excessively on dialogue to convey plot points, often “telling” instead of “showing,” which diminishes suspense. Scenes meant to thrill or surprise the audience feel predictable due to poor pacing and overused plot twists. The narrative is cluttered, and the non-linear storytelling fails to add clarity or depth.

Cinematography and Technical Aspects

Satheesh Kurup’s cinematography is competent but uninspired, often relying on odd angles that fail to enhance tension. Vishnu Shyam’s music is serviceable but fails to heighten suspense or emotional impact. Editing and pacing issues exacerbate the film’s sluggish narrative, making the 150-minute runtime feel longer than necessary.

Strengths

• Aparna Balamurali’s intense moments and emotional expressions stand out.
• Occasional suspenseful sequences hint at Jeethu Joseph’s skill in crafting thrillers.
• Certain dialogues are sharp and momentarily engaging.

Weaknesses

• Overabundance of twists that feel forced and unearned.
• Shallow and inconsistent character development.
• Dialogue-heavy scenes that kill visual storytelling.
• Action sequences and suspense lack impact.
• Technical elements (cinematography, music) fail to enhance the narrative.

Verdict

Mirage had the potential to be a gripping thriller, but weak writing, poor characterisation, and unnecessary twists make it one of Jeethu Joseph’s weaker outings. Fans of the director may find moments of interest, but for most audiences, the film fails to deliver suspense, engagement, or emotional resonance.

Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ ★