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| "A thumbnail for a movie review of the film 'Mirage,' a crime thriller by Jeethu Joseph. The image features a man in a suit standing in a rainy alley, with the review title, a smaller portrait, the critical headline 'Lacks His Signature Spark,' and a rating of 2.5/5." |
Jeethu Joseph, the acclaimed filmmaker behind Drishyam and Drishyam 2, is known for his mastery of layered thrillers that balance suspense, emotional depth, and sharp storytelling. With Mirage, expectations were naturally high. The film promised an intricate web of mystery, deception, and unexpected revelations. However, despite its potential, Mirage struggles to maintain the grip and finesse that define Joseph’s best works, resulting in a thriller that is watchable but far from memorable.
Twists Without TensionTimesofindia
One of Jeethu Joseph’s trademarks is his ability to weave twists seamlessly into the narrative, making them feel both shocking and inevitable. In Mirage, however, the twists often feel forced. Instead of unfolding organically, many revelations arrive abruptly, almost like bullet points being ticked off.
The final twist does manage to surprise, but the journey leading up to it feels unnecessarily stretched. Several plot points lack proper foreshadowing, while others are too predictable, robbing them of their intended impact. The layering of the narrative resembles peeling an onion—each revelation exposes another, but at the core, there is little substance.
Unlike Drishyam, where tension builds steadily and every detail matters, Mirage struggles to sustain suspense. The lack of emotional buildup makes the story less engaging than it should have been.
Storyline
The film follows Abhirami (Aparna Balamurali), a financial consultant whose life spirals out of control when her fiancé Kiran suddenly goes missing and is later declared dead. Soon, Abhirami discovers that Kiran had been hiding a hard disk containing sensitive information, making her a target for multiple people with conflicting motives.
On paper, this setup has all the ingredients of a gripping survival thriller. However, the execution falters. The pacing drags, and the narrative loses urgency. Instead of a tense, edge-of-the-seat experience, the film meanders, diluting the stakes and emotional connection.
Performances
- Aparna Balamurali (Abhirami): Brings believability in certain moments but falters in key emotional scenes. Her reactions often lack the intensity required to make the audience empathize with her struggles.
- Asif Ali (Aswin): Underutilized in the first half, though he gets more screen time later. Unfortunately, even in pivotal moments, his dialogues—especially generic English lines—dilute the impact of major revelations.
- Supporting Cast: Hannah Reji Koshy, Hakkim Shah, Deepak Parambol, and Sampath add weight to the ensemble but are given limited scope. Their characters feel underdeveloped, leaving little lasting impression.
One of the most jarring moments comes when a character admits to killing the very person who once saved their life. This could have been a powerful, emotionally charged scene, but flat dialogue and awkward delivery undermine its impact.
Where the Film Falters
- Weak Setup: After a promising first 10 minutes, the film struggles to sustain momentum.
- Lack of Emotional Connection: The characters remain distant, making it difficult for the audience to care about their fates.
- Pacing Issues: The runtime feels stretched, with long sequences that add little to the suspense.
- Late Recovery: The narrative regains some energy in its final five minutes, but by then, it feels too late to salvage the overall experience.
Jeethu Joseph’s strength lies in creating tension through atmosphere and character-driven stakes. In Mirage, both elements are undercooked, leaving the film feeling hollow despite its twists.
Comparison with Jeethu Joseph’s Previous Works
- In Drishyam, every twist was meticulously foreshadowed, making the final reveal both shocking and satisfying.
- In Drishyam 2, Joseph balanced suspense with emotional depth, ensuring the audience remained invested in the characters.
- Mirage, by contrast, feels like an imitation of Joseph’s own style—layered on the surface but lacking the emotional and narrative sharpness that made his earlier films unforgettable.
Final Verdict
Mirage is not without moments of intrigue, but it never reaches the sharpness or emotional depth one expects from Jeethu Joseph. The final twist may catch viewers off guard, yet the journey to get there feels like a test of patience.
At best, Mirage is a watchable but forgettable crime thriller—a reminder that even a master storyteller can occasionally miss his mark.
Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐