ANOMIE Review: A Brilliant Concept Trapped Inside Its Own Hesitation.
A Review by Aaliya Ansar
RELEASE DATE: 06/02/2026
LANGUAGE: Malayalam
DURATION: 2hours 32minutes
DIRECTOR: Riyas Marath
GENRE: Sci-Fi/ Triller
Positives:
1: Unique Concept
2: VFX
3: Detailed Research
4: Performance of actors
5: Climax
6: Cinematography
7: Colour grading
Negatives:
1: Underutilization
2: Pacing
3: Imbalance
4: Repetitive emotional balance
5: Thriller Elements Lack Urgency
5: Inconsistent
Story
Anomie’s cramped apartment setting in Kochi beautifully portrays two very different ways of dealing with the tragedy that has befallen their lives. While Zaara seeks to move forward by stepping out into the world, riding her bike every day, Ziyaan does exactly the opposite, stuck in a cycle of medication he cannot escape.
New gears are turned in the plot as it is revealed that Ziyaan died due to suicide. However, as the news sinks in, one realizes that things just do not add up. What began as a character study of the grieved family gradually transitions into a mystery novel as Zaara starts to explore the untapped angles of her brother’s life.
In parallel with this, we are also introduced to Jibran, a cop also haunted by a case he could never close. During the investigation of Ziyaan’s death, Jibran senses that this was not a tragedy by chance, as the action unfolds in a palpable and heavy tension, skipping the fast-paced action scenes in the film.
REVIEW & ANALYSIS OF THE FILM:
Anomie: The Equation of Death is an entry into the world of psychological thrillers, but Anomie does so rather patiently—and when one watches this film, often in a manner that suggests the filmmakers believe the audience has an equal reservoir to draw on. Anomie is a film set within a confined apartment in Kochi, where the atmosphere is slowly constructed in a state of silence, stillness, and emotional weight. While the filmmaker does a wonderful job of setting the atmosphere, there are times when the stillness stretches to a degree where the audience might think the film is not just being serious, but is actually meditating.
The performances are also among the strongest aspects of the film. The character of Ziyaan convincingly portrays the ideas of unresolved tragedy and emotional breakdowns. He delivers a performance that seems to be internalized and subdued, which works well in this film. Zaara is the emotional contrast to Ziyaan’s character, portraying the ideas of movement and the attempt to keep a semblance of normalcy in the midst of tragedy. Jibran’s character brings in the investigative aspect of the film, which creates an element of surprise and intrigue, and also carries emotional scars, since, as any rational individual would tell you, emotional well-being is not something this film is concerned with portraying in any of its characters.
From a directional standpoint, Riyas Marath has a very defined artistic vision, which is more heavily aligned with a storytelling sense of mood rather than the conventional elements associated with a thriller narrative. He does make great use of the apartment setting to effectively create a sense of claustrophobia within the narrative, much in the same way that the characters are confined to their own sanity throughout the story. At times, the direction feels almost too confident in its approach to pacing, particularly in a slow-burn sense, to the point where some scenes drag on well beyond the need for the story to progress them, making the viewing experience feel almost an endurance effort on the viewer rather than an immersion experience.
The change in genre from psychological drama to thriller is managed well, but the movie does seem a little undecided as far as the genre is concerned. The mystery is certainly revealed at a good pace, and the emotional content is well developed. However, in terms of the thriller genre, the movie could have shown a little more urgency and determination in some scenes related to the investigation. The movie does seem more keen on maintaining the atmosphere than in building narrative tension. Overall, a great work of craftsmanship that could have had a little more movement in terms of the narrative.
The level of concern with emotional depth and exploration of the mind is significant in the screenplay of Anomie, as it enhances the plot through the mood, behavior, and inner conflict of the characters instead of adhering to the plot progression method. The screenplay wonderfully explores the coping strategies of the characters, especially through the emotional detachment of the characters, Zaara, and Ziyaan. In general, the dialogues are quite natural and subtle, refraining from dramatization unnecessarily.At the same time, the screenplay also suffers from a measure of narrative clarity. While the emotional layers are well developed, there are times when the screenplay circles around the same emotions without moving the story forward. Accordingly, the investigative aspects offer the intrigue needed, yet there are times when the screenplay is hesitant to further develop the thriller potential of the work. As a result, the narrative feels like it is being stretched instead of expanded for the film.The film clearly wants to be a work of atmosphere and introspection, but this is at the expense of pacing and clarity within the work itself.
The cinematography excels in playing on the use of closed spaces, dim lighting, and deliberately posed shots to bring forth the emotional numbness of the two main characters, bringing the Kochi apartment to a kind of witness role in the psychological meltdown that follows. The use of natural lighting, particularly the morning light, helps imbue the story with some sense of realism and provides a beautiful contrast between the bleakness and the emotional numbness. The stark contrast in Zaara’s outdoorsy movements and the closed-quarters existence that is imposed upon Ziyaan does manage to effectively convey the psychological state of the two leads without resorting to unnecessary dialogue sequences. The film’s focus on static poses and deliberately posed movements does, however, feel to be just a shade too committed, as if the film is determined to sit and ponder the meaning of life a little longer than the viewer is comfortable watching. Even as it does feel to be just slightly too indulgent in the stillness, the cinematography is one of the film’s undeniable strengths and manages to pull the viewer effectively into the heavy emotional landscape that the film presents.
The pacing of the edits is faithful to the philosophy behind a slow burn, where narrative interest takes a strict backseat to emotional continuity. The cuts are seamless, almost invisible, allowing scenes to bleed into one another with a calmness that’s simply impressive, as if the editor were of a mind that time was merely a social construct. There are some emotional scenes that are given as much space as they need, sometimes so much that they feel as though they’ve fetched a long-term apartment in the narrative. Though these scenes do allow the performances and emotions to land, they’re so drawn out that some sequences feel as though the film is less progressing narrative than simply politely taking a break to admire its mood.The investigation scenes, which should almost certainly inject more momentum, are cut at a similar level of restraint as if suspense itself was requested to slow down and take a moment to reflect upon life choices. Perhaps a slightly tighter approach in cutting could have raised the suspense considerably and spiked the structure of the narrative approach. However, the film continues to indulge in this pacing at admirable consistency. Though overindulgent at times in these long scenes of lingering, the editing does approach a level of tonal consistency and support for the psychological nature of the work well, even if the approach it takes feels to be done so emotionally.
The background music and the score in Anomie are minimalist, opting for understatement rather than dramatic presentation. Rather than constantly directing the audience’s emotions, the film’s soundtrack is quiet in the background, giving space to the role of silence, too, in the betterment of the psychological themes of the film, as the minimalist sound design effectively complements the emotional detachment of the characters in the story. The film does not utilize unduly loud music, which suits the film’s overall understated themes.However, at some points, the background score realistically appears to be too apprehensive, afraid to take the bold step and leave an emotional mark. While this approach has benefited some scenes, there are moments, especially during the mystery-packed scenes, where a bit of emphasis could have helped the overall tension build-up from its music perspective. The background score continues to remain fitting to the overall mood and tone of the scenes, without crossing that edge to make it stand out and define the scenes away from its emotional support status.
Despite all these limitations, the movie has managed to deliver an experience that is haunting and full of depth. This is, however, not intended to be a thriller movie, and the pace and story also convey a sense of psychological and emotional exploration. While the movie can be appreciated from an intellectual point of view, especially to fans of slow movies, the common viewer might end up appreciating the movie but not necessarily getting full entertainment out of it.
SO WHAT’S HOT:
1: Brilliant & Unique Concept
The movie takes the risk of exploring new cinematic territories by offering a scientific concept that feels distinct from the norm established in most thrillers. It is liberating to see a movie that prefers to bank on research and logic instead of dramatic cliches.
2: Detailed Research & Conceptual Depth
The amount of work that has gone into developing the scientific and psychological basis of the story is evident. There is confidence demonstrated in presenting its ideas in an organized and believable fashion.
3:Decent VFX Execution
The film succeeds in achieving this effect properly, and this shows that they really wanted to implement what they said they would in interviews instead of leaving it as a several-interview-later promise.
SO WHAT DIDN’T WORK OUT:
1: Underutilized Scale of the Concept
The movie poses a concept that has tremendous storytelling potential, but instead of delving deeper into the idea, the story navigates the concept with the same care an individual might take when holding a cup of coffee on a crowded bus. The scope is enormous, yet the story wanted to remain comfortably small, in a sense that seems afraid the ambition might get too ambitious itself.
2:Delayed Conceptual Payoff
A lot of the scientific and thematic brilliance is saved until the very end, which creates the feeling that the film was holding back the good stuff, or at least, it was the surprise gift—but just as you’re about to leave the party, that gift is presented in the final five minutes. The revelations made in the film may be interesting, but it is a slightly uneven feel thanks to the information dump towards the end.
3: Inconsistent Narrative Momentum
The slow pace initially evokes curiosity, but the movie eventually develops a rhythm that is less like telling a story and more like taking a long, reflective breath. Some scenes are extended to such a leisurely place that they seem to be competing for emotional awards.
4:Overdependence on Mood Over Plot Progression
The film is very committed to the tone, sometimes to the point where the plot appears to take a backseat, as if the film is more concerned with ensuring that the mood is kept rather than the plot progressing into something of substance.
5: Thriller Elements Lack Urgency
Despite wearing the tag of a mystery thriller, the investigation sequences unwind with admirable calmness, as if suspense itself was told to keep its emotions in check. The tension builds up gradually and seldom reaches a level that really grips the audience.
6. Missed Opportunity for Experiential Storytelling
The prospect promises sufficient power to construct both a visually and ideologically expansive cinematic experience, yet the film settles on revealing larger themes only in brief flashes. The experience is akin to being offered a peek at a great scientific experiment through a slightly ajar door.
7. Repetitive Emotional Beats
The movie revisits the same emotional content again and again, almost as if to say, “Just in case you forget, everyone is still sad.” While thematic consistency is maintained, revisiting emotional content slightly detracts from the novelty of the journey itself.
CONCLUSION:
The movie deserves genuine appreciation for its visionary thinking and for finally moving out of the conventional storytelling comfort zone. The concept itself feels fresh, with notable effort in detailed research, especially an attempt to present its idea through a scientific and logical backdrop rather than relying on cinematic exaggeration. Though it sounds pretty intelligent, the attempt to introduce a relatively new narrative approach is commendable, with clear confidence provided by the makers to travel with complex themes. Technically, the film also needs some appreciation for convincingly executing the visual effects, which prove that the creative vision was not just written on paper but was practically detailed with decent technical support.
However, while it presents an interesting idea, it often seems to be holding its own potential with surprising reservation. There is scope for expansion in the story that would have allowed for this interesting concept to be explored on a grander, more immersive level, but it seems determined to keep all this potential locked away politely. There is room for the scientific and conceptual content to be explored, which it does gradually before heavily focusing on it for the climax, as if the film realized it has some strong ideas to include before the credits roll.
This film, without a question, excels in creating a sensation around a new and different premise and offers wonderful glimpses of artistic brilliance, but it also leaves the viewer with the nagging feeling that the entire experience could have been much more if the ideas had been further developed and explored throughout the film instead of saving them for the very last stretch, which ends the film with an intellectually stimulating yet somewhat dissatisfying feeling, as if promising a grand revelation in the world of science and still having to sit through the entire lecture to get to it.
Final Verdict
The film is a bold attempt at a psychological drama that incorporates scientific and investigative aspects, accompanied by good performances and thoughtfulness in the technical aspects of filmmaking. The film offers a new and interesting concept, well-researched and well-intentioned in terms of creative brainstorming. However, the film could have delved deeper into the potential it offered and was saved for the latter parts of the film, with a slightly slower pace and repetitive moments slightly affecting the otherwise good film.Recommended for those who enjoy slow-paced, mood-driven psychological thrillers, this film might seem a bit slow and restrained for those expecting it to be fast-paced and thrilling.
Rating: 3/5
A Review by Aaliya Ansar
