Churuli, now streaming on OTT platform Sony LIV, is critically-acclaimed director Lijo Jose Pellissery’s new directorial work. The much-awaited film finally reached an eager and expectant audience after a wait of almost a year. It is easy to think the delay in release reeks of a theatrical release until we hear about the direct OTT release. Just 10 minutes into the movie and you will understand why the freedom of a streaming platform is perfect for this film—Churuli simply deserves to be showcased raw with expletives to get immersed in the world.

The story of Churuli revolves around two undercover policemen who have set out to catch an infamous and particularly hard to catch criminal and fugitive Mayiladuparambil Joy. In their quest, the duo enter the mysterious village Churuli, rife with a mind-boggling duality in each inhabitant. How the mufti cops get lost in the labyrinthine village, losing the sense of time, forms the crux of the film.

Touted to be a Sci-Fi thriller, Churuli sees Chemban Vinod Jose, Vinay Fort, and Joju George in pivotal roles. However, Joju’s character doesn’t show up in the movie until the fag end of the movie, around the time the movie picks up its pace after a relatively drawn out first and second half. In all its glory, Churuli has all the ingredients that make up a Lijo Jose Pellissery movie: non-linear storytelling, long takes, malevolence and rough masculinity, and an immersive environment.

With splendid art direction by Gokuldas and riveting cinematography by Madhu Neelakandan, Churuli manages to take you into the small and mysterious village and its enchanting forests. When coupled with Sreerag Saji’s haunting score that manages to turn even a sequence as benign as laughing malicious, you get certain scenes that leave you in the anticipation of what follows next. The first few minutes of the film with the voiceover about Churuli’s legendary tale of a phantom and a Brahmin hunting him sets the tone for the film, leaving you to wonder who the devious phantom could be.

The cast itself becomes a crown jewel for the movie as each actor immerses himself or herself in their respective characters. Chemban Vinod as Anthony and Vinay Fort as Shajivan were just as convincing as the rest of the cast. Together, they showcase the malicious duality that the Churuli village embodies in the film.

For all its glorious visuals and world-building, Churuli severely lacks what a good thriller requires—a tight screenplay and a sensible story. In a quest to create the perfect atmosphere of a rather xenophobic small village, Pellissery and Jallikattu fame, S Hareesh have created a film that feels drawn out in most of its sequences with conversations and sequences that could have been clipped. The result is a slow-moving film despite its 114 minute-run with one of its pivotal characters entering only in the concluding moments of the film.

To further dampen the effects a movie like Churuli could have had on the audience, we have a lack of clarity in the story. While Pellissery is known for his ambiguous climaxes and storytelling, this film takes the cake in ambiguity. The vagueness is further heightened (perhaps intentionally) with trippy visuals.

Churuli has stunning visuals and a haunting score, both of which pull you into the atmosphere of the village, as is Pellissery’s style. While being one of the most awaited movies, will it meet your expectations? Well, if you love a nice artsy and immersive thriller regardless of the story, you are in for a treat.