Tovino Thomas stars as the protagonist of writer-director duo Akhil Paul and Anas Khan's procedural Forensic. Also starring Mamta Mohandas, Reba Monica John, Saiju Kurup, Prathap Pothen in important roles, the thriller is produced by Juvis Productions.
As inspector Rithika (Mamta Mohandas) investigates a case involving the serial murders of young girls, she receives assistance from forensic experts Samuel (Tovino Thomas) and Shika (Reba Monica John). Sam's expertise leads to shocking clues as he unravels the identity of the perpetrator.
Another surprising aspect of Forensic is the possibility of the murderer being a child. The narrative also shows a tragedy that haunts Rithika, which led to the failed marriage between her and Xavier (Saiju Kurup), who happens to be Sam's elder brother.
Right from the word go, the film places Sam a few notches above your regular forensic analyst. He is a clever detective, capable of solving crimes within a fraction. Forensic may start on a shaky note, but the screenplay gathers clues at unexpected places. The screenplay is functional in a fairly effective manner.
Sam's detective abilities help the cause of the case, as he can deduct the minute details of every evidence, something that cannot be seen by Rithika and her team. For instance, take the scene where Sam and Shika unravel a clue that leads to the criminal's identity. But the clash of opinions between Rithika and Sam feels unnecessary.
The second half builds on the momentum created by the interval twist, but the narrative introduces a lot of clues at a rapid fashion. As the second half gets overstuffed with clues, the third act is revealed through a series of monologues. The film could have written its antagonist with more depth.
Despite having a solid premise and interesting twists in the screenplay, the technical values of Forensic rarely complement the script. The film required better filmmaking, as the film rarely tries to create a mood that suits the proceedings. The music, by Jakes Bejoy, feels loud and tries too hard to evoke chills.
Minor shortcomings aside, Forensic is a worthy outing that keeps you invested with the fast-paced and focused screenplay that mildly compensates the flaws in its presentation