At the center of Nellikkampoyil, the village that lends its name to Noufal Abdullah’s debut feature, stands a well-appointed library. Yet, throughout the movie, none of the characters are ever seen reaching for a book or even glancing at the shelves. They exist merely as background props, much like the film’s central conceit. Ironically, nearly every villager is portrayed as deeply superstitious, harboring a host of irrational fears.
Shyam (Mathew Thomas), our protagonist, secretly dreads the dark but tries to maintain a brave facade for his girlfriend (Meenakshi Unnikrishnan), whom he has convinced of his fearlessness. His anxieties intensify with the arrival of a mysterious, masked figure sporting horse legs, further complicating his already troubled romantic life. With the help of his trusted friends, Sarath Sabha and Roshan Shanavas, Shyam reluctantly takes on the task of confronting this enigmatic entity.
For his first foray into direction, seasoned editor Noufal Abdullah ventures into the horror-comedy genre—a space where Malayalam cinema has recently seen hits like Romancham. However, Nellikkampoyil Night Riders struggles significantly. The fusion of horror and comedy feels forced, failing to generate either genuine scares or much-needed laughter. Screenwriters M. Jyothish and A.V. Sunu, who previously co-wrote the enjoyable romantic comedy Pranaya Vilasam, seem off their game here, offering little in the way of fresh storytelling.
Film Information: Nellikkampoyil Night Riders (Malayalam)
- Director: Noufal Abdullah
- Cast: Mathew Thomas, Meenakshi Unnikrishnan, Sarath Sabha, Roshan Shanavas, Merin Philip, Rony David
- Runtime: 125 minutes
- Storyline: In a village gripped by superstition, Shyam and his friends confront a mysterious, horse-legged figure that terrorizes the nights.
Both the central romance and the appearance of the mysterious figure feel decidedly dated. The only glimmer of interest comes from the protagonist’s attempts to conquer his fears, but even this is undermined by a poorly developed backstory and repetitive encounters with a ghost comically insistent on offering him a morsel of rice—a recurring gag that leans more towards unintentional humor than effective horror.
The ultimate disappointment arrives with the revelation that the horse-legged figure’s mystery has no significant connection to the village itself. Any watchable moments are largely due to the efforts of Roshan Shanavas and Sarath Sabha, who inject much-needed energy into an otherwise flat and uninspired screenplay.
When a film’s horror elements are laughable and its comedic attempts fall flat, it’s clear the creative vision has gone astray. Nellikkampoyil Night Riders offers little to remember and is ultimately an easily forgettable cinematic experience.
‘Nellikkampoyil Night Riders’ is currently screening in cinemas.