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The Movie is about Luke Anthony who has a mysterious past and is out on a mission to seek revenge from someone who has destroyed him deeply The Movie is about Luke Anthony who has a mysterious past and is out on a mission to seek revenge from someone who has destroyed him deeply The Movie is about Luke Anthony who has a mysterious past and is out on a mission to seek revenge from someone who has destroyed him deeply

• Nissam Basheer
• Sameer Abdul
• Grace Antony
• 60 User reviews
• 7 Critic reviews
• 1 nomination

• Luke Antony

• Head Cost. Ashraf

• Seetha Balan

• Dileep Balan

• Sophia Luke

• Sujatha's Mother

• Sujatha's Father

• Satheeshan's Mother
• Rasheed - Robber's Father

• Sainaba - Robber's Mother

• Insp. George

• SI P. Pisharody
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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• Trivia Lead cast Luke (Mammootty) reel surname and his reel wife Sujatha (Grace) real surname are same: Antony.
• Alternate versions The UK release was cut, the distributor chose to make cuts to scenes of strong violence, injury detail and threat in order to obtain a 12A classification. An uncut 15 classification was available.
• Soundtracks In My Arms Written by Sameer Abdul Produced by Midhun Mukundan Performed by Sameer Abdul

User reviews 60

• seljojoseph
• Oct 10, 2022
• How long is Rorschach? Powered by Alexa
• October 7, 2022 (India)
• Official Facebook
• Mammootty Kampany
• Wayfarer Films
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• ₹120,000,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 30 minutes
• Dolby Atmos

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Rorschach movie review: Mammootty’s terrific performance finds a match in Bindu Panicker

Rorschach review: mammootty magnificently embodies the psychological condition of a man with bottomless vengeance..

How can one review a film like Rorschach without spoiling certain aspects of the movie? Screenwriter Sameer Abdul has pieced together such a delicious puzzle in a way that a small revelation could just unravel the whole plot. Wait, no scratch that. Even if I tell you the whole story right now, you would still be surprised by how it all plays out. That’s how twisted and diabolic this film is.

In simple terms, Rorschach is a revenge thriller. But, describing it like that is barely scratching the surface. Director Nissam Basheer and Sameer dig way deeper to reveal the darkest parts of the human psyche. At one point, you feel like is this film ever gonna end? No, you don’t feel that way because the narration is too long or dull. It’s because you will be shocked at the possibilities of how far a human being can go when he’s consumed by vengeance. How does revenge work? In a traditional sense, if somebody hurt you, you hurt them back, call it equal and move on. But, what if even the death of the person, who tormented you, doesn’t end your thirst for vengeance? What if you never want to let your enemy find peace even in his death? What if you are ready to thrust your arms to the depths of hell and pull out the very soul of the person that wronged you and then subject him to more pain and torture? Then, you wonder, if it will ever end.

Mammootty magnificently embodies the psychological condition of a man with bottomless vengeance. Luke Antony (Mammootty) is stuck in his life just like his car, which has crashed into a tree just off the road and remains there, refusing to move. Luke is searching for his missing wife, who we are told is pregnant. She’s gone missing after the car crash. The cops are scratching their heads as they are unable to find the missing woman. And Luke refuses to leave the town without finding her. An otherwise sleepy town is now buzzing with gossip and theories about Luke and his ulterior motives.

Luke is a very difficult character to like. This film puts us in a very tough spot. While we understand Luke’s emotional state, it’s hard to come to terms with everything he does in pursuit of his vengeance. His revenge doesn’t just want to end the life of his enemy but defile every memory that he ever left behind on earth. And he goes to great lengths to achieve it. While he shows shades of goodness, his insidiousness and malevolence are hard to forgive.

Another actor who shines equally, if not more than Mammootty, is Bindu Panicker. Her character transformation is dizzying, especially the final reveal that brings out the main source of this unfathomable pain and suffering is jaw-dropping. Who knew a mother’s love could be such powerful poison?

Composer Midhun Mukundan deserves a special mention as his background score is terrific. The musical cues blend in with every scene and add to the unfolding mystery wonderfully.

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Home » Review » Rorschach movie review: Mammootty’s slick psychological revenge thriller makes for an engaging experience »

Rorschach movie review: Mammootty’s slick psychological revenge thriller makes for an engaging experience

The makers of Mammootty's Rorschach seemed to have made no compromise when it comes to the production values of the film and that helps even when the plot strays a bit, like the mind of its protagonist

• Sanjith Sidhardhan

Last Updated: 08.59 AM, Oct 09, 2022

Story: UK citizen Luke Antony drags himself to the police station in a village and claims that his pregnant wife has been missing after his car met with an accident. What follows is a few weeks of futile search with him being the only person who believes that she is still alive. Luke decides to stay on and his path crosses with another family, whose members might have a connection with his past and his current ordeal, a cop, who is out to seek the truth behind Luke’s presence, and a youngster, who doesn’t believe a word Luke says.

Review: A scene in director Nisam Basheer’s sophomore venture has the protagonist Luke Antony (Mammootty) listening to the plight of a woman, who has to take care of her ailing husband. She complains that her husband had never given her peace after their marriage and continues to push her to the edge. Luke asks her about considering divorce, to which she replies that that was never an option for financially-backward women, who are considered a burden by the families. Luke then suggests why not let him get married to her daughter. In a split second, she entertains this and approaches her daughter, a widow, with the request of a stranger who she has met for the first time. This is probably one of the many dramatic sequences where the writing shines in a movie, which sets the bar high in terms of its storytelling, visuals, sound and performances – all making for a riveting and novel theatrical experience in recent times.

Nisam keeps a tight grip on the proceedings of the film, which begins with a mystery and then slowly reveals its cards. Sure, by the end of the first half, audiences can figure out the why and who in Luke’s past, but it’s about how he goes about his revenge and core purpose that makes it entertaining. The reasons for each action here are about the mind – be it the manipulation within a family, the quest for something more or just lack of control over thoughts. The greatest challenge for the writer, Samir Abdul, and the filmmaker here was to showcase this on screen and also make the audience connect the subtle dots, and Rorschach succeeds this past without a blot or blemish.

Huge credit to this goes to the casting department as well as some superlative performances. Mammootty, as Luke Antony, brings the intensity as well as keeps the mystery behind his purpose alive. It’s a character that needed to be consistent and the star once again shows why he is a master at playing conflicted protagonists. 

Also read: Exclusive! Mammootty’s Rorschach demands the audience’s undivided attention to be engaging: Nisam Basheer  

While a riveting performance is expected from Mammootty every time, the surprise packages in Rorschach are Bindu Panicker, Jagadeesh and Kottayam Nazir. All three veteran actors put on an acting workshop on restrained performances while showing the two ends of the emotional spectrum. Bindu Panicker, in particular, has some great moments. Actors Sharafudheen, Grace Antony and Sanju Sivram do their parts well in taking the story forward. In fact, all the characters in Rorschach are grey – and within that some of them serve as moral compasses.

Considering that Luke, a stranger with a haunted past, is often grappling with his mind and most of his scenes are set inside a house that is half-constructed and half in ruins, the movie is a visual experience. It takes the audience for a ride right from the first scene. Nimish Ravi’s frames are cool and grey, mirroring its deceptive characters and the village. Midhun Mukundan’s English tracks and thrilling background score also adds a different layer to the movie, which stands out due to its tone and compelling storytelling. The makers of the movie seemed to have made no compromise when it comes to the production values of the film and that helps even when the plot strays a bit, like the mind of its protagonist.

Verdict: This year seems to be the megastar’s as he looks set to continue his winning run and that too by being part of new-age thrillers that bank on setting a high benchmark. Rorschach is slick and smart, and is technically superlative. It’s a must watch in theatres just for the unique experience and great performances from each member of the cast.

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Mammootty's Rorschach hits all the right notes, except in the end | Movie Review

Ever since the movie was announced, Rorschach, directed by Kettyolaanente Maalakha -fame Nisam Basheer, had been grabbing headlines. The teaser and posters made it clear that the film is a psychological thriller. Pre-release publicity was centred around the fact that the film was different from the usual formulas used in Mollywood so far.

In that aspect, Rorschach starring Mammootty, has done well playing into the human psyche, slowly and subtly, in ways a normal viewer would seldom imagine. It has found its niche between the paranormal and normal.

The unique style of cinematography is clap-worthy. The English tracks are powerful and in tune with the genre of the film.

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That said, it is the first half that does justice to the entire film. The build-up of the plot is what intrigues the most -- a mystery man arrives in a hilly terrain declaring that his wife has gone missing. He purchases a house that belonged to a dead man. From then on, his intentions are unclear. But that's the beauty of the first half, which says a lot by showing little.

. @RorschachMovie In Cinemas Soon Watch Trailer : https://t.co/uMSpxIrcIs @MKampanyOffl @DQsWayfarerFilm @Truthglobalofcl #Rorschach pic.twitter.com/LbfaLAwlXI — Mammootty (@mammukka) September 11, 2022

The film attains more clarity as we enter the second half. But it also disappoints a little as it starts treading some predictable paths, especially when the intention of the protagonist becomes clear.

The moment when Luke Antony (Mammootty,) comes face to face with his enemy is a defining moment in the film. But that moment loses its sheen when both Luke and the enemy start behaving predictably.

Rorschach is not your regular, run-of-the-mill film, in treatment and style. Hence there is a chance that you might find the climax a tad unsatisfying, though we know the antagonist has achieved his ends. Who gains and who loses in this mental game is for the viewer to decide.

The makers, however, have done justice to the title. Not a very familiar word to the layman till recently, Rorschach is a psychological test used on subjects to identify their personality. In the movie, each incident unravels the psyche of each individual and it is up to the viewer to decide his/her traits.

Mammootty as Luke Antony, once again proves that age is just a number. His movements are swift, the mysterious aura is intact and the dialogues are enough to thrill you till the end. What he has achieved onscreen is pure brilliance.

If Bheeshma Parvam had elevated Mammootty's style, Rorschach has added only to the actor's class. Bindu Panicker, who has been satisfied playing sentimental and humorous characters for a long time now, gets to do exceptionally well in this movie, as a mother and widow of a dead son and husband, respectively. Grace Antony, Sharafudeen, Kottayam Nazeer and Jagadish are also in their element.

The first-look poster of the film showed an intense-looking Luke (Mammootty) staring from beneath the mask with two holes. The mask definitely is prominent and almost even sums up what the film really is. But, overall, it may be overlooked for some obvious reasons.

The film, bankrolled by Mammootty Kampany, is written by Sameer Abdul. Nisam Basheer, who has also worked as assistant director in Parava , proves again that he is an impactful filmmaker.

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Rorschach Movie Review : A layered psychological-philosophical thriller

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Users' Reviews

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

Sanju Pb 89 437 days ago

What a movie

Sunil Nambiar 32 495 days ago

It's out and out copy of Anil kapoor's and Harshwardhan's web series "THAR"....I seriously amused that, no one Talking on that part might be coz, it's in Hindi and Marwari language..!! but This particular malayalam film isn't a novelty thing. It's complate copy...!!

User RAGHU 110 553 days ago

A Mind Bending Nio-noir Psychological Thriller.

Sylent Screamer 627 553 days ago

Amazing movie , Mammoka carry the movie on his shoulder along with all the supporting characters of the movie, the direction , storytelling, camera work and location was worth watching

sahadtp 553 days ago

Its like an foriegn movie there have an improvement in malayalam industry and i like it

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'Rorschach' review: Mammootty's performance only saving grace in a below-average thriller

Nisam Basheer's film is confusing at multiple levels

A strange man comes to a village with a revengeful mind. The basic plot of Mammootty-starrer Rorschach is something that has been explored in world cinema multiple times. But a difference here is that the protagonist’s revenge is towards a dead man.

Rorschach is a confusing movie at multiple levels. It does not really fit completely into the boxes of either a psychological thriller or a horror thriller. There are some supernatural elements in the film. But the narrative did not help this writer to understand whether the presence of those elements can be attributed to the protagonist’s psychiatric issues. In other words, can the protagonist be seen as a person suffering from schizophrenia? The film does not answer it.

What the film’s title has to do with its plot or narrative is another question that came to the mind of this writer after watching the FDFS. Rorschach is a projective psychological test used by some psychologists to examine a subject's personality traits and emotional functioning. This writer failed to capture the connection this test (or the title) has with the storyline.

Mammootty is an actor who is not hesitant to take dark-shaded characters. In Rorschach , his character is literally in the ‘dark’ for almost the entire stretch of the film. There is injudicious use of dark colours. The colour scheme followed by Rorshchach is in such a way that every frame’s colour ends up feeling the same as every other frame.

Directed by Nisam Basheer—whose debut film was the problematic Kettyolaanu Ente Malakha —and written by Sameer Abdul, the scenarist of Iblis and Adventures of Omanakuttan , Rorschach felt like a wasted opportunity. The script offers some interesting characters, but it fails to apply ‘common sense’ at multiple places while exploring their actions and crimes. It leaves multiple loose ends in its narrative.

Even then, the film should be lauded for some fine performances. Mammootty excels as creepy, eerie Luke Antony. Senior artists like Bindu Panickar, Kottayam Nazeer and Jagadeesh also deliver great acting. Grace Antony and Sharafudheen should be appreciated for their controlled performance.

A major issue Rorschach faces is that its narrative does not help the audience to empathise with Luke Antony or the tragedy that he faced in Dubai. It also takes the approach of hiding the antagonist—Dileep— behind a mask, even though there have been multiple close-up shots that reveal who is the actor who played the role of Dileep. The cinematographer and director could have thought of a more imaginative way to portray the antagonist. The film fails to give depth to this particular character, around whom the entire narrative revolves around. It won’t be an overstatement to say that Dileep is one of the badly written characters in the script.

There are some stylised action sequences in the film. It also tries to explore mind games that people play. However, Rorschach lacks the pace demanded by its storyline (this writer had some occasional yawns while watching it). Overall the film was a below-average, boring experience for this writer.

Movie: Rorschach

Director: Nisam Basheer

Cast: Mammootty, Bindu Panickar, Kottayam Nazeer, Grace Antony, Sharafudheen, Jagadeesh

Rating: 2/5

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[Review] ‘Rorschach’ is a Subtle and Engaging Thriller

While Found-Footage is certainly a sub-genre worthy of respect, with quite a few memorable entries over the past few decades, it’s also true that giving any random filmmaker the power to produce his own (usually horror) movie with minimum production requirements is a bit risky. However, this formula has graced us with new gems like Paranormal Activity in the past, and now continues to provide us with unexpected scares through films like C.A. Smith’s Rorschach .

Starring Ricky Lee Barnes and Ross Compton as “Ricky” and “Ross”, a duo of skeptic paranormal investigators, Rorschach chronicles the team’s efforts as they deal with strange occurrences in a seemingly normal suburban home. Contacted by Jamy (Jamy Gillespie), a single mother worried that the paranormal activity in her household may soon harm her daughter Ashlynn, Ricky and Ross begin to document their experiences with the family.

The film is presented to us as the edited collection of all the footage recorded by the investigators, which is both a blessing and a curse. In a way, this allows for clever presentation of the strange events surrounding the house, while still maintaining a high level of credibility (which is one of the strongest aspects of the film). On the other hand, knowing from the start that Ricky and Ross survive to edit and present their footage as a feature film somewhat hinders the hard-earned suspense that permeates the rest of the movie.

Despite this, Rorschach is an incredibly engaging picture that utilizes this extremely believable and realistic premise to its fullest extent. At times, it seems as though the amateurish, documentary-style filmmaking would feel right at home as an episode of one of the many ghost-hunting shows that plague cable television. This even extends to the subtle nature of most of the movie’s scares, which reward viewer patience and attention to detail, while not resorting to traditional jump scares that might ruin Smith’s carefully constructed realism.

Rorschach certainly isn’t for everyone, however, as the film’s deliberate pacing places it closer to movies like Ti West’s The Innkeepers , rather than similar found footage films like Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity franchise. This results in a divisive experience that some moviegoers may find boring instead of immersive. I personally didn’t mind the slower nature of the experience, as piecing together the film’s implied backstory through the many clues and red herrings scattered across the picture was entertaining enough for me.

Ultimately, Rorschach is a remarkable example of low-budget horror done right, as it plays with viewer expectations and presents us with a realistic yet frightening view of the paranormal. The ending might feel slightly unsatisfying to some, as there are no real conclusions, only hints of a larger story going on in the background, but it makes sense within the film’s premise. While I would have liked to see more of the supernatural throughout the story, Rorschach is still one hell of a fun ride if you have the patience to reach the end.

Rorschach will be available for free on Youtube for a limited time, so you can check it out below!

Born Brazilian, raised Canadian, Luiz is a writer and Film student that spends most of his time watching movies and subsequently complaining about them.

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By Siddhant Adlakha

Siddhant Adlakha

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An old photograph captured by Zauberman (captioned “the Belle from Gaza”) and a half-remembered backstory send the filmmaker through a mystery of sorts, to find a rumored trans woman who escaped the militarized confines of Gaza. The exact story of this phantom beauty seems to shift with each new person interviewed — one subject leads to the next in search of the Belle — and whether she exists at all, as a real person or a political fantasy, is frequently in doubt.

One anecdote is especially striking. As an Arab trans woman narrates a hate crime from her youth, she recalls being driven by a lynch mob toward an IDF military checkpoint, which she assumes was so that Israeli soldiers might mistake her for a terrorist and shoot her dead. The onus of this traumatic event is placed on her assailants and their nefarious plan, but the lingering subtext of this story, and the chilling implication of a deadly institutionalized racism, is never broached.

Such political portraits tends to linger in the movie’s background and its darkened spaces, and while they force a closer reading of these otherwise casual interviews, Zauberman’s own examination is seldom inquisitive enough to illuminate these disguised dimensions. Of course, any film set in Israel today dealing with a Palestinian subject is bound to be seen in the context of the ongoing war in Gaza, and the numerous protests against the Israeli government. But even documentaries like this one, filmed many months ago, can function as Rorschach tests for the political temperature as it existed prior to Oct. 7.

However, this requirement from the audience, to project political viewpoints onto pauses and dramatic silences, is where “The Belle of Gaza” most falters as personal inquiry. That its frame is locked so intimately and unflinchingly on the daily routines of trans subjects is, in its own way, a radical act that unveils their inner lives. But their portraits end up flattened by the film’s refusal to remove its blinkers, and probe the defining social fabrics they constantly hint toward, but seem reticent to expand upon for fear of reprisal. Instead, the fills their silences with even more silence.

Reviewed online, May 12, 2024. In Cannes Film Festival (Special Screenings). Running time: 77 MIN. (Original title: "La Belle de Gaza")

• Production: (Documentary – France) A Unité, Phobics presentation of an Arte Francé Cinéma production. (World sales: Pyramide International, Paris.) Producers: Bruno Nahon, Yolande Zauberman.
• Crew: Director, writer: Yolande Zauberman. Camera: Yolande Zauberman. Editors: Rafael Torres Calderón, Léo Richard.
• With: Talleen Abu Hanna, Israela, Nadine, Danielle, Nathalie (Arabic, Hebrew dialogue)

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Rorschach Movie Review: Mammootty captivates in a refreshingly twisted gothic revenge thriller

Rating: ( 4 / 5).

A few months before the release of Rorschach , I had heard little whispers of its plot from a couple of industry insiders. I found the concept interesting, and I was curious not only to see how director Nisam Basheer -- who made his debut with the polarising Kettyolaanu Ente Malakha -- would pull it off but also how Kerala audiences would react to it. Now, I'm not someone who looks at the initial reactions on social media before writing a review -- because I don't want anyone else's opinions colouring my own -- so I'm not aware of others' Rorschach experience. I'm only sure of mine: fulfilling, not only because it tickled the film buff in me that loves an unconventional genre fusion but also because the makers have pulled it off without making it seem too inaccessible. Oh, and I promise not to spill any spoilers.

Director: Nisam Basheer

Cast: Mammootty, Grace Antony, Bindu Panicker, Jagadish, Sharafudheen

What is Rorschach ? Well, many things. Off the top of my head -- part revenge thriller, part gothic ghost story, part dysfunctional family drama, part dark comedy, and part crime noir... I might find more on a revisit. Anyway, it's incredible how all of these elements come well together in Rorschach ; but look beneath the veneer of genre-blending, and we see three different families with ideological and temperamental differences and an astonishing capacity for evil. By the time we get to the finale, most of these characters evolve into people they were not at the story's beginning.

In the opening scene, when Mammootty's Luke Antony walks into a police station and reports being in an accident and his wife missing, we and every character who comes into contact with him believe him. But we'll soon learn there is a much larger story behind it. Luke isn't hasty to tell it, and neither is the film. It wants to go at the same pace as him. It throws at us disparate images that at first glance seem disjointed, but if you're patient and attentive enough -- don't look at the phone and complain later -- everything will begin to make sense. You'll see the significance of some juxtaposition choices or why some scenes were so brief and sparse with the revelation of information.

I mentioned earlier about Rorschach being a portrait of families. The film gives us more information about them than it does about Luke, and I don't mean this in a negative way. The title ' Rorschach ' also makes sense once the end credits roll. Luke was on a mission, but his arrival also brought out the distasteful facets in some individuals. In that sense, its behaviour is similar to that of a Western. You know, the story of that lone mysterious stranger arriving at a small town to shake things up? 

In Rorschach , we learn about a family with a devilish streak running through them for generations. They carry it around like a curse. At one point, a mother declares that her children are her carbon copies and they are capable of everything she is. As this mother, Bindu Panicker gives us a profoundly unsettling performance that eerily recalls Jacki Weaver from the Australian crime drama Animal Kingdom. And there is Jagadish as a quietly functioning police constable whose true intentions, once evident, gives his character a whole new dimension. It takes a while for him to say something, but when he does, he makes you more curious. It's the most impressive I've seen the actor in a long time. 

The film's storytelling, too, reflects the idiosyncratic nature of its protagonist. Rorschach reveals information about Luke in an incremental fashion. Sometimes the film catches us off guard by simultaneously running past and present events from his life. There are films where this approach -- where no title card informs us which event is past or present -- failed miserably, but in Rorschach , it works perfectly. It's a classic case of relying more on visual storytelling than exposition. That said, the film has its share of moments where the characters say things that guide us, but at the same time, the script is careful not to say it all at once and ruin the fun. Just as he does with every character he meets, Luke taunts us until it's time for him to tell us what happened in his life and his plans. 

The only information we know about Luke initially is that something tragic has befallen him. And then we ask: Who is he? How can he fight so well? What's his interest in two particular families? Why does he want to live in a haunted house? Why is he using someone's skull as an ashtray? We get the answers, all in good time, but it also doesn't forget to keep some things open-ended. That's where the fun is, right?

Speaking of fun, for a film about unlikeable characters and tragic events, Rorschach is not overwhelmingly depressing -- at least, not for me. It seems to relish its dark energy and revel in its gothic environment, just like its leading man. And Mammootty plays Luke with a measure of mischief, creepiness, and daring that you begin to remember some moments from Vidheyan , Thaniyavarthanam , Bhoothakkandi , or Munnariyippu .

Cinematographer Nimish Ravi, who has already proved himself adept at working comfortably with dark subjects ( Luca, Kurup ), once again demonstrates his supreme abilities in Rorschach with a work that's remarkably not repetitive. He bathes characters in enough shadows and amber to make them seem like they are Satan's children. Blacks and greys dominate the colour palette, starting with Luke's luxury car. His residence resembles more of a grim mausoleum than a home -- like a sort of 'limbo' in which 'the man in black' can pronounce his judgement. 

I also found the choice of using English songs in the soundtrack -- by Midhun Mukundan, who recently worked on the brilliant Kannada gangster drama Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana -- refreshing. The makers' attempt at ignoring the usual tendency of having music "relatable" for Malayali/Indian audiences is admirable. Perhaps this choice suggests a character trait of Luke. What if these are his favourite songs? After all, we are in his world, aren't we?

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