Vinay Krishnan’s Malayalam short stars Sudev Nair and Aswathi Menon.
Cinestaan Curates: Men At My Door is an unpredictable thriller that keeps you guessing
Cinestaan Rating
Release Date: 2021
Sukhpreet Kahlon | New Delhi, 18 Jun 2021 15:37 IST
Vinay Krishnan’s debut film, the Malayalam-language short Men At My Door, is an engaging thriller starring Sudev Nair and Aswathi Menon.
It all begins innocently enough, with Frank Sinatra playing in the background and a gentle breeze blowing through the home of an alluring woman, Hema (Menon), who is a painter. She is facing a creative block and her long-distance partner (Nair) suggests that they finally meet, so she can relax, take her mind off her work and maybe even find the inspiration that she needs.
Filled with anticipation at the meeting, he drives down to her home in the hills. But just when things are about to get interesting, they have an unexpected visitor who comes in to make a phone call. The pesky man refuses to leave, imposing himself on the couple and testing their patience. But as it turns out, he is on the lookout for a serial killer and has come to scope out the house.
With an intriguing title, the short film deploys a non-linear narrative to create an atmosphere of mystery. However, this becomes a bit confusing as one needs to piece together the elements, and the nuances become clear in a repeat viewing.
The cinematography, production and sound design create the ideal setting for the unfolding of the story. Menon is alluring and menacing at the same while Nair too manages to throw us off. The disturbingly serene ending ties together the loose threads, making it a most unexpected one.