A remote beach house becomes the setting for some intriguing happenings in Karaioram. A trilingual, it’s Kannada version Alone had released about a month back. The director has attempted to craft a suspense- mystery thriller. But while the film has some stunning visuals and a picturesque location, the screenplay lacks the punch and the fritz to excite an audience. The twists and turns one could see a mile off. It’s leisurely pace is another downer. What could excite the audience however is Nikesha Patel’s sizzling screen presence. Essaying Priya who comes to the beach house to get over a personal tragedy, Nikesha plays the glamour girl to the hilt. Her figure shown to advantage, the actress heats up the screen with her uninhibited display, the camera reluctant to move away from her. If only her face had registered some of the emotions, the trauma and the confusion, that the character was going through!
The plot takes inspiration from the Demi Moore- starrer Half Light. Priya to get over the death of her near ones, moves to a remote beach house belonging to her friend Ramya (Iniya). Attracted to John the lighthouse keeper (Vasisht from the Kannada screen), Priya gets into a relationship with him. But when she learns from the locals that John had been killed a decade back, it leaves her shocked and confused. As she wonders whether John was real or just her imagination, events that follow take her by surprise. Nikesha or rather her oomph factor, seems to be the only focus all the way through. Apart from its slow pace, too many songs intrude, which doesn’t make it any better. There is a half- hearted attempt at comedy, where Singampuli and Manobala as cops at a police station, make a futile attempt to tickle the funny bones. The screenplay, that meandered with nothing exciting happening for long periods, picks up momentum towards the end. It’s where Simran enters the story. Though her appearance is brief she makes a mark as the sharp cop who unravels the mystery and gives a hard punch to the wrong doers. Karaioram has a great look. If only the screenplay had been more exciting and the performances convincing.