Film: Meow
Director: Chinnas Palanisamy
Cast: Urmila Gayatri, Raja, Yuvina, Daniel, Selfie (the cat)
It’s not surprising that the last Friday of the year closes with the release of two horror films, Meow and Mo. For horror at times blended with comedy, has been the favourite genre of filmmakers in the last couple of years. Meow sticks to the pure-horror genre and is sans humour. Selfie, a Persian cat, plays a crucial role in the plot, and the first-time director has exploited this angle to its best.
It revolves around an apartment building where some unexplained deaths occur. Four unemployed graduates indulge in wine and women; Suhana a model who questions their indecent behaviour and Selfie the pet cat of a little girl, are crucial players. And when one of the friends is found dead, the model becomes the prime suspect.
The director in the early scenes reveals Selfie’s role in the killings. So the suspense is in the methods adopted by Selfie to reach its targets and of course, the back-story to the killings. Each death is meticulously arranged and the graphics are engaging. And Selfie, with its warm golden brown mane, cute and endearing or terrifying as the situation demands, easily steals the show.
‘Cat Mission’ reads the caption at the intermission. Apart from the cat’s antics, the director has tried to give variation by calling in a ghostbuster. His elaborate set-up of gadgets to reach out to the spirits, more like the virtual-reality scenes in sci-fi films, is novel for Tamil screen. The screenplay is neatly crafted, the director able to sustain the momentum for the most part. It’s a scenario which would go well with both adults and children. With 112 minutes of running time, Meow is a watchable and an engaging entertainer.