'Kalamkaval' X Review: Mammootty's Suspense Crime Thriller Is 'Good' But Not 'Absolute Cinema'

The Malayalam crime thriller, Kalamkaval, has hit theaters across India on December 5, 2025, and early viewers' response has been satisfactory so far. The film, directed by Jithin K. Jose, features Mammotty in the lead role. The cast also includes Gibin Gopinath, Gayatri Arun, and Rajisha Vijayan in supporting roles. As fans flood theaters to see the actor in action, let's take a look at what they think of the film.

Kalamkaval plot is set in the early 2000s

Kalamkaval takes the audience back to the early 2000s in southern Kerala, following the story of 'Officer Jayakrishnan' as he investigates the true cause of a communal riot. However, what initially appears to be a clash over an eloping couple soon turns dark when 'Jayakrishnan' discovers a series of cases involving missing women under unsettling similarities. As he searches for the truth, he finds himself deep in the dark web of crime that forms the core of Kalamkaval.

Jithin is known for writing Kurup and has once again taken inspiration from a real-life case. Yes! Kalamkaval is based on the Cyanide Mohan case. While the film takes Mohan's modus operandi and several factual elements, it keeps the plot fresh by introducing a major narrative twist that allows the creators to shift perspective and craft a more commercially engaging story, adding weight, drama, and texture to the film. 

The standout moment in Kalamkaval

The standout feature of Kalamkaval remains Mammootty's anti-hero turn as a smooth, manipulative womanizer, marked by effortless transitions, such as a smile slipping into a sinister grin, capturing the character's duality with finesse. On the other hand, Vinayakan delivers a grounded, understated performance, avoiding melodrama and making his character feel authentic. The supporting cast of Jibin Gopinath, Biju Pappan, Shruti Ramachandran, Rajisha Vijayan, Dhanya Ananya, and Gayatri Arun further adds depth to the narrative.

The film loses its element in the second half

Kalamkaval's 'what-if' reimagining is its commercial hook, especially as the second half grows more fictional and requires the killer to adapt tactics. However, while the climax confrontation is engaging, the audience found it dull in comparison to the first half. Some even cited the uneven pacing and overly cinematic flashbacks as the reason the film's otherwise raw tone is contrasted. The recurring theme score effectively amplifies the film's darker moments, but the final fight choreography feels somewhat weak.

What netizens have been saying about Kalamkaval

With Kalamkaval now playing in cinemas, X (formerly Twitter) has been flooded with audience sharing their views. The film had already generated online discussion even before its release, and as more shows are screened, additional reactions are expected over the coming hours and days. A user was quoted as saying, "Watched #KalamKaval Usual Cat & Mouse Thriller, which highly relies on #Mammootty's performance. Vinayakan miscast. Gripping only at parts. Superb BGM. Poor Visuals. Non-linear editing is good at parts, but the overuse of intercuts in the 2nd half was unnecessary. ABOVE AVERAGE 2.75/5." 

Another user penned, "#Kalamkaval is good but not 'absolute cinema' as we all wanted it to be. The lead characters shine especially #Mammootty. If some of the writing and staging choices had been better, it would have been a great experience. Still a solid watch. Always a treat to watch Mammukka." A comment read:

"A solid thriller that is so intriguing, often sending chills down the spine with solid investigative episodes. The mystery works so well with a couple of twists and turns. #Mammooty is so good with the dialect, and he does incredibly well alongside #Vinayakan. The second half takes away the pace a bit down but the dark tone of the film is intact and dramatically mesmerising as a whole."

What are your thoughts on Kalamkaval? Let us know.

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