Eko Movie Review - A Mesmerizing Thriller About The Cages We Create

In an era where thrillers are often designed like roller coasters—fast-paced, loud, and seeking immediate impact—Eko emerges as a subtle act of defiance. Dinjith Ayyathan’s contemplative mystery is not focused on quickening your pulse; instead, it seeks something far more profound: your attention. Most importantly, it places trust in its audience. The result is a thriller that doesn’t merely unfold—it permeates.

This is a distinct type of Malayalam film that doesn't rush to impress. It doesn't flaunt its darkness or loudly proclaim its twists. Instead, it quietly observes, listens, and allows the atmosphere to thicken until the tension becomes almost palpable.

Eko, the latest creation from the duo of Dinjith Ayyathan and Bahul Ramesh (known for Kishkindha Kaandam), firmly belongs to this tradition. It serves as a reminder of how deeply atmospheric filmmaking can resonate without raising its voice. What makes Eko intriguing is not just the mystery at its heart, but the way it delves into the silent negotiations of power—between humans, between humans and animals, and between individuals and their own suppressed impulses. The dogs, with their unpredictable loyalty and primal intelligence, serve as an unspoken commentary on dominance, dependence, and the uneasy comfort of the cages we construct for ourselves.

The narrative focuses on Maalathi Chedathi (Biana Momin), an elderly woman living in near-isolation, and her caretaker Pious (Sandeep Pradeep), whose quiet routine is guarded—and occasionally threatened—by a pack of fiercely territorial dogs. Their secluded existence is overshadowed by the unseen presence of Kuriachan, a missing dog breeder and wanted fugitive whose absence looms over the film like a persistent fog, shaping the tensions and suspicions that drive the plot. Revealing more about the film would risk spoilers.

Bahul Ramesh’s cinematography captures this emotional landscape with damp, murky elegance. The mist is not just weather; it’s metaphor. The rain is not merely ambience; it’s mood. And in the spaces between the silence, Mujeeb Majeed’s score breathes gently, like a presence haunting the film rather than merely scoring it.

By the time the film tightens the noose in its final act, the payoff feels deserved not because of what is shown, but because of what has been patiently built. Eko may not pursue mass appeal, but for those who appreciate nuance, texture, and the quiet tyranny of unspoken dread, it stands out as one of the year's most rewarding Malayalam films. Eko demonstrates that Malayalam cinema’s boldest thrillers don’t require speed—they require stillness. Eko is a taut, atmospheric mystery-thriller that confidently blurs the line between freedom and captivity, emerging as one of the most compelling Malayalam films of the year.

Beneath its genre surface, Eko pulses with thematic depth. The intricate man–dog dynamic becomes a potent metaphor for power, loyalty, dominance, and surrender. Their obedience, unpredictability, and violence mirror the human characters, prompting deeper questions: Who is truly free? Who is captive—emotionally, psychologically, or physically? And what invisible cages do people construct for themselves in the pursuit of control or safety?

This is the kind of film that demands to be experienced on the big screen, inviting viewers to immerse themselves fully. The film engages your intellect, encouraging discussions with friends to unravel its complexities. It is a slow-burning, expertly crafted mystery-thriller deserving of serious critical attention and a wide, discerning audience. The climax lingers, not due to shock, but because of what it reveals about fear, faith, and freedom. This might just be the most radical thriller of 2025.

Verdict - 4/5 (Exploring boundaries between freedom and captivity)