Ezra (2017) User Reviews

A new Experience!

[thethundericmanager · 7/10 · 13 September 2022]

No Spoilers

Positives: Ezra is something of a horror movie which you can either expect from Hollywood or Malayalam Cinema. This film has beautiful scenes, this film tries to connect with youth, which I think lands well.

Being honest the way the story is narrated is something you would love, screenplay is also cherry on the cake, Acting is extremely good, everyone did justice to their roles.

Film has a twist which you won't even guess anywhere in the film.

Some may realize the twist but majority would not.

Drawbacks: 1. It has that typical horror film setback, a mysterious house, a new place, a new couple, gets into problems.

2. At times you may feel the film is getting boring if you haven't seen these types of films earlier.

3. Malayalam Cinema again tries to get into political, Religious problems yet sugarcoated propaganda is present but is ok at this time.

It does not disses other religions. But Malayalam cinema has dived into this side of Cinema where entertainment is combined with forceful Religious controversies.

Conclusion: Overall, better than most Indian Horror Films You can watch it 2 to 3 times.

Thanks for Reading.

A Good Horror Movie

[rajesharchy · 7/10 · 21 April 2017]

It is indeed a very good attempt to give a horror movie in Malayalam based on Jewish horror legend. The director has succeeded in creating a eerie atmosphere to keep the audience engaged right up to the climax. The filming, photography deserves appreciation as it attempts to match with Hollywood style filming of horror movies.

But it appears the Director have taken some inspiration from Hollywood movie particularly 'The Possession ( 2012)' directed by Ole Bornedal which deals with the possession of Dybukk over a girl.

There are of course scenes that are of pure cinematic portrayal which eludes our logic particularly the reappearance of the antique box from the sea shown in the post credit roll rescued by two youths. How can a metal box dropped into the sea can all of a sudden reappear at some seashore of Mumbai?It evidently shows the Director's clear cut intention to produce a sequel.

On the whole a good horror movie to watch out for.

New definition to Horror movies

[abhijeet-33234 · 8/10 · 27 March 2020]

Greate experience. Really a new concept of horror movie. The essential element for every good horror movie is a grippy story line, which Ezra has. Prithviraj is really a versatile actor. He has performed up to his potential. Melodious music is also a plus point for the movie. That's the reason why Bollywood is already heading to remake the movie, as they always do, instead of making a really good movie.

Overall a must watch for lovers of good horror movie.

Quite a different try in India's Horror Genre....

[yashrajs536 · 22 April 2017]

Ezra is a much different horror movie. Yes it is true that it has taken some of the concepts from Hollywood movies. But in Indian Cinema it has totally driven the horror genre to new directions.

It was very dark themed and the background score was totally suiting to the Ghosts scenes and also in the rest of the movie.

Prithviraj Sukuraman , Priya Anand and other supporting actors has done a fine justice to there roles.

What makes it different is the showing of "Jewish rituals and there history " and it has brought a totally different taste in Malayalam as well as Indian Cinema.

It is a must watch and I recommend others to watch it.

Stylised horror with some clichés

[lithint55 · 6/10 · 10 February 2017]

Ezra could be termed as one of the better horror movie in the recent past in molly wood.It is a welcome addition to the list of good horror movies in India.Prithviraj Sukumaran has got a growing ability to choose movies wisely and roles that suit him very well, he is successful in it here also.Though nothing much to comment about his acting in here,it is pretty much good.Other cast members also made a good effort, i thought Tovino Thomas was not needed for that role because it was such an insignificant role which could have filled with any non-mainstream actor, also the lead lady Priya Anand was not that impressive and there was not much of a chemistry between Prithviraj Sukumaran and her which made it difficult for the audiences to sympathize with them in some scenes.There were some clichéd scenes also in this movie which could have easily avoided by the scriptwriter to make it more engaging.

+ves ♦ Story ,thrilling scenes ♦ Movie managed to scare and induce tension in audiences ♦ Pretty fast paced screenplay ♦ Camera work ♦ good special effects for an Indian movie

-ves ♦ First half was lagging and some scenes were not that impressive ♦ Climax was pretty ordinary and a bit rushed ♦ Some editing work needed and 2 unnecessary songs could have avoided

Verdict:3/5, Pretty good horror movie which is very rare these days.

Beginning Of A New Ezra. ♦ Grade B-

[nairtejas · 7/10 · 21 February 2017]

Horror films are hardly made in Mollywood these days. So, when such a film comes in, one has to welcome it with open arms and unmitigated support. It will be very difficult to not be impressed with debutante Jay K's horror period drama as it tries to be one of Malayalam industry's defining films of the 21st century.

Ranjan (Prithviraj Sukumaran) and Priya (Priya Anand) are a happily married young couple who decide to move from Mumbai to Kochi after the former gets a promotion with transfer from his company. The duo quickly purchase and move in to an old villa with the thought of creating a family. With Ranjan busy with his new responsibilities, Priya shows diligence as a homemaker and tries her hand to give the villa a makeover. One such thing that she thinks will help her in her quest is an antique Jewish box. Ignoring the ominousness surrounding it, she buys it and brings it home without having an iota of hint about the horrors that she and Ranjan are going to be subjected to by the vengeful spirit that it houses...

Starting from the opening sequence, director Jay K succeeds in pulling its audience into the story that seems innocuous at first, but slowly starts to pick up, ultimately turning into a fast-paced, intense thriller. The first death in the film is so frightening that you will feel the characters' fear and pain in your own heart as it will begin to beat faster with every inch the story takes. Writers Manu Gopal and Jay (seem to) have done enough research when they introduce the Jewish myth about the dybbuk box and carve their story around it. Despite being a popular concept in the Jewish folklore, I'm sure it is going to be something new to the Indian audience.

With sufficient doses of jump scares in the first half, the makers perfectly create a base in the film which escalates so quickly in the second half that you will sit in your seat wondering whether you are watching a Malayalam film. The style of narration as it explores the two central characters and their movements is phenomenal. With a flashback story and a winning twist at the end, there is no way you will feel a decline in the entertainment. You will want to focus on every detail as the story unfolds and slowly starts to make sense.

Three of the biggest achievements here are the background score, production design, and cinematography. Without them, a horror film like this wouldn't even survive the first 10 minutes. Sushin Shyam enthralled us with his track in one of 2016's best films, Kismath, and in 2017 returns to score a film which half works because of his genius. The eerie soundtrack, supported by the jump care sequences and brilliant camera work is all that Jay K needed to make his debut a roaring success. Even the songs by Shyam and Raj are great to sing along to. Sujith Vaassudev may be a bad director, but boy, he can crank that camera. I am especially in love with those sequences where the camera tilts leftwards so as to make the audience move like puppet just because we want to know what happens next. Brilliant technique right there. Fabulous production design supports the makers in making the film look real and convincing. You cannot tell a horror story without getting creative, for which Ezra gets at least 8 out of 10.

Cast performance is another thing which propels the film into almost being a triumph. Sukumaran finally gets mature and manages to portray a character with believable conviction. He does his part very well, and the final 15 minutes are going to be important for his future career. Newcomer Anand may be hot, but she still has a long way ahead. Supporting actors like Tovino Thomas, Vijay Raghavan, Sudev Nair, and Sujith Shanker are all brilliant in their respective roles. Pleased to see Babu Antony, and expecting more from another newcomer Ann Sheetal. All in all, the cast need to be lauded for pulling out those intense sequences which may look easy on reel but are, in real, very difficult and toiling.

Of course, there are plenty of plot holes in the film on which I have had heated discussions with my friends, but once you accept the fact that you cannot narrate a horror story without taking few cinematic liberties, you will start loving it. Director Jay has to be lauded for his attempt at opening a window of fresh air into Mollywood and giving us this exceptionally well-told and well-executed horror film without compromising on quality or bending the genre. His attention to details is another attribute that contributes in making the film a fine affair. Sure, John Varghese's Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015) was a brilliant horror comedy, but this one here is on a whole another level. The story as a whole, with its iconic back story, may look typical to some, but that is not the primary element here. It is the visual extravaganza and the new style of horror in a Malayalam film that needs to be highlighted. One has to just look at the title scene and he/she will understand why Ezra is going to be on the top 10 films lists of 2017.

To conclude, if you are looking for a horror film to enjoy with your friends and family so that you can discuss it on the drive back home, watch Ezra. You will not be disappointed. The visuals are going to haunt you for days.

BOTTOM LINE: Jay K's "Ezra" is an excellent horror film that samples an age-old Jewish myth to narrate a story that incites sheer fear and gives 100% entertainment. There are just no bad parts. Watch it in your nearest theater today.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

A Well made Horror Thriller

[krishnalal_ · 8/10 · 5 May 2020]

Ezra was a different experience for the malayalam movie audience. It was the first time a horror thriller created in malayalam with the background of a Jewish story. The technical side, mainly the cinematography and BGM was fantastic. The cast including Prithviraj, Tovino, Priya Anand, Babu antony done their role neatly. Overall Ezra is a watchable horror thriller.

Well crafted Horror movie with variety story,direction and cinematography and technical team has done amazing job which makes it never seen Malayalam movie

[ridinbal · 7/10 · 6 March 2017]

"Well crafted Horror movie with variety story,direction and cinematography and technical team has done amazing job which makes it never seen Malayalam movie"

My rating- 3.8/5 (Very good)

Positives- 1.) Direction and story- Director (jay) took the film to next level and we have never seen this type of horror movies in Mollywood. He directed in a Hollywood style which keeps us mesmerized till the end and we doubt whether we saw a Malayalam movie or English movie. Directors like him should enter our industry and great applause to him. Story was variety and the smart part of it is that it was based on the Jewish concepts which are new to us and we may easily believe it while seeing the movie. This is a good try for a horror movie and we never felt any clichés because its story is something new to us and creating horror in it is something which upcoming directors should learn while making this genre films.

2.) Prithviraj ,Priya Anand ,Tovino and Sujith Sankar- For Prithviraj and Priya it wasn't a challenging role but they have done good performance. Tovino didn't have much screen time but he did well as police officer. Sujith Sankar has done it with ease and i really liked his performance.

3.)Cinematography- Cinematography took the film to the Hollywood level and great applause to Sujith Vasudev. His angles and certain camera technique was unique and never seen in Mollywood horror movies. His techniques succeeded in creating horror feel.

4.)Sound , edits and effects- I liked the sound effects because it also succeeded in giving feel to audience. Edits and effects were also equally great. [ To get great experience its must watch movie in theater] 5.) Songs and bgscore- I loved all songs and last 2 songs succeeded in giving haunting effect to visuals. Bg score was also great.

Negatives- 1.)Climax and ending- Climax disappointed me and ending was a let down. They should have ended smartly with a smart climax instead it was clichéd. I could see the struggle towards the end in the story line but makers could have improvised it.

2.)Prithviraj's ghost appearance- Wasn't scary at all. It looked really funny. Something could have been done to make it scarier to his role.

3.) Horror thrills- Even though cinematography and sound effects were giving horror feel the scenes didn't give any jump scares and it went normally. They should have added a lot of jump scares.

Overall- Its a must watch movie in theatres to get the feel and after pulimurgan this movie is one of the best technical perfect film. Go for it and it will be a treat for you if you are horror fan and if you are not also you will enjoy because it suits all types of audience.

My rating- 3.8/5 (very good) for full review go to- Ridinbal movie reviews

"Undoubtedly The Best Horror Thriller From Mollywood Till Date"

[afsalthodupuzha · 8/10 · 10 February 2017]

Even though movies sticking to Horror genre are pretty routine in Hollywood and World Cinema,I have always sensed the deficit of quality horror stuff from Indian movie scene particularly down south,which has always sticked onto old-school black magic based template horror films or horror comedies in general.Ashwin Saravanan's Nayanthara starrer 'Maya' (2015) was a revelation as far as Kollywood industry was concerned and overlooked the stereotypical horror clichés found in Tamil movies till then.The humongous response that the movie received was an eye-opener for film-makers down south to experiment with the genre and produce engrossing movies in par with films from the west.

To start with,I strongly believe Ezra is the much needed break for horror genre in mollywood,a first time experience for the normal malayali audience that deserves special mention for its visual splendor and grand scale of presentation that will make one go awe reflecting the budget constraints pertinent to a normal Malayalam feature film.

Debutant Jay K's genuine effort to make Ezra a memorable film is evident in each frame of the narrative,the result being nevertheless a laudable attempt from mollywood ,a class apart from the typical horror movie stuff that we are used to.A promising talent to lookout for in future,Jay K could succeed in taking advantage of good technical support and neat performances to present a hearty horror thriller that has enough substance to scare you without compromising on the depth of the storyline.

The pattern of narration is similar to horror thrillers form the west and presents different stages of demonic possession,namely 'Infestation','Oppression' and 'Possession' convincingly without any notable glitches in the screenplay as such.The concept of 'Dybbuk Box' from Jewish mythology was well incorporated by Jay K and refreshing for the fact that movies surrounding Jewish background aren't common in the Indian sub-continent in particular.

The flashback sequences were pretty impressive and convincingly presented.Jumpscares were minimal in the second half but made up by the well-presented backstory and emotional connect of the storyline.A complaint that one can make is that the exorcism portion could have been presented in a more thrilling and detailed manner.

Sujith Vasudev's top-notch frames and excellent work by the art direction team deserves applause for giving an avant-garde experience that's totally new to Mollywood.Cuts by national award winning editor Vivek Harshan were pretty good .

Backgorund score by Sushin Shyam was top-notch and hiked the thrills and emotional quotient of the narration.The pick among the songs were 'Thambiran' and 'Lailakame'(composed by RahulRaj) of which the former was utilized as a haunting BGM through the second half.

Performancewise,Prithviraj was as always pretty impressive with his controlled act as demanded by the storyline.Priya Anand had a meaty role to play which she did with required intensity and perfection.'Maheshinte Pratikaram' fame Sujith Shankar played his part really well.Sudev Nair's performance was fine.Tovino Thomas,Vijayaraghavan,etc gave neat supporting performances.

Overall,Ezra is a neat attempt from debutante Jay.K and team that deserves a watch from the big screens.

Ezra is an Indian version of The Possession and has lot of scenes inspired from Hollywood Horrors but still keeps us engaged till climax.

[shobanchittuprolu · 6/10 · 18 April 2017]

Ezra (2017): Horrors of Indian Cinema are meant only for lame comedy but not for content or scare scenes.True horrors never try to entertain us rather it makes us feel suffocated with nail biting suspense,shocking jump scares.Ezra,a 2017 Malayalam horror film starring Prithviraj and Priya Anand,impressed with its trailer.How is the movie? Plot: Ranjan and Priya moved to Cochin and Priya bought an antique Jewish box. When she opens the box the spirit in the box came out and possess her. Then later Ranjan knowing that the box is not an ordinary box it is a Dybbuk box which contains a malicious spirit of a dead person.The film depicts how he is going to save his wife from this malicious spirit.

My review: Ezra has the identical premise of 2012 American blockbuster The Possession.The entire concept of Dybbuku is lifted from the movie.

Even the scare scenes are inspired from lot of Hollywood horrors like The conjuring,Sinister,Insidious and Paranormal Activity.

Flashback is similar to Prithviraj's earlier blockbuster Ennu Ninte Moideen.

Even though if the movie is not original still it keeps our attention till the end.Except a routine ending,movie has good moments and decent jump scares.

Prithviraj is brilliant in his role.Priya Anand is adequate.

BGM is spooky and elevated the mood of the film.

Cinematography is the major pro of the movie.

So,Ezra is an Indian version of The Possession and has lot of scenes inspired from Hollywood Horrors but still keeps us engaged till climax.

My rating 6.25/10

copied from "The Possession{2012}"

[kidilamfs · 4/10 · 12 April 2017]

i rate this 4 for sujith vasudev for capturing the best a horror movie can deliver in malayalam .....the rest from the scene where the box was first scene is just copied from the movie titled the possession ..... however they added extra history and masala to the story ...even the climatic scene and everything surrounding the story base is just remade into malayalam ..even the climatic CGI of the ghost entering the box .

Ezra might not scare you out of the hell, but still it is a very much engaging horror thriller

[mefith · 8/10 · 15 February 2017]

From the release of the teaser itself, the expectations were sky high for Ezra. After watching Ezra, i can say that it reached those expectations of the audience. It is a milestone in Malayalam film industry, and we can see that the level of Malayalam films are changing drastically as it is getting more exposure and viewers outside Kerala. That quality can be seen in recent films in mollywood, and Ezra is the latest one to add to it. If you see a bunch of Hollywood horror films, Ezra might not scare you out of the hell, but it engages you through out the movie and can even be considered as one of the best horror films ever produced in India. Lot of scenes were inspired from Hollywood films, but director Jay. K doesn't make us feel so, because instead of copying he has executed those scenes in his own way and some scenes including climax were great and the credit should be given to the director. I am not revealing the story line as it can be a spoiler, and don't read too much reviews and comments in social media. Watch it with a fresh mind in theaters itself, u will enjoy for sure. Other things to be noted are the special effects and bgm, they are of world class standard. Coming to the performances of the entire cast, prithviraj is the soul of the movie and his performance in the climax is outstanding, in which there was a high risk of it becoming a disaster and a comic scene even if there were any minute flaws in acting.....but he acted extremely well at that part and he proves that he is one of the few actors who is not afraid to take risks. Priya anand is also gud in her role and got a break in Malayalam through her debut film here itself. Tovino Thomas although has a limited screen space, has an impact in the film...when the face of the actor shown on screen, the kind of whistles and cheers he got from the audience shows that there is a high possibility that he is gonna make it big here in mollywood in the near future itself. Another important character is Rabbi markes which is played by Sujith shanker, and he played his part well. Only misfit i felt about the casting was Sudev Nair who played the title character Abraham Ezra who only appears in the flashback part. I felt that he underplayed Abraham Ezra to a large extent and was pathetic in his role with his weird and untimely expressions, i even wondered how this actor won Kerala state best actor award. Rest of the cast did justice to their roles like Vijayaraghavan, Babu antony etc. So, watch this movie in theatres itself with your family as i said earlier that although it is a horror thriller, it is enjoyable to all kinds of audience....U wont get disappointed for sure.

Manichithrathazhu formula re-used by Malayalam Cinema but this time for Real Ghost. Ezra is an update to horror cliches of Hollywood but fares only on local industry level.

[SAMTHEBESTEST · 6/10 · 26 October 2021]

Ezra (2017) : Brief Review -

Manichithrathazhu formula re-used by Malayalam Cinema but this time for Real Ghost. Ezra is an update to horror cliches of Hollywood but fares only on local industry level. If you have seen enough horror movies of Hollywood then you must be aware of basic formulas. Recently The Conjuring is doing good there and we see a horrifying doll 'Annabelle' brought into the house. Here in Ezra, we don't have a doll but have a Dybbuk box as a replacement. Rest you know how things go forward. A newly married woman brings an antique Jewish box into her home, unaware that the box contains the ghost of Abraham Ezra. Even this Dybbuk idea has been used in Hollywood and foreign language films so there's nothing new as far as i am looking at global cinema level but for regional industry like Mollywood and their audience, it's definitely new. However, things don't go predictably like Anabelle or other Hollywood flicks here. Ezra has a twist in the climax which will remind you of Malayalam Masterpiece "Manichithrathazhu" (1993). Hope you remember how things are twisted in that film to give us a sudden shock to know who the real possessed one is Ezra might leave hints much before but it still uses those past scenes smartly in the later portion. If there is anything this film misses then it's good climax. The conclusion is very predictable, too dramatic and outdated here. Prithviraj Sukumaran delivers yet another fine performance and Priya Anand is decent in his wife's role. The writing lacks few nuances while covering that backdrop of 40s but for regional filmmaking level, it's okay and can be forgiven. Coming to Jay K's direction, this man has done a nice job considering the scarcity of this genre but his mistakes can't be overlooked. He could have made it an international level Horror-thriller but went for limited vision and play-safe attitude. Overall, it's surely one time watch for Horror as well as Thriller lovers.

RATING - 6/10*

By - #samthestest.

Nothing special

[anupviswanath · 3/10 · 26 April 2017]

The movie revolves around movie Possession. Many people who suggested this movie said that it was really good, but I understood they have never seen English horror genres. Things confusing to me and my friend:: 1.If the ghost was actually Ezra(a male) then Who the hell is the ghost lady whom the heroines sees from time to time?? 2.Why Prithviraj always uses eye liner and dark make up around his eyes in all movies(Paaavada to portray he is drunk,Memories also same) Anyway a bad ripoff,bad acting by Prithviraj as ghost affected guy....

makes Jews look evil blood libel

[Cantstopwontstopwhystop · 26 April 2017]

Hi i watched the whole movie, this film gives the illusion to people who have no understanding of Judaism that jews practice blood sacrifice and magic. This is filth, nothing in the entire movie has anything to due with jews, even the stars of David and text is upside down. This isn't the issue.The issue is the fact they make the jews look like human sacrificing evil magicians.thinly veiled blood libel c- horror film. pure junk.

No only a horror thriller, mammoth scary scenes too

[bkk-65574 · 7/10 · 25 January 2022]

Brilliant visualization, amazing background score, thrilling supernatural elements and crisp editing make Ezra a wholesome movie experience.

Mathew and priya hav just moved to kochi when powers of the supernatural start to take over their lives. How they tide over the forces form the story.

A Awesome treat for horror fans with some fantastic visuals

[ansafkarikonari · 8/10 · 10 February 2017]

First of all don't over expect about the horror in this movie.Yes there is horror and some scary scenes but this movie is just horror themed for it's story .The positive thing about this Movie is it's story which really is good,the spoiler which i am not going to talk about and the mind blowing camera work and visuals.Every frame for this movie was so good .

i'll give

Horror -7/10 story-9/10 camera and visuals- 10/10 this movie is not a just made for commercial kind of horror movie with large junk of humor.The story really stands out .Don't take kids below 7 for this movie there are some intense scenes here and there(especially towards the END) .privithiraj's performance is very good.Tovino Thomas did his small role very nicely .Babu Antony's performance was stunning although he was a minor characters.There are a few cameos which i am not spoiling for you. Overall a Great horror Malayalam movie in years

First Classic Malayalam Horror which should definitely not be missed

[sreerag-60033 · 8/10 · 11 February 2017]

EZRA has taken malayalam horror style to a very different and new level. The presentation is fantastic. A very well defined story with everything explained in detail. The camera and BGM are too the points to be highlighted. The script is written very well. Horror lovers should definitely not miss this one as it has both horror and strong plot. I'd rate it 9/10. The only drawback I felt about the film was appearance of ghost. Makers could have made the person possessed by ghost a little more scary in order to give audience a little more goosebumps. Anyway.. EZRA was an outstanding Malayalam Horror film and is one of the best Horror films I have watched yet. Don't miss this one guyz!

movie concept copied

[azharmubin-194-580711 · 5/10 · 16 July 2017]

Everyone was clapping for ezra one of my cousin was insisting me cz he hear good response i start watching with him....from the beginning i was confused about the story.....it was familiar to me...after some time it was cleared the story was stolen from 'the possession'

my cousin also added that mirror sealing was from 'the mirror'

im really disappointed

Solid enough Indian remake with a few minor flaws

[kannibalcorpsegrinder · 8/10 · 25 July 2021]

After moving to a new city due to work, a man and wife find that their lies are complicated more than just the move by her incidental purchase of an antique box containing the spirit of a Dybbuk, a demon of Jewish mythology, and must uncover the source of the spirits' creation to save his family.

Overall, this one has a lot to like about it. Among the main positives is the stellar mixing of Jewish faith and a supernatural genre film much like the original did. With the Jewish faith being an untapped and unexplored source for genre thrills not just in domestic but also foreign cinema, the way this plays with the confines of the religion for its scares is quite impressive. Tackling the source of possession through the rituals and tribulations featured in the funeral processions, burial rituals but also the social constructs of the relationship at the heart of the possession which all feature something intriguing to the final story. Given this nature of backstory building so that the impetus and motivation for the ensuing activities have a grounded starting point, the exploration that occurs leading into the grand twist about the target for the possession and the methods of containing the murderous spirit manage to feature some impressive work about it. When it comes to dealing with the more traditional genre elements, the film works quite well. Due to the first half presenting itself as a mystery, the initial encounters are filmed through shadow and suggestion which hides the protagonist effectively, resulting in scenes showing tragic accidents with their unnatural actions projected through shadow onto an opposite wall or crashing through walls from outside. The supernatural hauntings towards the wife take on a rather fun routine of her being suspicious of something in a room, receives a flash-vision of a ghost in the area, and darts away only to be startled by someone else coming upon her and help to bring about a generally enjoyable atmosphere before getting to the realization of the haunting taking place. Though by themselves brief in duration, the frequency of the incidents establishes a great tone leading into the central exorcism to be performed at the end, which is the expected extravagant, over-the-top display usually associated with the genre. Featuring full-on levitation, people and objects flying through the air with regular abandon, tons of screaming as well demonic voice-altered shouting and threats, it's a fun time and helps to end this one on a positive note. That said, there are some problems present here. The biggest issue is the somewhat unwieldy length that takes into account several side stories and subplots that aren't really necessary. The detective investigating the initial murders at the jewelry store is so clumsily written into the film that he disappears for extended lengths of time and isn't missed at all. Likewise, the constant cutaways to show him at work at the nuclear facility undergoing meetings to get briefed on his job or show what he goes through on a normal day aren't as interesting as the paranormal incidents happening at their home which feel like intrusions on the main plotline. The other factor, which won't be a universal drawback at all, is the twist involving the true identity of the possessed individual, coming across as a ploy to trick the audience for no purpose by including the body-hopping guise simply to pull it off. Some might not be that put-off by the trickery but some viewers might not enjoy this kind of surprise that doesn't fit in the rest of the film. Otherwise, there isn't much else to dislike.

Rated Unrated/R: Violence and Language.

Appears promising, but doesn't deliver

[jordansteel · 4/10 · 29 September 2018]

Today movies cant be viewed in isolation, not anymore. Many of us have gone through dozens of movies in the horror genre and know what to expect and what is being added and dished out, more often than not. Well Ezra did appear to have promise, but as pointed out by other theres a lot of irrelevance, eg the ghost of the girl his wife sees. Ddn't fit anywhere. They made an attempt to save it with a plot twist. Well it was a good idea but not implemented properly. Twists work when we get a tease, should be practically guessable. Audience should have been given a little more to get to it......... All in all, mediocre horror package. May appear good to first timers, but to appeal to the masses of horror fans, you need to do a little more homework.

Giving 10 to balance the rating.

[adhil-67126 · 10/10 · 24 January 2022]

Y is this movie so underrated.. I've seen someone saying in a review that there's no logic in this movie..duh..who looks for logic in a horror movie..hope they wont watch any sci fi movies...people like it when its from hollywood but degrades if its from india..

Average Fair

[padmanabhomaraprabhu · 4/10 · 8 June 2018]

Prithiviraj , the hero of this movie is not a new entrant into the horror genre , In fact this is his second outing .The first one was ' Vellinakshtathram ' an overtly cheesy and tepid horror movie directed by Vinayan .

Ezra tries to be different . It tries to replicate the scenes from the western horror movies its clearly 'inspired' from . Some scenes are hilarious like the ghostly girl who jump scares priya . The actual Ghost/Demon in the movie; Ezra is male . This sticks out like a sore thumb..The scenes in the attic are similar to that in insidious and conjuring.

Today's younger audience have already seen all these jump scares before .There are a horde of movies now coming in this genre like Conjuring ,Annabelle, , Insidious etc ....

The story initially felt eerily similar to that of manichithrathazhu ,where nakulan returns to his hometown with wife ganga due to a company posting . They both live in huge dilapidated bungalows. Both priya and ganga are lonely and their husbands are too busy with their professional work to even care about their wife's needs and feelings . But in the 1993 classic the reason of haunting was ganga's psychosis whereas in ezra , it is really supernatural.

Prithviraj' plays a nuclear waste management expert( well thats new !) and lives with his wife Priya who is from a malayali family settled in mumbai. A promotion requires him to relocate to kerala cochin which unsettles his wife as she has to leave all her near and dear ones to live in an unfamiliar place . In order to keep herself busy she goes shopping for antiques to decorate their new house (which looks quite dirty and in ruins. How does an modern couple choose such a house beats me. In one scene where priya washes her face in the bathroom , you can clearly see a tonne of dust on the pipe.. this inspite of having a stay at home servant and no kids !

In one of her shopping jaunts she comes across and purchases an antique jewish box which unknown to her houses a demon-Dybbuk. She brings it home and opens it out of womanly curiosity and then like the pandora's story all hell breaks loose.... In manichithrathazhu it was the opening of the thekkini which unleashed the persona of nagavalli.

To introduce a jewish demon called Dybbuk may sound inventive considering the presence of a jewish community in kochi, but its nothing new .A 2012 movie 'possession ' had did it before . Also this shows the minuscule Jewish community in bad light as black magicians.

Talking of performances, its best described as average. Prithviraj tries hard to get in tune with the character but is only partly successful . Tovino turned in his a wooden appearance. . Maybe he wasn't given much material to work on. The heroine was good looking but nothing more .

The major failure was the exorcist/rabbi played by sujith sankar. Inspite of getting a meaty role he could not do justice to it .His dialogue delivery which introduces the climatic twist of the movie was too monotonous and bland. Someone like Santosh keezhattoor would have done a better job. The minor characters played by Alensier, Rajesh Sharma(1st victim of the demon) , VIjayaraghavan and Bharath Dhabholkar(As creator of the demon) played their parts well.

Prithviraj is on his quest to create crossover cinemas in malayalam targeting the large NRI communuty in America and other western countries. His recent outings like adam joan and the upcoming Ranam fall in this category. Hope he does a better job with Ranam and My Story.

Ezra

[IPyaarCinema · 5/10 · 15 November 2021]

Review By Kamal K

Jay K's Ezra is not just about horror. The movie won't scare you away, instead it develops on gripping story that has fear, suspense with ample amount of thrilling moments and romance.

Suspense mounts as an interesting twist awaits you post-interval and it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Like almost all the other movies in horror genre, Ezra too leaves a question whether the supernatural elements would ever come back to haunt us.

Though it tries to keep a good pace till the end, the technique of exorcism in the climax fails to break the cliche.

Prithviraj, who plays the lead role, has done an outstanding performance. Priya Anand is equally good and steals the show in her debut Malayalam movie. Sujith's performance as a Jewish priest is commendable.

Good Watch.

Extremely slow and mostly illogical

[sarkara · 5/10 · 31 October 2021]

The movie is painstakingly slow, so much so it's faster to watch paint dry. Most of the times the characters are walking in slow motion, staring for minutes at each other, but nothing eventually happens. There lead actress Priya spends all the time pouting her lips imitating Angelina Jolie, shopping, and walking around with a vacant look in her eyes trying to appear possessed. The story is unoriginal (heavily borrowed from "The Possession (2012)") and stupid; Priya goes shopping for antique furniture (did I mention shopping before) and brings back ...wait for it...a demonic box. Don't ask me why anyone would consider a box as furniture.

While it's a better effort than garbage like Bhaagamathie, with a 2 hr 27 min runtime, the movie is an hour too long and boring.