Bougainvillea First Reactions: Fahadh Faasil’s Psychological Thriller Gets Mixed Reviews

The highly awaited Malayalam thriller, Bougainvillea, directed by Amal Neerad, has finally hit the big screens today, October 17. Fans have been excited since the movie was announced, as it stars popular actors Kunchacko Boban and Fahadh Faasil, along with Jyothirmayi, who makes her return after 11 years. The Amal Neerad directorial revolves around Royce and Reethu (Kunchacko and Jyothirmai), a happy couple whose lives change after an accident leaves Reethu with mental health challenges. Unusual events happen after ACP David Koshy (Fahadh Faasil) steps in to investigate the mysterious disappearances of tourists in Kerala.

While many fans praised the thriller for its plot and performances, some have also called it drab and underwhelming in comparison to its source novel.

Sharing his views on the movie, an X user wrote, “Amal Neerad delivers a clean psychological thriller which gets gripping towards the climax. The whole cast shines. Seeing Kunchacko in the 2nd half was a beauty. Jyothirmai was perfect for the role. Sushin was top notch as usual.”

Another shared, “Bougainvillea passes subtle hints throughout the film. While backtracking, I loved the way the accident scene or the CCTV installation episodes were placed. It never dives into detailed explanations of certain scenes. It is the best way to not ruin the entertainment value with a routine and elongated execution style. Amal Neerad also gives the right elevation for theatrical moments. The use of a cuss word at an important juncture that drives Amal fans crazy was also not missing either.”

“Bougainvillea is a terrific film by Amal Neerad. A different one from the director who is known for stylish filmmaking. A psycho-thriller which has a solid plot and power packed performances by Kunchacko Boban, Jyothirmayi and Fahadh Faasil,” a comment read.

Another wrote, “Bougainvillea 1st half: Slow-burn thriller with Kunchacko & Jyothirmayi. Fahadh Faasil’s cop brings suspense. Maravikale hints at hidden secrets. Suspense builds nicely.”

An individual shared, “A Good film followed by predictable twists. The mysterious first half is engaging and the stereotypical script makes the second half an average experience. After all, Amal Neerad, Anand C Chandren And Sushin made the film a quality level. And there is not much impact.”

Another simply mentioned, “An Amal Neerad Film that’s the Tweet. Go for it.”

A fan of the novel wrote, “I can definitely say this film is only 50% of it. More buildups, Less outcome. Liked 1st half. Climax is very weak. Jyothirmayi & Chackochan superb. Fafa & Veena miscast. Top Visuals & BGM.”

One more added, “Bougainvillea has a dead slow first half and an average second half, with some interesting portions towards the climax. Still, the movie is predictable throughout. The performances especially by Jyothirmayi along with the technical aspects and music, are commendable. Overall, it’s average.”

Along with Kunchacko Boban, Fahadh Faasil and Jyothirmayi, Bougainvillea also stars Sharaf U Dheen, Veena Nandakumar and Srinda in key roles.