Horror grips Mollywood in 2025!

Malayalam cinema witnessed the return of the horror wave in 2025. However, the films that led this genre shift approached the theme quite differently from their predecessors, who typically relied on formulaic tropes like yakshis, vengeful spirits haunting remote groves, and ghostly apparitions seeking revenge for tragic wrongs. Instead, new-age filmmakers have adopted a more innovative and nuanced approach to instil fear in their audiences. Once rooted in ancient folklore, the genre is now evolving. Rather than discarding the age-old mythological figures, Malayalam filmmakers are revisiting them with a contemporary lens, breathing new life into familiar narratives.

A striking example of this shift is the character of 'Lokah's' Kalliyankattu Neeli, a legendary spirit deeply embedded in Kerala's collective psyche. Traditionally, Neeli was the embodiment of terror, seductive and terrifying, luring her male victims to their doom in the deep forests. However, in 'Lokah', this fearsome spirit is reimagined as Chandra, a modern, empowered woman summoned to Bengaluru to fight the forces of evil. Played by Kalyani Priyadarshan, Chandra's character intriguingly blends charm and menace.

'Lokah' became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time, not just because of its compelling story but also because it tapped into this evolved form of horror. Interestingly, 'Lokah' isn’t the only film pushing the genre to new heights. After 'Boothakalam' and 'Bramayugam', Rahul Sadasivan continued his exploration of horror in 2025 with 'Dies Irae', although it turned out to be the weakest among the three. Pranav Mohanlal, who had previously dabbled in action and romance, made his horror debut in 'Dies Irae', delivering a measured performance that supplemented the film.

Sajeed A's 'Vadakkan', featuring Shruthi Menon and Kishore in lead roles, leaned into the paranormal side of horror, giving viewers some chilling moments. The film follows an investigator’s quest to uncover the root of mysterious deaths during a reality show. By blending folklore and the paranormal, the film offers a fresh take, though the execution leaves something to be desired.
The year also saw the rise of horror-comedies, with films like 'Detective Ujjwaan', 'Sumathi Valavu', and Mollywood's 2025 closing-hit 'Sarvam Maya'.

Interestingly, the Kannada film 'Su from So' also ran to packed theatres in select locations in Kerala, proving that the horror-comedy genre has a growing fanbase.
Novelist T D Ramakrishnan, who also wrote the dialogues for 'Bramayugam', believes such trends are a natural outcome of the way the film industry functions. "When a particular kind of film or genre succeeds, others inevitably follow," he says. "For example, we saw how the success of 'Baahubali' led to more period films, with a big-budget 'Ponniyin Selvan' following soon after." According to him, filmmakers often explore formulas that are considered 'successful', which is probably why we’ve seen a surge in horror films.

However, newer filmmakers are finding ways to innovate within the genre to keep it from becoming stale. "Eventually, a saturation point arrives, and that’s when creators move on to new ideas," he explains.
He also pointed out that the technical quality of recent horror films has improved significantly. "The availability of skilled technicians has played a crucial role. Sound, visuals, and camera work are key elements that define the quality of a good horror film. Today’s films stand apart in this regard," he says, adding that earlier filmmakers were limited by restricted access to technology.

Ramakrishnan also highlighted the growing interest in horror-comedy, though he cautioned that it’s a risky space. "Not every film works," he says. 'Sarvam Maya', according to him, is a prime example of a film that successfully struck the right balance between fear and humour. "Horror-comedy is riskier than pure horror because the rhythm has to land perfectly. 'Manichitrathazhu' may not strictly belong to the genre, but it succeeded partly because the comedic elements were woven well into the dark narrative."
Though the Malayalam film industry may still have some distance to go in mastering horror as a genre, one thing is clear: Malayali audiences were certainly treated to a range of horror films in 2025.