'Sumathi Valavu' review: Arjun Ashokan-starrer balances laughs and scares, but just barely

 Horror and comedy are two genres that can be tough to blend. If the mix isn't right, the result can feel forced or clumsy. Yet, some films manage to strike the balance, like the Malayalam hit 'Romancham'. Taking a similar route is 'Sumathi Valavu', directed by Vishnu Sasi Shankar and starring Arjun Ashokan and Balu Varghese.

Set in a village in rural Kerala, the story revolves around a bend in the road known as 'Sumathi Valavu'. According to local folklore, the curve is haunted by the ghost of a woman named Sumathi, who is believed to kill anyone who tries to cross it. The film follows Appu (Arjun Ashokan), a young man whose life gets entangled in the mystery of the haunted turn.

The film begins with promise, introducing a chilling legend and a ghostly presence that piques curiosity. The villagers clearly believe in the tale—many claim to have had encounters with Sumathi. The first half does a good job of establishing this eerie atmosphere while also building the world around the central characters. There are moments that genuinely draw you into the lore and the fear that hangs over the village.

Arjun Ashokan is enjoyable to watch as Appu. He’s not your typical hero; nervous and unsure, often scared, and that makes his character relatable. Balu Varghese plays his loyal friend, while Malavika Manoj fills the role of the female lead. However, the second half takes a surprising turn, pulling the story in a new direction that doesn’t quite build on the tension created earlier. At some point, you're left wondering, “Where is this going?”

The characterisation, too, becomes inconsistent. Appu starts off as someone terrified of ghosts, but this fear suddenly vanishes. He turns into an action-ready protagonist, which doesn’t sit well with his earlier portrayal. The film also leans on a few exaggerated hero moments that feel unnecessary.

Comedy plays a big part in 'Sumathi Valavu', and thankfully, most of the humour lands. These lighter moments give the film some relief but slightly weaken the horror elements as the story progresses. Shravan Mukesh plays the antagonist, though his character feels underdeveloped and doesn’t leave much of an impression.

What sets 'Sumathi Valavu' apart is its nostalgic charm. The film gives off flashes of 'Romancham' as well as the ghost stories of the 90s, offering a breezy throwback to the horror-comedies of a different time. Performers like Bobby Kurian, Sshivada, Sreepath, and Gokul Suresh put in solid work, but their roles aren’t fleshed out enough to stand out.

In the end, 'Sumathi Valavu' is an interesting attempt at blending horror with humour, wrapped in a rural ghost story that has its moments. While the execution doesn’t always hold up, the film does manage to entertain—with a few scares, a few laughs, and a whole lot of nostalgia.