BOTTOM LINE
Snail-Paced Thriller With a Solid Climax
PLATFORM
JioHotstar
RUNTIME
180 minutes (6 episodes)
What Is the Show About?
Seventeen-year-old Roslin is haunted by recurring nightmares of a mysterious shadow. Reality blurs when Jerry, a charming but enigmatic paying guest, moves in, winning over her family despite Roslin’s growing dread. As Shobha uncovers unsettling truths, Jerry is forced to leave, briefly restoring peace. However, the terror is far from over, with Jerry returning for one final, dark confrontation.
Performances
As a largely screenplay and twist-driven narrative, the show does not offer much for the performers to make their presence felt. Yet, Vineeth and Meena work perfectly as the on-screen parents. It is a clever case of anti-stereotyping, using their preset image to good effect for the twist to land effectively. Sanjana Dipu is apt as the trauma-stricken teenager struggling to process her reality, while Hakim Shahjahan fits the bill as Jerry (nothing really special there). Manasa Radhakrishnan is left with little to do.
Analysis
Roslin, a psychological horror thriller, marks an intriguing collaboration between three creators: showrunner Jeethu Joseph, debutant director Sumesh Nandakumar (who assisted Jeethu on Drishyam 2), and popular lyricist turned screenwriter Vinayak Sasikumar in his scripting debut. While it boasts a solid premise, that potential does not quite translate into an equally solid show.
Narrated across six episodes totalling three hours, the series is keen on cultivating the eerie, creepy atmosphere integral to the genre. In the vein of a cold thriller, it is set in the countryside, far from the bustle of crowds, revolving around a compact family that conceals more than it reveals. At the centre is Roslin, a teenager haunted by harrowing visions and dreams that increasingly bleed into her reality.
It does not take long to realise that Roslin, who is already under medication, is in dire need of psychological help. Her parents, deeply concerned by her violent outbursts, resort to every possible alternative to restore her normalcy. However, the arrival of Jerry, a research assistant and the son of a family friend, Kavitha, coincides with Roslin’s most turbulent phase, only worsening her plight.
Director Sumesh peels back the layers of their world gradually, exploring Roslin’s fractured headspace and inviting the viewer into a multi-dimensional guessing game. What compels Jerry to extend his stay? Why do the parents remain so dismissive of Roslin’s specific concerns? In terms of plot, the narrative makes little progress over time, though its technical finesse ensures the audience stays in the hunt.
With its wafer-thin mystery, not much gas is left in the tank for Roslin after the initial setup. The show keeps harping back on her troubles and her parents’ awkwardness in dealing with her and Jerry, leaving the viewer restless. The episodes are packed with too many inconsequential scenes without planting enough hints to keep one glued. It takes a surprise climax twist to offer some context to the airy, abstract narrative.
Even with the final episode, too much is left for a viewer to digest in minimal time, from the revelation of Jerry’s identity to his true purpose in visiting Shobha’s house and the dramatic confrontation. Despite the chills, you feel cheated, for the most substantial part of the show is reduced to a brief, hurried flashback and you are expected to digest and even appreciate it.
Regardless of its release platform, Roslin should have strictly been a sharp 90 to 100-minute film, where there is minimal scope for complaint. Across three hours and six episodes, it clearly overstays its welcome without having anything significant to say or keep you engaged. Perhaps it was over-conscious of staying true to the Jeethu Joseph brand of thrillers. Bafflingly, it neither works as a standalone piece nor an extension of his established cinematic universe.
Ultimately, smart casting choices, breathtaking cinematography, and solid sound design notwithstanding, Roslin remains a weakly written thriller where the whole does not rise above the sum of its parts.
Music and Other Departments?
The technical crew’s collaboration is commendable. Vishnu Shyam’s creepy background score blends seamlessly with PM Unnikrishnan’s brilliant cinematography, which makes excellent use of the cold, nature-steeped setting. The sound design effectively reflects the character’s daunting reality. The editing choices, however, are baffling, building slow tension only to reveal every secret in one hurried gulp during the climax.
Highlights?
Cinematography, music and sound design
Good climax twist
Apt casting choices
Drawbacks?
Wafer-thin story, sudden revelations
Dull writing
Repetitive after a point
Did I Enjoy It?
Only in parts
Will You Recommend It?
If you have patience to sit through the non-happening initial episodes, go for it
Roslin Web Series Reviewed by M9 News
