A psychological drama, ‘Bougainvillea’, had the potential of ‘Kishkindha Kaandam’ and ‘Manjummel Boys’. The climax of the two older Malayalam films were packed with exciting and nail-biting moments. But sadly, ‘Bougainvillea’ failed on that count.

The film is about the broken memories of an abused mind. The narrative sets itself up like a beautiful poem. Bougainvillea flowers appear throughout the film. We travel through Reethu’s (Jyothirmayi) memories in search of a killer who abducts teenage girls. 

Amal Neerad’s style of filmmaking prioritises visual aesthetics over visual storytelling. This affects the consistency in the second half. The mannerisms and behaviour of the characters, defined in the first half, are markedly different. This makes the viewer instantly lose interest. The climax also suffers. It is underwhelming at best.

The film fails to justify the uncharacteristic missteps by a meticulous character like Dr Royce (Kunchacko Boban) and the half-witted investigation by ACP David Koshy (Fahadh Faasil) who is portrayed as an intelligent officer.

However, the performances of the actors are on point. While the songs and background score by Sushin Shyam add depth to Jyothirmayi’s character, the cinematography serves as a masterclass in lighting and framing.

Despite not meeting expectations, it is a must-watch for fans of psychological dramas.