Kingston Movie Review

GV Prakash Kumar’s 25th film ‘Kingston’ is written and directed by Kamal Prakash. The film, as cited by the makers, is the first-ever Sea-adventure based horror film. Divya Bharathi is playing the female lead role, and the others in the star-cast include Chetan, Azhagam Perumaal, Elango Kumaravel, Sabumon Abdusamad, Antony, Arunachaleswaran, Rajesh Balachandiran and others.

Set against the coastal village of Tamil Nadu, fishermen are not allowed to sail through a particular sea due to mysterious deaths. While few believe that it could be a paranormal ghost activity, and it’s preventing the people from looting the valuable gold treasures beneath the seas, the protagonist (GV Prakash Kumar) faces a situation, where he has to combat the disbeliefs, myths and combat with the fate.

Ghost stories when blend with the folklore style, always ensure that there is something interesting. It’s more like a bedtime story that will impress us, even when someone narrates it. However, director Kamal Prakash has failed to impress us with this aspect. The first half keeps raising our expectations that there could be more adventurous thrillers and supernatural chills in the second half. However, once we start witnessing them on the screens, it turns out to be a disappointing show, and sometimes, the ghostly characters start evoking laughter.

As a performer, GV Prakash has given his best banking all his hopes on the script and characterisation. As a music composer, his BGM works a lot than songs. When it comes to other characterisations, they are not substantial. Although Divya Bharathi is seen in most of the film, she doesn’t have anything to perform. Chetan does his part well. Sabumon has established his acting prowess in many Malayalam movies, but fails to get a proper characterisation here.

Cinematography is good, but most of the CG and VFX easily gives an impression of Green Matte effect.

Although the story is outdated, it doesn’t matter, but the basic problem is storytelling, which should have been the main focus rather than spending on technical aspects.

Kingston fails to impress us on this note, and easily settles down the league of below average fare.