Mr. X (2026) review:
Mr. X (2026) just dropped on Simply South, and honestly… it’s one of those films that doesn’t really “grab” you immediately, but it also doesn’t leave your head that easily after it ends.
Directed by Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval, the film has that familiar offbeat Malayalam-style storytelling—quiet, slightly weird, and always circling around human behaviour more than actual plot fireworks.
At the centre, you’ve got Kunchacko Boban playing a character who feels simple on the surface but slowly gets layered as the film goes on. It’s not a loud performance. More like he’s holding back most of the time, and that restraint actually works in the film’s favour.
Then there’s Dileesh Pothan, who just does what he always does—shows up and somehow makes every scene feel more grounded. Even when the writing gets a bit scattered, his presence pulls things back into place.
Sajin Gopu brings a slightly chaotic energy, kind of unpredictable in a few scenes, and Chidambaram S. Poduval has this subtle, almost awkward realism in his performance that fits the tone. Sharanya R Nair doesn’t get a ton of screen time, but whatever she has, she makes it count.
The film itself? It’s a bit uneven, not gonna lie. There are stretches where it feels like it’s building towards something huge… and then it just doesn’t fully land the way you expect. But strangely, that’s also kind of the point. It’s more about mood, people, silences, and awkward decisions than big payoffs.
Some scenes feel almost too slow, like you’re waiting for a “turn” that never really comes. But then again, a few moments hit unexpectedly hard because they don’t announce themselves.
It’s not a clean, satisfying watch. It’s more of a “sit with it and think later” kind of film. You might even end up liking it more after a day or two than you do immediately after finishing it.
Final vibe: Not perfect, a bit messy, sometimes slow… but oddly honest.
