“Mala”

“Mala” isn’t your typical psychological horror movie, and that’s exactly what makes it interesting. It starts with a familiar setup. Reema (Indigo Sabharwal) inherits an abandoned resort on a remote island and heads there with three friends to figure out why. Before long, they’re dealing with strange locals, cryptic messages from her late mother, and a family curse tied to tantric rituals and black magic.

The premise is easily the film’s biggest strength. Instead of borrowing from the same ghosts and demons that show up in so many horror movies, writer Nisha Sabharwal pulls from South Asian mythology and tantric lore, giving the story a fresh identity. Director Trishul Thejasvi leans into psychological horror more than cheap jump scares, creating an eerie atmosphere where the island itself feels unsettling long before anything supernatural fully reveals itself.

I also appreciated how naturally the film incorporates its South Asian perspective. It explores identity, family trauma, and the feeling of being caught between cultures without turning those ideas into heavy-handed lessons. The family curse becomes more than just a horror device, but a reflection of inherited secrets and the emotional weight that’s passed from one generation to the next.

The slow burn approach won’t work for everyone. The first half takes its time, and the story leans on familiar horror beats before its more original ideas really kick in. When the supernatural elements finally do take over, the shift feels abrupt. The indie budget also shows, especially during the climax, where some of the visual effects lack the polish needed to fully sell the bigger moments.

Even with those rough edges, I found a lot to admire about “Mala.” It’s moody, atmospheric, and willing to tell a horror story from a perspective we don’t see nearly often enough. It may not be the most consistently entertaining horror film of the year, but its cultural perspective and commitment to doing something different make it worth checking out.

By: Louisa Moore