Adam Joan movie review: A saga in black

Cast: Prithviraj, Bhavana, Mishti Chakraborty, Rahul Madhav
Director : Jinu Abraham

If you are looking for some light-hearted entertainment after the drudgery of school exams or a hard day’s work, Adam Joan may not work for you. The movie deals with a serious subject and the mood of the film is dark and somber. Black seems to be the favourite tone throughout the movie be it the frames, the clothes or the theme it deals with — black magic. The director has attempted to tackle the very gutsy and original subject of Satan worship but set the frames in far away Scotland, perhaps because the churches, graveyards and landscape provide ample support as props for the story to unfold.

Prithviraj plays a rich Kottayam-based planter Adam Joan Pothen who falls in love and woos a Jewish girl Amy, played by the beautiful Mishti Chakraborthy. They get married and all is well till the couple visits Scotland to meet Adam’s brother (Rahul Madhav), his wife (Bhavana) and their mother. Adam learns that his wife is pregnant and circumstances force him to leave her in Scotland while he returns back to his hometown. 

Tragedy strikes and she dies in childbirth, leaving behind a daughter named Ira, whom Adam scorns seeing as she is the reason for his wife’s death. His brother raises Ira as his own daughter. Things begin to heat up when Ira is snatched by some kidnappers and Adam is forced to come back and confront his guilty conscience, which he plans to atone by bringing his daughter home safe. How a romantic carefree Adam transforms into a man ready to even kill to save his daughter is a worthwhile watch.

As the story unfolds, one is drawn into the deep and dark quagmire of a Satanic Cult and its horrific traditions. Adam is in a race against time to rescue his daughter from the clutches of the evil cult. A mention of such Satan worshippers in Kerala is also made in passing. Adam is aided in this thriller revenge saga ably by his friend (Narain), who plays the role of Cyriac, and the reunion of the actor-duo brings back happy memories of the films they have acted in before. 

The chase and action sequences are reminiscent of a Hollywood movie. Prithviraj looks very dashing and toned in his role as an affluent planter. Bhavana, Narain, Rahul Madhav and Lena look apt in their roles. The sweeping beauty of Scotland has been admirably captured and tourist desks would most likely see a renewed interest in this destination.

Director Jinu Abraham has attempted to pursue a bold subject and dwelled deep into the subject and credit is due for that. Prithviraj seems to be in a mood for acting in thrillers and a comparison with Ezra does crop up seeing that it too dealt with the subject of black magic. 

Adam Joan is a one-time watch if you love thrillers.