Aval

Milind Rau's 2017 Tamil film follows two neighbouring families confronted by a vengeful spirit. Krishna, a neurosurgeon, and his wife Lakshmi grow close to the family who move in next door, and the strangeness beginning with the neighbour's daughter is soon tied to the history of the house. The story takes place in a single settlement in the Himalayan foothills. What Rau does is bring the classic possession template into an Indian context while adding a medical perspective; Krishna first tries to explain events neurologically. The flashback in the second half ties the horror to a historical crime. The performances of Siddharth and Andrea Jeremiah carry the film. Its weakness is relying too heavily on jump scares. Who it's for: viewers who like Tamil horror and possession narratives. Who it's not for: anyone who dislikes jump scares, or avoiding content about violence toward children and sexual abuse.