Inspection Bungalow Review: The horror-comedy that fails to be either

Inspection Bungalow, Malayalam’s first-ever horror-comedy web series, arrives with notable anticipation and an exciting premise. Across its seven episodes, the series attempts to blend humour, horror, and a police procedural into one narrative.

Unfortunately, while the concept is refreshing, the execution often falls short of its potential.

The better canvas, but

The story begins in Aravangadu village, where the local police station is literally falling apart. As the officers await a government order for relocation, MLA Shaji Manjakadamban intervenes, and they end up in the infamous, supposedly haunted Inspection Bungalow.Vishnu, the central character, is a devout officer terrified of anything supernatural.

How he converts the dilapidated bungalow into a functioning police station while solving the mystery within forms the backbone of the series. The premise is genuinely appealing, offering a canvas ripe with possibilities.

The uneven storytelling

The challenges begin midway through the show, where the narrative loses its grip. The series oscillates between comedy, horror, and police investigation, but is unable to stay committed to any of them long enough to make an impact.

As a result, the storytelling feels uneven, and the viewer's engagement gradually weakens.

Performances: The unholy trio and Parameswaran

Sabareesh, in his first portrayal of a police officer, has moments of sincerity but struggles with conveying Vishnu’s emotional depth consistently.On the brighter side, the antagonist trio, Jayan Cherthala, Balaji, and Sreejith Ravi, deliver strong, convincing performances. Their presence adds weight to the otherwise fluctuating narrative. Shaju Sreedhar is one of the highlights as Parameswaran, a practical atheist amidst ghost-fearing colleagues.

His performance feels grounded and natural. Senthil as Balamurali also fits comfortably into his role.Aadhya Prasad, as Mythily, shows real effort, but the character is written too loosely to leave a memorable mark. The arc around her rise, the reveal, and the unexpected return lack clarity and convincing motivation.

Humour and Horror: Neither fully takes off

The show’s attempts at humour rarely land with lasting effect, and the horror elements depend heavily on repeated wind effects, which lose their impact over time.

There are glimpses of good ideas, such as referencing recent incidents in Kerala, like students accidentally entering a police station to smoke weed, but these moments fail to create the intended impression. A pivotal revelation about Mythily, which should have been one of the series’ strongest moments, is unfortunately underwhelming due to poor execution.

The hook and the miss

Certain creative choices feel misplaced or insufficiently researched, such as a Swamiji arriving in a luxury car, poojas conducted in the station premises, and a girl casually brushing her teeth inside the police station.

These moments disrupt the flow and dilute the believability of the setting. While each episode ends with a hook, the follow-up rarely sustains the tension beyond a few minutes, weakening the episodic structure.

Technical side?

The technical side of the series struggles as well. The graphics are underwhelming, the cinematography lacks a distinctive style, the music doesn’t elevate the mood, and the colour grading often fails to enhance or reflect the emotional tone of the scenes.

These factors collectively hamper the immersive quality the series aims for.

The verdict

Inspection Bungalow is undeniably a bold and commendable attempt to explore a new genre blend in Malayalam web content. The premise is strong, and several performances are noteworthy. However, the uneven execution, inconsistent tone, and technical shortcomings prevent it from becoming the impactful series it could have been.With steadier writing and more cohesive direction, this could have been a better horror-comedy. As it stands, it remains an interesting attempt with significant room for improvement.