Matinee

Plot: After several years apart, Aruna meets his old friends to catch up. What starts as a joyous reunion takes a chilling turn when they experience a series of unexplained events.

Movie review: Four childhood friends – Jaydev, Nixon, Anand and Naveena – reunite with Aruna (Sathish Ninasam), an old friend, who now leads a life of luxury with his girlfriend Akshara (Rachita Ram).
Aruna, grieving the loss of his mother, lives a secluded life. He's thrilled to reunite with his childhood friends, unaware they harbor a secret desire: for Aruna to sell his house so that they can get a share of the money from the sale. Desperate, they hatch a plan to scare Aruna into selling, resorting to elaborate ghost pranks. However, their scheme backfires, and they might just be the ones spooked by the end.

Parallely, a mother files a complaint with the cops to find her missing daughter Chitra (Aditi Prabhudeva)

Matinee is an honest attempt by debutante director Manohar. It blends horror, comedy, romance, and friendship with a touch of betrayal. The simple story entertains with twists and humorous dialogue but could benefit from stronger scares and a more impactful soundtrack. Sathish Ninasam excels, especially in emotional scenes, while Rachita Ram and Aditi Prabhudeva deliver impressive performances as well. Despite some shortcomings, Matinee is a decent choice for a weekend cinema trip.