Max (2024) (Telugu) Review

There are very few pure genre movies. Even when labelled as action, thriller, or action-thriller, they often include elements of romance or drama. The same applies to romantic films - only a handful strictly adhere to their genre. At the start of this year, Kill delivered raw action, and as the year draws to a close, we have Max, again dishing out unadulterated action.

A chaotic night unfurls when two reckless youngsters ram into a police barricade, leaving officers wounded and tensions high. Enter Max (Kichcha Sudeep), a brooding inspector fresh from a two-month suspension, barrelling into his new post like a storm. Max hauls the culprits into custody, unaware that they are the privileged sons of powerful and corrupt ministers. As the news of the arrest spreads, henchmen of the ministers gather outside the station creating tension. Dramatically complicating things is the death of the two youngsters in custody. And Max stands as the last line of defense for his comrades.

The movie doesn't waste breath on tender moments or sugar-coated sub-plots. It forges ahead with the raw action and thrills, stripping the narrative down to muscle and grit. This isn't a story that pauses to admire the roses - it tramples through thorns, emerging bloodied but victorious. For three hours, you are strapped into a rollercoaster, plunging into high-octane chases and bone-crunching brawls that stretch across the nightmarish narrative spanning 12 hours. The bodies fall, the alliances shift, and the fights continue.

The tension never dips. If the fists aren't flying, the guns are roaring, and if the bullets momentarily rest, hushed conspiracies fill the silence. Max plays like a video game set to hard mode, with escalating stakes that make retreat impossible. Debutante director Vijay Kartikeyaa orchestrates this symphony of destruction with precision, ensuring the tempo never falters. Each alleyway, each unlit corridor feels like a ticking bomb waiting to detonate.

By the time the credits roll, there's no mistaking it - this is Sudeep's stage, and he burns it down. Sudeep engulfs the screen right from the moment he enters it. From the very first frame, his Max crackles with a quiet rage, simmering beneath the surface until it explodes. There's no easing in - the intensity hits right from the outset, growing with the ferocity of a storm, each confrontation pushing him further into a beastly transformation. He isn't just fighting enemies; he's levelling them like a force of nature.

Yet, the spotlight doesn't blind the supporting cast. Varalakshmi Sharatkumar as a rogue cop and Max's boss holds her ground with a fierce resolve, while Sunil's restrained yet impactful presence as a gang leader adds weight to pivotal moments. Together, they craft an ensemble that mirrors Max's volatile world - dangerous, unpredictable and alive with tension.

Visually, Max unfolds like a series of vivid nightmares. The cinematography swathes the screen in shadows, punctuated by bursts of fire and muzzle flashes that tear through the dark like lightning. Set across limited, claustrophobic locations, the film draws strength from its confinement. Every street corner feels suffocating, every doorway a potential ambush. The camera lingers just long enough to heighten the suspense before plunging back into the frenzy.

Ajaneesh Loknath's score thrums beneath the action like an electric current, galvanizing the fight sequences with pounding beats. His music doesn't accompany the film - it fuels it, merging seamlessly into the chaos. However, while the film excels in visuals and sound, the dialogues miss the mark. The absence of sharp, memorable one-liners leaves a void in an otherwise explosive package.

Max isn't a buffet of genres - it's a singular, fiery dish served with unapologetic flair. If adrenaline is your vice, this is your call to arms. Catch it in a theatre, and let the carnage consume you. And the faint-hearted should step aside - this ride isn't slowing down for anyone.