Director - Haneef Adeni 
Cast – Unni Mukundan, Siddique, Jagadish, Abhimanyu Shammi Thilakan, Kabir Duhan Singh, Anson Paul, Yukti Tareja, Sreejith Ravi
Duration – 145 Minutes
 
If you’ve been waiting for a Malayalam film that doesn’t pull any punches, doesn’t soften the edges, and unapologetically embraces a larger-than-life approach to action, then Marco is your ticket to that high-octane ride. Directed by Haneef Adeni and starring Unni Mukundan, this revenge thriller goes all-in on blood, bullets, and style—striking a tone that’s undeniably mass, and yes, occasionally downright gruesome.
 
The premise is simple, yet classic: a blind man named Victor is brutally murdered by a business tycoon’s son, setting off a chain of events that ignites a blood feud. Victor’s feared brother, Marco (Unni Mukundan), vows revenge—but he’s walking straight into a trap, as the very people closest to him turn out to be his greatest enemies. What follows is a violent, adrenaline-pumping journey of retribution, where family ties crumble under the weight of vengeance.
 
Marco is not a film for those looking for subtlety or emotional depth. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The movie, much like its protagonist, is all about swagger and intensity, with violence taking center stage. The action sequences, which include everything from dismemberments to some truly stomach-churning moments, are designed to make you flinch, not feel. This is a film that doesn’t flinch away from brutality—it's raw, unrelenting, and often grotesque. For an "A" rated film, it certainly earns its badge with an unflinching approach to violence, making it clear that style comes first and logic... well, logic is a distant second.
 
In terms of its style, Marco is probably the closest Malayalam film to a Prashanth Neel movie, not in scale or narrative complexity, but in its unabashed attitude and visual approach. The action choreography, the slick cinematography by Chandru Selvaraj, and the thumping, pulse-pounding background score by Ravi Basrur (yes, he’s that loud) elevate the entire experience to something akin to a fever dream of testosterone and vengeance. Unni Mukundan as Marco brings a swagger that is perfectly suited for this style of film—his portrayal of Marco’s cold, calculating nature is magnetic. He doesn’t just act in the role; he embodies it. This is a Marco who’s larger-than-life, but not necessarily in the most nuanced way possible. He’s a force of nature—swaggering through the film, leaving destruction in his wake.
 
There’s a certain charm to Marco's brutality, and Unni Mukundan definitely carries the movie with his sheer screen presence. He’s no John Wick—let’s be clear about that—but Marco would give the Baaghi heroes a run for their money. His performance is perhaps the strongest thing in a film that relies heavily on style over substance, which leads us to the other elements that, while polished, still feel a bit hollow in comparison.
 
The film’s villainy is also worth mentioning. While Jagadish plays Tony, a cold, emotionless antagonist, Siddique as Marco's brother George brings in the necessary emotional weight for the film’s familial dynamics. However, it’s debutant Abhimanyu Thilakan who stands out with a performance that carries the right intensity as Russell, Marco’s adversary. There’s something quite magnetic about the way Thilakan plays his role—an actor to watch, for sure. That said, Kabir Duhan Singh’s character, with his butcher background, is a bit too conveniently written, but his physicality makes up for it.
 
The film’s biggest flaw, however, lies in its lack of substance. The plot, while compelling in the beginning, begins to falter under the weight of its excessive violence and lack of meaningful character development. The women, for instance, are almost entirely relegated to the background in this hypermasculine battle of revenge. This isn’t a story of family redemption or moral struggle; it’s about blood spilling and bones breaking in slow motion, with Marco standing over it all, looking too cool for his own good. There are hints of emotional depth—the bond between Marco and his brother, for example—but these moments are fleeting and never truly explored.
 
As for the action scenes, they are among the most brutal in recent Malayalam cinema. There’s a Raid-esque staircase sequence that’ll have your heart pounding in your chest, and a first-person shooter-style action sequence that’s both visually inventive and adrenaline-charged. The film doesn’t shy away from over-the-top violence, making every fight feel like it’s the last one. The stakes are high, but the emotional stakes? Not so much.
 
Marco is an unapologetic action thriller that doesn’t bother with moralizing or emotional complexity. It’s loud, brutal, and stylish to the point of being almost cartoonish at times. If you’re someone who loves watching high-energy action with a side of unapologetic machismo, this will be right up your alley. The film doesn’t hide behind any lofty ideals; it just wants to give you a good time—if you can stomach the bloodshed, that is.
 
Unni Mukundan’s performance is a tour de force in this stylish revenge thriller. Marco delivers on the promise of an intense, no-holds-barred action experience, but be prepared for some truly gruesome sequences that push the boundaries of taste. If you’re a fan of raw, visceral action films with a heavy dose of masculinity, this one’s for you. Just don’t expect much beyond that.