‘I’m Game’ movie review: Dulquer Salmaan’s craziest gamble meets Nahas Hidhayath’s winning bet

Some films announce exactly what they are from the opening frame. ‘I’m Game’ takes a different route. Nahas Hidhayath’s second directorial venture keeps its cards close to its chest, beginning as a stylish crime drama before gradually revealing a much stranger, more fantastical world underneath. 

Starring Dulquer Salmaan as Dan John, the film, released on September 3, marks the actor’s return to Malayalam cinema as a lead after three years. And while the opening stretch takes a little time to find its momentum, ‘I’m Game’ eventually settles into an energetic rhythm, delivering a distinctly theatrical experience built around fantasy, action, humour and spectacle.

At its heart, this is a gambler’s story, but the film is less interested in simply telling a familiar tale of luck and consequences than in pushing the character into an unpredictable fantasy universe. That ambition is what makes ‘I’m Game’ stand apart from a conventional commercial entertainer.

A familiar template with an unexpected twist

The broad framework of ‘I’m Game’ may remind viewers of the horror and supernatural films they have encountered before. There is a familiar sense of a character being pulled into circumstances beyond his control, with the narrative gradually expanding into something much larger.

But Nahas Hidhayath does not simply recycle that template. The film's biggest strength lies in the way it incorporates fantasy into a recognisable commercial format.

Fantasy can be a difficult genre to pull off, particularly when the world-building risks becoming too exaggerated or visually artificial. ‘I’m Game’, however, largely avoids that trap. The fantastical portions are integrated into the narrative rather than treated merely as decorative spectacle, allowing the film to maintain its own internal rhythm.

The result is unusual, occasionally unpredictable and, importantly, never afraid to take a few creative risks.

Dulquer Salmaan owns the chaos

Dulquer Salmaan's Dan John is the film's biggest asset. The actor takes a little time to fully settle into the character, but once the film finds its footing, so does he.

There is a manic energy to his performance that suits the character perfectly. Dan John is not presented as a conventional hero who always knows what he is doing. He is impulsive, unpredictable and frequently caught in situations that appear to be spiralling beyond his control.

That gives Dulquer considerable room to play with the character, and he embraces it. His screen presence becomes increasingly magnetic as the story progresses, particularly during the action-heavy portions.

After three years away from acting in Malayalam cinema, the actor has returned with a role that demands something different from him. His performance suggests why the character needed an actor capable of balancing style, vulnerability, swagger and sheer unpredictability.

There are moments when the role feels almost tailor-made for Dulquer's particular screen persona.

Antony Varghese adds another layer

Antony Varghese Pepe also makes a strong impression, bringing considerable intensity to his role. His performance complements Dulquer rather than getting overshadowed by the film's star-driven packaging.

The supporting cast, including Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Kathir and Vinay Forrt, further enriches the world of the film.

Mysskin's appearance, in particular, gets an enthusiastic response, with the character introduced in a manner that gives the actor an immediate presence within the narrative. His portions also add another flavour to the film's increasingly unpredictable universe.

Nahas Hidhayath levels up after ‘RDX’

The biggest surprise may be how confidently Nahas approaches the scale of the film.

After the success of ‘RDX’, the director could have opted for another straightforward action entertainer. Instead, ‘I’m Game’ represents a significant departure in terms of genre and ambition.

The first 30 minutes are particularly effective in establishing the film's mood and characters. The narrative then takes a deliberate detour to introduce its central fantasy component. This section requires a little patience, but once the pieces fall into place, the film picks up speed again.

Nahas appears far more comfortable with large-scale staging this time around. The action sequences are designed for the big screen, with the film frequently prioritising movement, spectacle and visual impact.

One of the first-half action set pieces is among the film's major highlights. The choreography has an impressive physicality, while Anbariv's action design gives the sequence the kind of scale and intensity that works particularly well in a packed theatre.

One of the film's biggest theatrical moments arrives with the introduction of a surprise cameo. The makers wisely keep the appearance away from the promotional material, allowing the character's arrival to land with maximum impact.

Style, VFX and Jakes Bejoy's music elevate the film

Technically, ‘I’m Game’ is a confident production.

The cinematography is one of its strongest departments. The frames have a polished, stylish quality that complements the film's larger-than-life world without making everything look excessively artificial.

The VFX work is another notable strength. Considering how important the fantasy component is to the film, the visual effects needed to sell a world that could easily have looked unconvincing. Instead, they largely succeed in making the film's more unusual ideas feel tangible.

Jakes Bejoy's background score does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to maintaining momentum. His music gives the action sequences an added charge and knows when to build tension around a scene. The score becomes an important part of the film's theatrical appeal rather than merely accompanying the visuals.

The choreography also deserves a mention, particularly in the sequences where music, movement and visual design come together.

Where the film loses momentum

‘I'm Game’ is not without its shortcomings.

The opening portions take some time to establish the film's eventual direction, and viewers looking for immediate clarity about what kind of film they are watching may find the early stretch slightly slow.

The fantasy element, too, may not work equally well for everyone. It is unconventional and deliberately larger than reality, which means its appeal will depend considerably on how willing the viewer is to embrace the film's world rather than question its rules.

Verdict

What ultimately makes the 2 hours and 54 minutes movie work is that it does not attempt to be a routine commercial film.

It has the ingredients of a mass entertainer – a major star, action, music, romance, comedy and larger-than-life sequences – but adds an ambitious fantasy layer that changes the flavour of the entire film.

That combination gives the film its identity.

The biggest compliment one can give ‘I’m Game’ is that it feels designed for the theatrical experience. The action, VFX, music, performances and surprise elements all work best when experienced with an audience.

For Dulquer Salmaan, it is an energetic return to Malayalam cinema as an actor. For Nahas Hidhayath, it is an ambitious follow-up to ‘RDX’ that shows a willingness to experiment rather than repeat a winning formula.

‘I'm Game’ may not be the easiest fantasy film to digest, but it is certainly not a boring one. It takes a familiar commercial framework, throws an unpredictable fantasy element into it and turns the result into a colourful, chaotic and entertaining theatrical gamble.

Rating: 4/5