Aashiq Abu returns to the genre of revenge thrillers with his latest film Rifle Club, following his 2014 movie Gangster. This time, the director adds more style and guns to his revenge-driven plot, set in the picturesque yet intense backdrop of Wayanad. The story revolves around Shah Jahan (Vineeth Kumar), a young superstar who enters a rifle club owned by the influential Kuzhuveli Lonappan (Vijayaraghavan). The club is run by his sons Avaran (Dileesh Pothan) and Godjo (Vishnu Agasthya), whose personal tensions and conflicts within the family add a layer of intrigue. The strong presence of characters like Itty (Vani Viswanath), a skilled shooter, further intensifies the atmosphere of familial rivalry and drama.
The trouble begins when a young couple, fleeing from gangsters, seek refuge at the rifle club. The dynamics of the family and the club’s setting may remind viewers of the intense family setups in films like Bheeshma Parvam and O, Baby, with familiar power struggles and character arcs. While the storyline, penned by Dileesh Karunakaran, Shyam Pushkarans, and Suhas, offers a simple and somewhat predictable revenge plot, the film compensates with gripping action sequences.
Anurag Kashyap plays a prominent villain in the movie, though his character lacks the depth one might expect. The film’s tension peaks with scenes involving a wild boar hunt and a gangster’s pursuit of the couple, providing moments of suspense. The soundtrack by Rex Vijayan, while initially unremarkable, grows on the audience with its distinctive beats, adding to the film’s overall Western Ghat atmosphere. Rifle Club successfully channels the Wild West genre with a unique local twist, offering a gripping yet familiar cinematic experience for fans of the revenge genre.
