Kerala’s animistic beliefs, centered around Kavu (sacred groves) and folk deities, frequently bleed into its cinema. In the horror thriller Bhoothakalam (2022), the oppressive, overgrown garden of a middle-class family home in Thrissur becomes a symbol of inherited trauma. The culture of Guruvayur temple, Sabarimala , and the Theyyam rituals of the north are not just festivals for the camera; they are plot points that drive character motivations, most notably in Ozhivudivasathe Kali (2015) and the cult classic Devadoothan (2000).
