Howling Dogs in the Hills: Malayalam Mystery Thriller ‘Echo’ Arrives on OTT, Wins Blockbuster Praise

A still from Echo, the critically acclaimed Malayalam mystery thriller now streaming on Netflix.

A gripping Malayalam mystery thriller has made its OTT debut today, quickly earning acclaim as one of the finest films of 2025. With the film capturing the attention of both viewers and critics as a must-see, while in digital platforms, many have remarked it to be the best Malayalam movie of the year, Echo was the name given to the movie.

The end of 2025 is approaching, and though OTT platforms are crowded with the upcoming new releases, the film Echo is still the one that captures most of the audience’s attention because of its gripping narrative and the amazing ambiance of suspense it creates. The movie was available for streaming on Netflix from Wednesday, December 31, and incredibly, it has already sparked a lot of interest among the fans of the genre of thrillers.

OTT Release Details

At the moment, Netflix has exclusively the Dream of Echo in its authentic Malayalam version. But, the Telugu-speaking audience will not be denied the opportunity to watch the movie as they will see it on January 7 when the dubbed version in Telugu is released. The film will also be released in Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi the following week, thus, the film cutting across the language barrier and reaching the larger pan-Indian audience.

A Proven Box Office Blockbuster

Directed by Dinajit Ayyathan, Echo was a massive success in theatres. The movie was produced with a meager budget of just ₹5 crores and it managed to pull off a whopping ₹50 crores nearly in box office collections. The performers in the film are Sandeep, Pradeep, Biyana, Vineeth, Narain, Saurabh, and others, and very positive reactions have been given to their acting skills.

Story and Setting

Set in a remote forest village on the Kerala–Karnataka border, Echo unfolds around a chilling mystery. Kuriyachan, a man who runs a large estate and raises dogs, goes missing five years ago. Rumours suggest he cheated several people and fled, leaving behind unanswered questions.

At the estate, his wife Malathi is still waiting for his return while her helper Peewee is supporting her. On the other hand, the howls of dogs are coming from the nearby hills which gives an impression of fear. Businessman Mohan, who was ruined by Kuriyachan, is also on the hunt and is determined to know the truth.

What actually happened to Kuriyachan? What secrets are there at the estate? But what makes the howls of dogs so terrifying? These enigmas are, in fact, the very mysteries that are at the center of Echo, which therefore is a suspenseful and enthralling watch, keeping the viewers in uncertainty till the very end.

Echo’s draw is that it has been one of the year’s most significant OTT releases, thanks to its brilliant cast, spellbinding setting, and cleverly interwoven storyline.

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