Marco and Rifle Club released on the same day, and the content of both the films made sure 2024 ended with a loud bang for Malayalam cinema. Both films have ample amounts of gunfights, gore, and death, though the premise in each of them is different. Though Rifle Club was about a family shielding themselves from a gangster’s wrath, Marco, directed by Haneef Adeni, is a revenge saga of a mafia family that is avenging the death of their family member.
Spoilers Ahead
Why was Victor killed?
Marco began with Victor, a young blind guy, and his best friend, Wasim, conversing about the latter’s older brother, Tariq. He was complaining about Tariq getting involved in illegal businesses that were in Wasim’s name. Minutes later, Wasim was killed by a group of goons, and Victor, the next day, was able to identify the killer through his scent. He could also identify the car and conveyed the same to the police officer, Arun, who was investigating Wasim’s death. Victor was again able to identify the killer after he attended Wasim’s funeral and sensed he was in danger. He was quick to deduce that the killer knew Wasim’s brother, Tariq, and he begged his girlfriend, Isha, to pick him up. Victor was kidnapped in no time, and it turned out the person who killed Wasim was Russell Issac, the son of mafia gang lord, Tony Isaac. Russell did not think twice before killing Victor, who had been willing to be a witness to avenge his best friend’s death. Russell killed Victor by throwing him into a large vat of hydrofluoric acid, which instantly dissolved his body.
What did Marco declare during the funeral?
George was Victor’s older brother, and Marco was their adoptive brother. There was no discussion on Marco’s parentage, yet he was treated like a sibling by George and Victor, and with the latter now gone, George was in distress. Marco, who was very close to Victor, showed up at his home on learning the news of his brother’s violent death. Victor was a perfumer, and he conveyed that Marco would be the first person he wanted to see if he ever got his eyesight back. An angry Marco declared during Victor’s funeral that he would kill every person that was involved in his brother’s death. This declaration was not appreciated by George, as he was not keen on going on a revenge spree and causing violence that might decimate their family and their businesses.
Were George and Marco being misled?
George and Tony were involved in gold smuggling, and they were technically rivals as well. Since Tony’s son Russell killed Victor, they covered up the trail and offered to help George and Marco find the killer. The police, however, were doing their best to find the killer, and Marco was carrying out a parallel investigation at the same time in his own manner. Russell and his father went out of their way to mislead Marco and George. The brothers had no clue about Russell being the killer since he was roaming on the streets with them, presenting fake leads and evidence.
How did George learn about Tony and Russell’s betrayal?
George was attacked by Devaraj, one of Tony’s henchmen with the intention of killing him. He was grievously injured but survived the attack. The entire film had The Godfather elements, and it was obvious why that movie was an inspiration. Since Tony also masterminded the attack on George, he ordered Devaraj to go underground to avoid Marco and his wrath, who was angered by another member of his family being attacked. Marco was aware there was someone with power and influence who was after his family, and he had to find out the reason behind the attacks. On the other hand, police officer Arun was approached by a criminal investigative YouTuber who had the footage of the night Wasim was killed.
Arun was killed right after he submitted the evidence to his superior, and Russell was quick to kidnap the YouTuber with the intention of killing him as well. However, Arun, before his death, had handed over another copy of the evidence to George’s family doctor, who was quick to share this with the mafia head, who was recuperating in the hospital. George in no time shared this development with Marco, who was with Russell in the car at the time.
Marco and the YouTuber were brought to a riverside area in a forest to be killed and get his killer revenge saga done with. Marco was shocked and angry to learn of Tony and Russell’s deceit and was helpless for a moment. He was a witness to the YouTuber’s hand getting amputated, and in no time he used his bulky strength and fighter skills to brutally injure everyone including Russell himself. Marco was about to kill Russell out of pure rage when the latter revealed that Isha, Victor’s girlfriend, was in their custody and she was pregnant. It was obvious who the father of her child was, and Marco wanted to rescue her and the unborn baby.
Who was Marco trying to save?
Marco captured Devaraj and held him hostage till he revealed Isha’s location. Out of distress, Devaraj revealed her location, but he was instantly killed by a bomb planted by Marco. Marco was in no mood to save anybody who was involved in Victor’s death and the attack on George. On reaching the spot Devaraj told him about, Marco went on a killing rampage to kill every gunman under Tony and Russell in the hope he would rescue Isha. To his horror, Devaraj had lied as Tony was waiting for them and had moved Isha to a different location to antagonize Marco.
Who killed Tony?
A deal between Tony and George was made when the latter had learned of Isha being held hostage. Tony and Russell asked for George’s ancestral property and gold in return for Isha’s release. Since Russell assumed George had given up on his war, Marco showed up with Tony’s arm, and Russell recognized it with the ring his father used to wear. Russell was in no position to make a bargain, as Marco claimed his father did not have much time to live. He was forced to let go of Isha, and they returned home unharmed. Tony, however, was held in a trap laid out by Marco. Russell was careful about removing his father from it, but they were shocked to find out Marco had placed a time bomb below Tony’s chair. Russell and his men had to run away to save themselves, but Tony was killed in the blast.
Did Russell kill Marco’s family?
Russell was devastated after his father’s death, but it was jarring; he did not see the retaliation coming his way even though he brutally murdered Victor. Tony and Russell had underestimated Marco, and that led to a debacle. Russell approached his half brother Cyrus and roped him in on a plan to kill Marco and his family in the most brutal fashion. Since Russell had lost his father, he needed someone who was far more brutal than Tony, and Cyrus was the right person in his opinion. Even though Cyrus and Tony never had a good relationship, he jumped on the opportunity to lead his father’s syndicate and avenge his death. Isha had gone into labor, and soon there was a panic situation at George’s home since she could not be moved to the hospital, fearing an attack from Russell. George was smart, and he anticipated an assault on them after Tony’s death and Marco vowed to protect everyone. George wanted to save Isha and the child, and was willing to go to any extent to do so.
The attack on George’s family began when the electricity was cut off. This was the first signal of the assault, and many armed men charged into the house in no time. Marco was guarding Isha as she was being helped by doctors through her labor. Since George knew the house inside out, he was able to maneuver and kill many of the armed men. George was hoping to use his familiarity with the house to his benefit, and it was working until he was brutally injured. Cyrus put a stop to George’s guerilla tactics, and that was followed by a massacre both the men could not stop. Russell and Cyrus ended up killing every member of Marco’s family brutally, including George and his sister’s children, and Isha and the doctors.
Marco and George were forced to witness this, since Russell and Cyrus wanted them to remember the brutality and never come after them. George and Marco were drenched in blood as Cyrus took the newborn baby away with him with the intention of killing it as well. The massacre was unbelievable, and it got over the top when Russell and Cyrus did not think twice before killing the children in the most horrid manner just to send out a message. The police were on Russell’s payroll and Cyrus’ side, and hence they were not worried about the jail time.
Did Marco get his revenge?
A while after the massacre that left all of Marco’s family dead, George survived and commanded his brother to finally take the revenge he was seeking. George initially was against Marco wanting to avenge Victor’s death. As a head of the mafia, he had expected retaliation, but not of this nature, and he wanted answers for a war that was started by Russell killing Victor. The back and forth had to end at some point and George realized Russell and Cyrus had to die. George demanded Marco take revenge, and the way in which he did so was an ode to the famous dialogue from Gangs of Wasseypur. Marco began to prepare for the do-or-die revenge plan, and as an ode to Victor, he wore the perfume made by him for the final showdown.The final showdown was not as brutal as the pre-climax massacre. The last living member was the child born to the deceased Isha. If the child was rescued, George and Marco would have a reason to live and move on, perhaps. With the intention of saving the kid, Marco reached Cyrus and Russell’s den. Marco now had a purpose since he lost many people close to him in the span of a few weeks.
Marco was attacked by a barrage of men, which was a usual sight in any revenge action drama. There was no good or bad person in this scenario, as both parties were driven by only anger and revenge. Marco’s family was also involved in many criminal activities, and so was Russell’s. The fight was between two gangster families, and there was no room for roundtable discussion to sort matters; violence was the only way.
Marco ended with the titular character killing Russell and beheading Cyrus as he was holding Victor’s child. Marco threw Cyrus’ body into the container full of hydrofluoric acid. A fitting end to the revenge saga as Victor was killed in this fashion, and Marco only wanted to see his brother’s killer dead. The ending was a bit clichéd, yet it was satisfying to watch the lead getting his revenge. Victor was only trying to fight for his best friend, and Russell turned it into a gang war that had a violent end.
What Happens In The Post-Credits Scene?
In Marco’s end credits, we saw the titular character waiting by the beach with a toddler. It was assumed the child was Victor’s son, and that Marco and his brother would be raising the child. This could be connected to the original Haneef Adeni film Mikhael from the year 2019. Marco happens to see a convoy of cars coming towards him. It did not belong to Tony or his family. Since this was years after the massacre, this part of the movie could indicate that Marco was a prequel to Mikhael and the events that the brothers experience would lead to the plot of the 2019 film by the same director. The convoy could also mean that Marco and his brother George had made new enemies. It could be that Tony, Russell, and Cyrus’ allies had come to avenge their deaths. They might want to carry on the cycle of revenge, which could lead to more deaths. The bloodshed wouldn’t come to an end anytime soon.
