Standing against the world all alone is no easy feat, it demands stubbornness to be at peak and infinite strength. Yalin Bey has abundant of it, he is an epitome of stubbornness and strength. Now, Chokehold, featuring Kivanc Tatlitug in the lead role as Yalin Bey, has landed on Netflix. The Turkish crime drama thriller is brimming with quiet chaos, meaningful silence and engrossing scenes. It is a phenomenal suspense thriller that lets us on the journey of Yalin as he weaves through betrayals, secrets, sadistic tendencies and most important of all survival.
As compelling as the movie is, it has left us with an equally gripping ending as well. Though the major story arc remains a Ponzi scheme, Chokehold has much to offer. In this Chokehold review and ending explained, let us explore more about this Turkish thriller in detail!
Chokehold Plot Synopsis
Set in a picturesque Turkish backdrop, Chokehold is directed by Onur Saylak. He is also the name behind some intense Turkish dramas, Kuzgun and Babil to name a few. Now, Onur has brought to us a gripping story of a man on the run, Yalin Bey, and his wife, Beyza. Kivanc Tatlitug and Funda Eryigit take on the roles of Yalin and Beyza and embark on a journey of survival. The movie commences with a dark backdrop and a seemingly normal man who shops grocery.
But suddenly, this grey-eyed man is attacked by a local who throws several accusations at him. To this point, Chokehold keeps the identity of Yalin–the grey-eyed accused–carefully conceited. As Yalin fights this local, he ends up killing his attacker unintentionally. And what would a man on the run do when faced with such a crucial situation? He ends up hiding the dead body in a cave and walks back home as if nothing happened.
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Weaving Through The Dark, Concealing Some Clandestine Secrets
Chokehold maintains the rhythmic narrative by using the darkness as a background through its 2-hour course. While many scenes are shot in bright light, the most compelling ones have been photographed at the night. As Yalin walks home and finds Beyza sifting through the TV channels, everything is well and good. That’s when a news reporter starts to narrate how a man named Yalin Sahin has betrayed millions of people and lured them into his Ponzi scheme.
Being the dutiful wife Beyza is, she supports Yalin and encourages him to live in the paradise entitled Assos. Now that they have left Istanbul, it is time they leave their gloomy past behind. Only, if shedding your true identity was that easy. As Yalin settles in the village, he comes across more men who try to slaughter him. Sadly, they end up in Yalin’s dark chamber motionless and dead.
Yalin Is Betrayed, Baffled And Murderous
As Chokehold crosses the 1-hour mark, the puzzle that is Yalin starts to solve on its own. Yalin Bey is a highly-reputed investor, he is known to multiply millions of dollars in a heartbeat. He is trusted widely and has a huge clientele. But Yalin isn’t a saint, he is a selfish sadist who has betrayed his clients with the help of his partners. When the police were informed about Yalin’s Ponzi scheme, he was arrested and put in confinement for days.
Yalin made a deal with the officers and ratted out his partners in exchange for getting out of prison. While he successfully, came out unscathed, his clients are still aggravated and demand justice. So, in order to protect himself, Yalin makes a deal with a sailor to transport him to Lesbos. The sailor agrees in exchange for Yalin’s shiny, black truck. Hope shines for Yalin, only to be turned to darkness again!
Chokehold Ending: It Begun With Silence, But Ended With Violence
You might be wondering how Yalin, the genius investor got caught by the police. How it all begun and who did that? Those two questions make for the major twist in Chokehold! Beyza, who left her hometown and was disowned by her parents because of Yalin, is the mastermind behind it all!
After Yalin tells Beyza about the attacks on him and the arrangement he made with the sailor, Beyza is disturbed. She is firmly against leaving the village but when Yalin shows her the suitcase filled with millions of euros, Beyza loses her mind. She confesses how she told the officials about Yalin’s lousy investment schemes and planned to restrict Yalin in prison.
Being betrayed by his wife, Yalin’s rage gets the better of him and he ends up slaughtering Beyza, too. Still undeterred, Yalin meets with the police officer and some locals the next morning while Beyza’s so-called best friend asks Yalin for a walk. Here, these locals gathered after Yalin dropped a hefty amount of euros in front of the police station. As a local talk about the investment scheme proposed by Yalin, Chokehold climaxes!
Chokehold Review: An Intriguing Thriller With A Compelling Plot Not Utilized Fully
Filmed in the aesthetic backdrop of Instanbul, Chokehold is a commendable Turkish thriller. Onur has maintained the tone and the movie feels like a fresh addition to the genre. It is not without its flaws though. Even though Kivanc and Funda are natural in their roles, the better half of the movie feels unnecessarily dragged.
Onur has utilized the storyline cleverly but it still remains a half-baked movie. The character development is the highlight of the movie with Kivanc’s deadly smirk being a visual delight. Chokehold stands at 7 on 10 with the stellar cast and compelling story considered!
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