Seklusyon Review

Rhed Bustamante as Anghela Sta. Ana,
a young girl gifted with healing powers in Seklusyon
(Screengrab from YouTube)

Evil is all around us. Evil takes all forms. Evil will come for you, no matter what you do or where you go.

Such idea is what drives this lone horror film entry in this year's Metro Manila Film Festival. Seklusyon (Seclusion) is director Erik Matti's fifth horror film. The first was Pasiyam (2004); second was Tiktik : The Aswang Chronicles (2012); third was Kubot : Aswang Chronicles 2 and the last one was the short films I is for Invincible (ABCs of Death 2, 2014) and Vesuvius. And of all his past works, this latest project is probably his best foray into the genre. And if compared to the past MMFF horror film entries that came before, this movie is probably way scarier and better than the very last nine installments of the Shake, Rattle & Roll franchise combined (with the exception of the 8th installment).

Erik Matti returns after his critically acclaimed entry last year, the thriller drama Honor thy Father (2015) which sparked the change of the film festival rules after the awards snub fiasco ( it was disqualified from the Best Picture category of the festival). Just like his last work, this film revolves around religion. While Honor Thy Father revolves around a religious congregation terrorizing a family after they got involved in a scam, Sekluyson follows four deacons who come face to face with evil during their ritualistic seclusion from the outside world. This period horror film, set in 1947, includes a subplot involving a priest who is investigating the miracles of a young girl named Anghela Sta. Ana. He believes that the nun who is accompanying the girl is evil and is trying to manipulate her. The film jumps from this narrative to back and forth to the first one as the story progresses, until it reaches it's final act where the two narratives meet.

The script, written by Anton C. Santamaria, bravely tackles ideas that we usually try to avoid. The events itself in the story acts as a metaphor, of how we react to today's news and events. The characters of Miguel (Ronnie Alonte), Fabian (Dominic Roque), Marco (John Vic De Guzman) and Carlo (JR Versales) are aspiring priest who must stay in a secluded location during the last seven days before they are anointed as official priests. During this stay, they are haunted by their secrets from their pasts, yet they try their best to suppress these secrets further. when something evil is obviously present right in front of them, the three of them chose to turn away and act as if nothing bad is happening. This is a nod to Filipinos who kept on turning a blind eye to the brutality and violence present in our society today. Despite all the deaths that is being reported to us in media, from television to newspaper, we chose to turn away. We kept on telling ourselves that everything's alright. That this is for our own country's betterment. Anton C. Santamaria's script infuses a lot of symbolism and ideas that directly mirrors the Philippine's current events. In the story, whatever we do to stop evil, it keeps on coming back and eventually wins. There is even a line from one of the characters stating that even if we destroy evil, we are already too late as they already have people hiding among us, slowly and secretly growing and bearing more fruits. This is exactly what's going on here in the country nowadays, particularly our government. The corrupt have already crawled their way into the system, growing more connections and infecting other governments officials with their dark ways and dirty tactics. One thing that I noticed though regarding the script is that there are times that the two narratives do not mixed that well. sometimes, the jumping back and forth from the first story line to the second breaks the flow of tension. Luckily, Erik Matti fixes all that.

Erik Matti gives life to this script with his trademark direction. The film is brutal and violent, just like his past films On The Job (2013) and Honor Thy Father. There's a lot of blood in the final act. A priest is burned alive from the inside out. A dead woman hanging from a tree gives birth to a dead fetus. We also get a lot of vomiting all throughout the film. There is a sense of dread and paranoia from start to finish. The opening sequence itself of the film is gorgeously choreographed and directed. It already sets the tone for the rest of the film. But what really makes this period piece stand out from the rest of the horror films that has plagued our cinemas for the past years is that it's real scares comes from the tension between each character. Yes, it does offer some effective jump scares and shocks. I remember jumping off my seat at least two to three times. But the real scares comes from the tension that you feel whenever you see one character staring at another with those devilish eyes. You can feel the dread when one character talks to another one and their secrets starts to be revealed. You can feel the uneasiness when you start doubting what is real and what is not, of who is evil and who is good. I can proudly say that this is one piece that we can compare favorably with other classics of the horror genre like The Omen (1976) and The Exorcist (1973).

The cast are made up of mostly lesser known actors compared to the past MMFF entries before (since star power was obviously the main driver of the previous versions of the festival). Yet these actors prove that a good movie isn't driven by popularity, but with pure talent. Ronnie Alonte who plays Miguel, an aspiring priest who is trying to forget the death of his previous lover. Honestly, he still needs a little more workshop. But being his first acting role in a film, he was able to successfully portray his character with gusto and energy. You can really see his passion in playing the role. He has promising talent, and he just needs the right people to guide him through. Dominic Roque has been in the industry for a couple of years now and I guess that's what made him a better actor. Compared to his past roles in other films, this one in this movie really allowed him to showcase his acting talent. Newcomers John Vic De Guzman and JR Versales plays Marco and Carlo respectively. These two actors may be new to the film industry, but you can really see great talent in them. Veteran actors Neil Ryan Sese and Lou Veloso adds up to the film's already powerful cast. Their inclusion to the film gives it a more old school appeal and a serious look. But the real breakout stars of the film are it's two actresses, Phoebe Walker and Rhed Bustamante. Phoebe Walker plays the silent and mysterious nun, Madre Cecilia, who always accompany the gifted young girl, Anghela Sta. Ana, played by Rhed Bustamante. Phoebe Walker dominates the first half of the film, with her long gaze and body movements that will make you feel uneasy every time. Her role doesn't offer much dialogue, yet she can clearly bring you chills just by her face, particularly those eyes. She can be seductive, yet creepy at the same time. That is until the second half of the film. Here, Rhed Bustamante dominates the screen with her Best Actress worthy performance. She is the scariest girl I have seen in a Filipino horror film since that creepy flower girl from Chito Rono's Sukob (2006). That's almost a decade worth of waiting. Rhed is like an adult stuck in a young girl's body. She talks and acts like she's as old as her fellow actors. She even throws lines that is so not appropriate for her age ("Puta siya. Puta ka."). Her acting skills are just beyond my comprehension. I just can't think of any other word to descrivbe her. She is a revelation. A gem of the film. If Eugene Domingo is the soul of the other MMFF entry Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2 : #ForeverIsNotEnough, Rhed Bustamante is the living force that embodies Seklusyon. For me, she should bag this year's Best Actress awards.

Seklusyon is a rare film that redefines the Filipino horror genre and takes it up one level higher. There might be times that the flow of tension is disrupted by it's sudden switch of narratives, but the film compensates that with smart, clever direction and praise-worthy acting. Overflowing with metaphors and symbolism, brimming with uneasiness and disturbing content, an eerie and atmospheric tone that is consistent all throughout, and paired with a very talented round of actors and actresses, Erik Matti masterfully cooks up one effective chiller that will surely scare the living daylights out of you. 

Rating: ✰✰✰✰1/2 out of 5

Seklusyon (2016)

Starring Ronnie Alonte, Rhed Bustamante, Phoebe Walker, Neil Ryan Sese, Lou Veloso, and Dominic Roque

Written by Anton C. Santamaria, directed by Erik Matti

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2 #ForeverIsNotEnough Review

Eugene Domingo awakens in this sequel to the 2011 indie hit.
(Screengrab from Youtube)

It's very rare to see a film so effective that it leaves you in awe long after it's closing credits. But with this year's Metro Manila film Festival, I have a good feeling that we've got plenty of that for everyone. After last year's film fest scandal which questioned the festival's true commitment and mission, a drastic change was made and we are now welcomed by a whole new Metro Manila Film Festival. The removal of box-office appeal as one of the festival's requirements and the focus on story and content really made a big difference, as seen in this year's list of MMFF entries. According to the committee, all these films are of high quality, films that we can be proud of even if we release them abroad. And I couldn't agree more. All of the entries in this year's festival are mostly independently produced films, but of high quality. Each film promises a truly unique and unforgettable movie experience.

And so, I decided to open my 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival with one of my most anticipated entries, the Eugene Domingo starrer, Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2 : Forever Is Not Enough.

This is a sequel to Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank, a 2011 Filipino comedy independent film directed by Marlon N. Rivera, written by Chris Martinez, and starring JM De Guzman, Kean Cipriano, Cai Cortez and Eugene Domingo. The first film was a satire that focused on the Philippine indie film industry and dishonesty of Filipino filmmakers participating in foreign film festivals. I remember watching the first film a few years back after it was shown in television for the first time. The film was one of the earliest indie films I've seen and I was so excited when I finally got the chance to watch it (even if it was just the televised version, which was probably shorter because of all the cuts). I really enjoyed watching it back then. I literally fell down my seat, laughing so hard. That was my fondest memory of the first film.

This sequel, on the other hand, satirizes the mainstream film industry. it also takes a stab on the Filipino romantic genre, with all the cliches and stereotypes that Pinoy romance films usually follow. I was so surprised when I first heard about the project. I never expected that the filmmakers behind the first film could actually come up with a sequel. But they did. Almost all the actors from the first film's cast are back. And I was so excited for it. I decided that this is the first film that I will watch from this year's MMFF. The only thing that I worried about is 1) can they exceed my expectations set by the first film and 2) will the film still be the same without JM de Guzman? Luckily, they did more than that. Thank God they did.

To start off, I watched the film on December 25, Sunday. It was the film's first day in cinemas. I also just got off from work that day (I work the night shift). Plus it was also Christmas day. It was also traffic (which was to be expected on that day). So imagine my exhaustion when I was on my way to the cinema. I was worried that I would end up dozing off halfway of the film. But then, the film did exactly the opposite.

To be honest, there isn't much of a story to tell. I really can't provide a short summary of the film since the entirety of the film is more of a long conversation between the characters, which extends to a little bit more than a day. Unlike most comedies released during the past MMFF, it doesn't have any over-the-top storyline that the usual Vice Ganda or Vic Sotto fanfare follow. Instead, it focuses on Rainier (Kean Cipriano), a director who previously worked with Domingo in his independent film as he and Jocelyn (played by Cai Cortez), his production manager together with their newbie production assistant, Lennon (ina silent but hilarious role by Khalil Ramos) as they try to convince Eugene Domingo (who plays an exaggerated version of herself) to star in their new project. This new film entitled "The Itinerary", written by Rainier himself, is about his personal struggle in his marriage. He has a vision already of how the film would look like, yet as Eugene Domingo comes on board with the project, she requests a lot of drastic changes to the final product, causing a rift between her and the director. The whole entirety of the film is all about Rainier's struggles as he tries to keep his original material intact in the final product, for he wants this film to be more personal. In addition to this, we get a glimpse on how the film is supposed to look like and how it turns out after the changes that Eugene's character wants to apply.

Yet, what makes this film so amazing is that the audience are easily pulled into the film because of these characters. They are too easy to like because they're not the usual kind of characters we see in the common Pinoy comedy. Chris Martinez' script is full of memorable dialogue. The script is one of his best and is reminiscent of his best works like Here Comes The Bride (2010) and Temptation Island (2011).  The exchange of conversation between these characters (with the exception of Lennon, I'll tell you why later) is full of wit and cleverness. They talk about film making; the way the wants of the Filipino audience shapes a film's final product; how Filipinos love cliches and stereotypes; the conventions of the Pinoy romantic genre and the fight between indie and mainstream cinema. They even came up with their so-called 3 levels of hugot which is a categorization of the usual Pinoy dramatic acting. It just feel so meta. All these self-referential humor makes this film so unusual. So memorable. It makes the film stand out from the rest of the film festival's entries. Marlon Rivera's direction brings this script to life with the energy and craziness he had with the first movie. His masterful orchestration of the whole film makes the film's flow and pacing so perfect that the audience don't even realize that we are just watching a group of people talking and coming up with all sorts of ideas and agreements. The pacing wasn't so slow nor way too fast. It was so consistent that we don't even notice that the whole film's event only happened in a matter of a day or two. The whole structure of the film was so clean and coherent. It was just outstanding. I don't think any other director can actually make this film the way director Rivera made it.

But the biggest gem of the film is probably the cast. Eugene Domingo, whom I last saw in the Jun Robles Lana drama film Barber's Tales, is definitely back on the game after her long hiatus. This serves as her comeback vehicle, and it definitely proves her worth to our country's cinema. I am still trying to find a perfect word to describe her performance in this film, but all I could think of is monstrous. Yes, indeed. She is like a monster devouring the audience with her quips and on time punchlines. I recall laughing so hard that I had to calm myself down while watching the movie. Two of my favorites scenes were 1) the sequence where she was explaining and re-enacting the 3 levels of hugot known to man; and 2) the final chase scene. She is no doubt, the soul of this movie. Kean Cipriano who plays Rainier, on the other hand, represents every film maker out there. Me myself is an aspiring director so I could really relate to him. I can see myself in his shoes. Here, Kean Cipriano proves that he definitely has the acting skills that most of his previous films didn't really highlighted. His best scene was probably the his last two sequences, the one where he finally had enough of Eugene Domingo's drastic changes to his proposed film and his last scene where he comes home to an empty house, realizing that it's too late to save his marriage. Cai Cortez was so funny as the group's production manager Jocelyn, trying her best balance keep the balance in making Eugene Domingo's requests and Direk Rainier's original plans. I can still vividly remember that scene where she tries to calm Rainier down ("Can you just relax? We're in a fucking spa!") It was downright hilarious. Khalil Ramos plays the crew's silent production assistant, and yes, he doesn't have any dialogues in the film. Yet, despite the lack of lines, his role is probably one of the most difficult to portray as he is required to express all his emotions through his face. Yet he triumphantly overcomes this challenge with his undeniable acting skills (as seen in his previous indie, Cinema One Originals Best Picture, 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten). His scenes, or should I say his facial expressions, provide laughs without any dialogue. Such example was the scene where he was asked by Eugene, Rainier and Jocelyn to take a picture of them and the part where they were forced to go through colon hydrotherapy. Joel Torre, Jericho Rosales and Agot Isidro completes the already talented cast as the proposed actors for their film project.

Certainly, this sequel does not disappoint. It actually exceeds all expectations set by the first film. I can strongly recommend this film to anyone who has been watching Filipino films for a long time. This film is one brave satire on our mainstream cinema, particularly to the big movie companies that dominate our theaters all throughout the year with their cliched and formulaic romcoms. It will definitely make you laugh out loud with every hilarious stab on the way we look at the Pinoy romance genre. So far, this is my top pick from this year's list of entries. It's inclusion to this year's list of movies for the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival is one of the best and craziest thing that has ever happened to this annual celebration. And I couldn't be more thankful.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ out of 5

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2 : #ForeverIsNotEnough (2016)

Starring Eugene Domingo, Kean Cipriano, Cai Cortez, Khalil Ramos with Joel Torre and Jericho Rosales

Directed by Marlon Rivera, Written by Chris Martinez

About the Blogger

Photo courtesy of Patrick Olarte

I am Jayson A. Laniba, but people know me more as Ace Antipolo. I am a big fan of movies, and an aspiring film director and writer myself. I have a particular love in Filipino films, both mainstream and indie, which is why I decided to start this blog. I'm not doing this to earn any profit because to be honest with you guys, I spend my own money to watch and support these films. I'm doing this because it's my passion. And because I love doing it. I want to feature all the Filipino Films that I've seen so that I could help in sharing it to my fellow millennials. Because I believe that all millennials deserve to watch quality films. Remember: Maraming Magagandang Filipino Films.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy reading. Welcome to Movies For Millennials.

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