Ilawod Review

Horror movies are meant to scare. To give you you an unusual or unpleasant feeling all throughout. It's not just about the jump scares or the number of times you will scream. You know that a horror film is effective in it's purpose when it you feel that uneasiness while watching it. I've always loved horror movies, especially those produced locally. I remember watching Gore Verbinski's The Ring(2002) back when I was a kid and it started my interest in the genre. Then, I saw Chito Rono's Feng Shui (2004) and it ignited my dream to become a filmmaker someday and create a horror movie myself. The last good Pinoy horror movie that I've watched was Erik Matti's Seklusyon (2016) and it has set my standards for all locally produced horror flicks since then. I enjoy the rush and thrills that I feel whenever I watch a good horror movie. I loved how it kept me in my toes, watching for something scary to pop out of every corner.

This is what director Dan Villegas was most likely trying to put out in his first attempt in the genre, Ilawod. The title literally translates to downstream or water flowing in a downward direction. It is also the name of the titular water spirit that haunts and terrorizes the primary characters in the film. The film stars veteran actors and actresses like Ian Veneracion and Iza Calzado. It also features some up and coming stars like Xyriel Manabat, Harvey Baustista and Teri Malvar, with Epy quizon in a supporting role.

The film was written by Yvette Tan. According to her, the whole idea started as a joke a few years back. Dan Villegas told her that he will direct a horror movie someday and she will be the one writing it. It turns out that he was serious with the idea at that time. Villegas' wife, Antoinette Jadaone, was the one who suggested the name of the titular water spirit. The film has a pretty much straight-forward story that I'm sure anyone can follow easily. It opens with Dennis, an online journalist, with his photographer and best friend Carlo, as they follow a story about a woman possessed by an evil spirit in the province. After covering the story, Dennis unknowingly brought the spirit with him in his home. The spirit, known as Ilawod, starts to haunt and affect each member of his family. It begins with Dennis: whenever he drinks hot drinks or any liquid such as soup, he tastes nothing but bitterness. It also starts to affect his mood and he becomes overly aggressive over small things.  His wife, Kathy (played by the ever beautiful Iza Calzado) starts to feel unusually hot (and horny, I guess?) whenever she drinks any liquid or come in contact with water (like whenever she's taking a bath). At the same times, their eldest son, Ben (Harvey Baustista) becomes the point of interest of the water spirit, who appears and manifest itself as a teenage girl named Isla (Teri Malvar). Only their youngest, their daughter Bea (Xyriel Manabat) sees Isla's true form yet she cannot tell it to anyone because no one would believe her, causing her to feel isolated.  Soon, the water spirit's manifestations becomes stronger and more violent, and it also starts to tear the family apart. As I've said before, the plot is pretty much straight-forward. Which makes it easier for anyone to jump into the story. The manifestations of the titular water spirit is also somehow simple, but very effective. They start out in small and harmless, but slowly becomes a burden to each of the characters as it starts to take a toll on every one of them. 

As I've said in my other articles and posts before, I've always been a fan of director Dan Villegas. He is my second most favorite Pinoy director (next to Petersen Vargas of 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten fame). I loved all his works, with English Only Please (2014), Always Be My Maybe and How To Be Yours (2016) being my favorites. His movies have this realistic approach to it's characters. They feel like real people, in a real world. The way he builds them up makes these characters so endearing and empathetic. We actually root for his characters and hope for a happy ending for them. And that approach is what he applied to his first attempt at the horror genre. The family portrayed in this film is your average Filipino film living in the urban world. Their portrayal mirrors how most middle class families live their everyday lives. They reflect reality. Director Villegas knows that in order to scare the audience, we have to root for these characters. He have to feel their pain. We have to believe they're real. This is also the same reason why the film shines above most locally released horror movies in the past. Unlike most of these horror movies, the film is grounded in reality. The characters approach these supernatural happenings like how real people would deal with them in the real world (except for one moment which made me a bit frustrated). It's somehow way more logical than other horror movies in the past. 

Another strong element of the film is it's selection for the cast. This is quite an emsemble that director Dan Villegas was able to come up with. Ian Veneracion was a good choice for the role of Dennis. His looks and appeal is perfect for the role. His dramatic skills which, we mostly see in teleseryes these days, are prominently featured in the film. Iza Calzado is amazing as always. I remember watching her in horror movies from the past like Sigaw (2004) and Shake, Rattle and Roll 8 (2006) where she played a nanny turned aswang in one of the episodes of the anthology. She also starred in the 2007 hit by Topel Lee,Ouija, and the The Echo, 2008 American remake of her film, Sigaw. She has been a favorite in the horror genre, next to Kris Aquino. There's something in the way she projects her emotions that makes her fit for the genre. Kris Aquino has her trademark scream. With Iza Calzado, it's something else. Maybe it's her eyes, the way she expresses fear. I don't know. But she is always the best choice for a horror lead for me. And this movie is perfect for her. She embodies the modern day Filipina, and proves to be a true scream queen of Philippine cinema.

Harvey Baustista and Xyriel Manabat were also great on their roles. Harvey Baustista was quite good in portraying the young troubled son of Dennis and Kathy. He was quite disturbing to watch during the scene where he was cutting his arms with a blade. I was also so surprised to see Xyriel, all grown up, in this movie. Her acting was very mature, as compared to her previous projects. In one scene in particular, she was able to amazingly project fear in the most heartbreaking manner as she pleads her parents to let her in their room while the evil water spirit approaches her slowly. But I guess, it's Teri Malvar who really steals the show in her creepy portrayal of Isla, and the evil water demon Ilawod. If Seklusyon has Rhed Bustamente to be proud of, this movie has Teri Malvar to be applauded. Her eyes and body movements gives out a weird and unnatural feel to her character, adding up to the already creepy atmosphere in every scene whenever she's present. The way she approaches Harvey Baustista's character is sexy and serene yet uneasy and disturbing.

In addition to this, the film is also one of the most gorgeous looking horror pics I've seen from a tfor studio film outfit. It's cinematography was very beautiful and detailed. Every frame was well planned. Every scene was shot with precision and focus. It plays on it's theme of water in every sequence, with the camera panning and moving with fluidity. It has heavy focus on the dark blue palette, from the colors of the gushing waters in the river from the opening scene (which was so inviting, I must say) to the shades of the urban environment. This adds a creepy and atmospheric tone all throughout the film. The titular Ilawod was also a great antagonist for the film. Although her motives weren't that much clear. She only tells Dennis in the final act that she's doing this just because he doesn't believe, but for me it's not enough to justify her actions towards the family. But i guess no one can really expect to have a concrete explanation for the supernatural and the unknown.

The only thing that I somehow felt unnecessary in the film was the music. The soundtrack was a bit overbearing all throughout the movie. It was a bit too loud at times, which was supposed to make the audience jump, but it didn't really worked on me. It just irritated me. It was like it's trying to make the audience expect something would jump out of somewhere to surprise them, but there really isn't any. It worked in other local horror movies before like Chito Rono's films Feng Shui and Sukob (2006) because something actually ends up jumping out of the frame in the scene. But here, it only puts the audience on their toes with the musical scoring, but lets them down at the end of the scene. Director Dan Villegas attempts some jump scares here and there, but that's the part where he ultimately fails. Luckily, the film still manages to creep you out at some points. One memorable scene in particular was the part where Dennis and Kathy were shown the CCTV footage showing one of their children. It reminded me of a infamous CCTV video clip of Elise Lam back in 2013 who was seen in riding an elevator and acting weird, as if talking to someone invisible, and turning up dead a few days later, her body floating in the water tank of the hotel she's staying.

The film may not be the conventional horror movies that most of us are accustomed to as it lacks enough scares (for me) that will make you scream or jump out of your seat. But Dan Villegas' film is sure to give you some goosebumps all throughout the film. It succeeds in making the viewers feel uneasy and tensed with it's quiet yet creepy approach at the genre. It's not exactly scary, but it's damn good for a Filipino horror film. And that's enough for me.
Rating: ✰✰✰1/2 out of 5

Ilawod (2017)

Starring Ian Veneracion, Iza Calzado, Xyriel Manabat, Harvey Bautista and Teri Malvar

Written by Yvette Tan, directed by Dan Villegas