Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino : "Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B" (2017) movie review

Ryza Cenon and Martin Del Rosario stars in "Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B"

Horror meets romance in director Prime Cruz' Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B. The film, which stars Ryza Cenon as the titular monster and Martin Del Rosario as her love interest, was one of the seven full length film entry in last year's QCinema International Film Festival. I've been dying (no pun intended) to watch this film during last year's QCinema International Film Festival but due to my strict schedules and the scarcity of the film's screenings, I wasn't able to catch it. Since then, I've been hoping to get a glimpse of the so-called Manananggal in Unit 23B, patiently waiting for a special screening of the film. Fortunately for me, AMSU23B has been selected to be one of the twelve entries in the very first Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Thank God for PPP!

Screenshots from the trailer

Dubbed as a dark romance or rom-gore, an amalgam of romance and gore, AMSU23B follows Jewel (played by Ryza Cenon), a mysterious woman who lives alone in the city. She has a secret which has led her to settle into a lonely existence. That is, until she meets Nico (Martin Del Rosario), a broken-hearted, down-and-out guy who also feels unlovable like she does. Jewel is torn between wanting to love him and wanting to save him from herself. Will he accept her if he knew the truth about her? Can she ever find love, or is she destined to be alone forever? Though that synopsis may sound like your usual young adult gothic romance in the vein of the Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson starrer Twilight (2008), you might get surprised because AMSU23B is not your Rated PG fantasy chick flick. AMSU23B is a much more adult fanfare akin to Scarlett Johansson's alien-themed scifi flick Under the Skin (2013). It amps up the blood and gore factor and makes your Pinoy folklore monster irresistible as hell, hence the R-16 rating. The film creates a unique take on the famous monster, making it sexy and sultry. Whenever she gets aroused, she starts to crave human flesh.

AMSU23B starts out with the usual boy-meets-girl tale, as Nico and his mother (Vangie Labalan) move into an apartment complex where the pretty but quiet Jewel resides (Fun fact: I'm not sure if this is just a coincidence, but most of Prime Cruz' work follows a boy and a girl meeting in an apartment complex: from his romcom Sleepless and his horror web series The Complex) He immediately catches her attention, and soon she is slowly drawn to him. They start hanging-out together, from a late-night chat over some beef mami to some balut-session at the complex' rooftop. Then, there's the trademark laundry scene which shares similarities to a scene in Prime Cruz' Can We Still Be Friends). Along the way, we get glimpses of men getting murdered by something (or someone, since it's obvious that it's the titular manananggal). The pacing of the film maybe a bit slow for those who are so used to watching the endless parade of local romcoms that are churned out by big movie companies all throughout the year. But that is what makes the film's romance work. I've seen director Prime Cruz' Sleepless last year and his Star Cinema produced Can We Still Be Friends earlier this 2017 and I've noticed that this has been his technique in squeezing out the chemistry between his leads. He builds up the romance between the characters slowly but surely. The story takes it's time in building up the connection between it's star-crossed lovers and it's what makes us fall deep into their story.

Though the film is dubbed as a rom-gore, to be honest, there isn't a lot of stomach-churning moments in the film that will repel normal viwers (though I'm not sure if the normal category fits me as I've been desensitized by years of watching horror movies so gore isn't really new to me). There's lots of blood, yes. Yet not enough gore or violence. But then again, AMSU23B's main focus is about a manananggal falling in love for the very first time, so I guess it's better that they had a bit of restrain when it comes to the gory aspects of the film. Now, speaking of the titular manananggal, we don't actually get to see Jewel in full form until the third and final act of the film. Though in the first hour, we see her kill a character, Director Prime Cruz tricks his audiences to imagine how she would look like through inventive shots and shadows, obscuring her actual appearance. But do not fret because once the film hits it's final act, the long wait is definitely worth it. Jewel's final transformation is epic and mindblowing. It's actually one of the most memorable moments of the film and is one of the most beautifully choreographed sequence in a local film in recent memory (next to the opening sequence of Jerrold Tarog's Bliss). In addition to that, the film also boasts some great and alluring visuals with it's obsession with green and red colors. Then, there's that delightful soundtrack that seals the whole package.

Vangie Labanan is a scene-stealer with her funny and cute portrayal of Nico's mom. Martin Del Rosario plays Nico with lots of angst and hugot. His portrayal of his character is simple yet heartfelt, to the point that it's relatable. There's something in him that is just way too adorable and innocent at the same time that makes his character a perfect contrast to Jewel. Ryza Cennon is so fun to watch as the titular manananggal falling in love for the very first time. I think she's the perfect actress for the part because she looks so gorgeous on screen and she can act well. Her character is the most crucial aspect of the film and the hardest one to pull off because the character switches from being coy and timid at first, to a seductive man-eating monster, but Ryza aced it with flying colors. She definitely owned this movie with her amazing and intense performance which is the biggest key in making the titular monster effective. She gets some plus points for that wild, sexy and daring masturbation scene which was a subject of controversy last year.



A must-watch in this year's Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Prime Cruz' Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B is a sexy, exotic indie gem that will leave a bite in your memory with it's unique take on the classic star-crossed lover story. It's romantic. It's tantalizing. It's bloody good.


Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B (2017)
Directed by Prime Cruz,
Starring Ryza Cenon and Martin Del Rosario

***

***

The "Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino" is a nationwide week-long celebration where all movie theaters will exclusively screen Filipino films in line with the Buwan ng Wika. This festive event is organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in partnership with theaters nationwide and will run from August 16-22, 2017.