This year marks my third year watching Cinema One Originals and I'm lucky because the first film that I was able to catch was Kenneth Lim Dagatan's "Ma", an IWant original movie. Although not being part of the official entries for this year's roster of films (it was screened in advanced as part of the festival), "Ma" is one of those films that will surely leave a mark and will generate some buzz.
"Ma" stars Anna Luna, Kyle Espiritu, Alessandra Malonzo and Enzo Osorio with Kate Alejandrino, Glydel Mecado and Rafa Sigiuon Reyna. It follows a trio of siblings, played by Kyle Espiritu, Alessandra Malonzo and Enzo Osorio who desperately tries to recover their mother (Mercado) from death through the help of a mysterious being in the form of an enchanted, talking bush inside a cave in the woods. Their paths will cross with a pregnant woman named Cecil (Anna Luna) who is still mourning for the death of her husband. Their paths will lead them to a dark and deadly conclusion as they finally come face to face with the evil force that has been manipulating their fates to its own bidding.
"Ma" starts off slow, as it introduces two separate storylines, one following the children's encounter with the mysterious creature in the cave and the other, focusing on Cecil as her mind slowly breaks down due to guilt and sadness over her husband's suicide. There is a consistent bode of tragedy all over the film from start to finish, adding up to the dreadful atmosphere that lingers at every scene. Director Dagatan managed to maintain that somber and creepy tone all throughout the movie. Unlike most films today which rely on cheap scares, he focuses on keeping that unsettling feeling that never lets you go even if the story already moved on to the next scene. That feeling that makes you worry for some unknown reason that it leaves you paranoid. The cast also helped a lot in maintaining that atmosphere. Glydel Mercado and Kate Alejandrino also deserves some praise for their effective performances. Anna Luna is commendable for her believable portrayal of a woman ridden with guilt. The three child actors, Kyle Espiritu, Alessandra Malonzo and Enzo Osorio were all amazing revelations. Kyle in particular, deserves some praise for his terrifying performance reminiscent of Rhed Bustamante's Anghela in "Seklusyon".
It's almost like a fairytale. Somehow, you start to root for the children after all the tragedies and heartbreaks they've had. But this feeling will be tested once the film hits the third and final act. This is where things get very brutal and bloody. The film goes for the jugular with its grizzly and graphic scenes that makes Erik Matti's "Buy Bust" look tamer. It doesn't even shy away from showing its gratuitous violence and gore.
Kenneth Lim Dagatan's "Ma" is a fairytale gone wrong... very, very wrong. It's a slow burn piece of brutal and unrelenting horror. It's fucking good.
Rating: 10/ 10
