Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino : "Salvage" (2017) movie review

SALVAGE, a found footage horror film
by Sherad Anthony Sanchez

It's quite hard to scare people like me who's been desensitized by years of watching countless horror movies in my 23 years of existence. And it sucks, especially because I'm a big horror junkie. I loved being scared. I loved the thrill and excitement. But now, it's very rare to come across a good horror movie. These days, i'm looking for something different. A new brand of horror. Something weird. Something unique. Most of today's audiences have also grown tired of the genre too. So horror movies nowadays need to find new ways to scare people. There's also a scarcity in our local horror movie genre because first, most of the films produced here are romcom or comedies; and second, there aren't a lot of good local horror flicks recently. In Salvage (2015, the film had screenings during the 11th Cinema One Originals film festival), director Sherad Anthony Sanchez wants to subvert horror with one of it's tired sub genres: the found footage.

Taking cues from classic found-footage films before like Ruggero Deodato's Cannibal Holocaust (1980) which revolutionized the found footage style of narrative filmmaking, later popularized by such films as The Blair Witch Project (1999)  and Paranormal Activity (2007), the film has a similar plot as it follows missing documentary film crew. After being suspended, a TV news Team is redirected to an unwanted assignment of Aswang rumors in a town in Central Mindanao. Cynical and unenthusiastic, they follow their lead towards a remote barrio where they experience the varying definitions of salvage. The film stars Jessy Mendiola. JC De Vera, Joel Saracho, Karl Medina and Barbie Capacio, the film was produced by Cinema One and Salida Productions way back in 2015 and is getting a commercial release just now.

The film starts out with your typical behind-the-scenes look on how documentaries are done. Here, we get a glimpse on what the media is willing to do for the sake of ratings and viewership. It's like a satire on today's journalists, and their portrayal is often humorous and at times over-the-top. We are led to believe that the suspect behind those murders in the province are aswangs, but then, the film takes for a turn as it is revealed that the mythical monster is not the real culprit. It's somehow satirical, considering that the real people behind the disappearances and murders in the town is the military there, which reflects the daily news that we watch everyday on extrajudicial killings and overkill by the police force. After this revelation, the movie takes off from being your normal found footage film to a weirder movie that no one, not even me, can still comprehend up until now. Don't get me wrong as to why I still cannot interpret the movie easily. I've seen the film twice now (the first was during last year's Cinema One Originals film festival) but it's still hard to explain what the whole movie is all about. This is when I realized that the film is doesn't really have a straight-forward story and instead, goes for a psychedelic mind-trip. Revealing what really happened will definitely spoil the movie and ruin the experience, but let's just say that the town that they went into is like our country's own local version of the Bermuda Triangle.

The film's use of the found footage technique is quite fun to watch. This subgenre may not be new to moviegoers as we have seen countless of them before, but it is definitely new to local cinema. This may as well be the first found footage horror film that we had (there's another found footage Pinoy horror flick earlier this year entitled Darkroom but it was sort of forgettable). The use of glitches and pixelation in it's scenes, similar to the technique used in Unfriended (2015) was really effective. It adds a gritty feel to the movie because it seems like an actual recovered documentary reel. These glitches and pixelations also creates some really creepy and disturbing visuals. During the first half of the film, we see the action unfold through the lenses of the team's camera. But soon, these characters starts to experience some weird, hypnotic trance and the camera shots eventually get's mixed up with the character's point-of-view, blurring the lines between what reality and fiction. This is what makes Salvage trippy and mind-bending kind of fun. Director Sherad Anthony Sanchez' take on horror isn't like your typical horror flick where you get thrown one jump scare after another. The horror in this film is about the unknown. It's all about uncertainty and unpredictability. You are not sure what you are seeing anymore. You're not even sure if there is an actual plot anymore. But here you are, glued to the screen. You can't take your eyes off it. You have to see what happens next. You have to know where this will lead the characters. You don't care about the story or plausibility of the film. You're like riding a roller-coaster in an amusement park: you just stay and sit there, enjoying the wild ride.

To their credit, the cast were very game in giving their best into this movie. Jessy Mendiola plays Melay, the segment producer of the a news and current affairs show on television. Her portrayal of the role is simple, which makes it believable. Her added charisma works well on screen especially for her character as we mostly follows her through all the mayhem in the movie and root for her survival. JC De Vera plays Neil, the team's cameraman. Though he is mostly not seen for quite some time in the film since he is always the one holding the camera, he still tries his best when it comes to his acting scenes. Barbie Capacio adds humor to the film's gritty atmosphere. The whole theater roars with laughter every time she is present. Joel Saracho and Karl Medina add some great screen presence as they complete the team's cast. It was so fun to watch them run around the forest, screaming and cursing at the same time. Though there were some moments when the acting was a bit rough or may come as over-the-top, it looks like they're just playing around, having fun, and that's what makes it enjoyable to watch (especially that thrilling jeepney chase).

At times, the film is a hit-or-miss and this is most likely due to the film's very limited budget. This film was produced through film grants from the Cinema One Originals film festival and not like those slick Hollywood found footage films we've seen in theaters. But luckily, the crew tries to overcome it's limited financial sources by experimenting on different techniques to create a film like Salvage. I know for sure that this movie may not fit well for the tastes of other moviegoers, but for those cinephiles who wants to see something different from Philippine cinema, this movie is for you. Sherad Anthony Sanchez' Salvage is a bizarre, hallucinatory mindfuck - one that will stick in your mind for along time.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5

Salvage (2017) 

Directed by Sherad Anthony Sanchez,
Starring Jessy Mendiola. JC De Vera, Joel Saracho, Karl Medina and Barbie Capacio

***

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.

Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino : "Birdshot" (2017) movie review

Mikhail Red's "Birdshot" (2017)

The highly anticipated "Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino" has officially begun last August 16, 2017. And I decided to kick off this film festival with Mikhail Red's "Birdshot" (2017). I've been hearing a lot of positive feedback about this movie so I was really excited to finally see it in the big screen. The film opened the 13th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival last August 4, at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see it back then due to my busy schedule. Fortunately for me, the film is one of the twelve Filipino movies that has been selected to be part of the "Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino."

The coming-of-age thriller tells the story of a young farm girl who wanders off into a Philippine forest reserve. Deep within the reservation, she mistakenly shoots and kills a critically-endangered and protected Philippine Eagle. As the local authorities begin a manhunt to track down the poacher, their investigation leads them to an even more horrific discovery. The mystery-drama film has won production funding from the Doha Film Institute and the CJ Entertainment Award at BIFF's Asian Project Market. The mystery-drama film has also won the Best Picture in the Asian Future category of the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival, and has been selected at the Goteborg Film Festival: The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award. The film, penned by Mikhail Red and Rae Red, stars Mary Joy Apostol as Maya, Arnold Reyes as Domingo, John Arcilla as Mendoza, and Ku Aquino as Diego. [Source: Cinemalaya]

"Birdshot" is undeniably one of the most compelling stories from the Philippines. It's story mixes a coming-of-age tale with a mystery thriller angle as it follows Maya, a teenage girl who is forced to face the consequences of her actions which results to a twisted and tragic fate for everyone involved. The characters in the story are all entangled in a web of lies and deceit, and the choices that they make eventually causes them to get pushed further into a darker path. The film tackles relevant issues that are plaguing the country today, from corruption of the authorities to police brutality. Some of the scenes in the movie eerily mirrors similar events that happened in recent years, such as the Hacienda Luisita dispute and the Maguindanao massacre. This gives the film a gritty and realistic feel.

The film did not clearly specified the era of when the story happened, but obviously, it's at a time when cellphones don't exist yet (at one point, one character is shown using a rotary dial telephone which gives us a clue of it's period drama setting). This adds up to the overall mystery of the story. I love how the film introduces multiple yet interesting subplots in the beginning of the film. These subplots are then interwoven together, forming one big web of drama and mystery. The film follows two separate cases that soon ties up smoothly in the film's ending. The first is the death of a haribon (Philippine eagle) inside a sanctuary. Maya unknowingly shot an eagle in the said sanctuary, breaking the law on endangered animals in the country. Her father, Diego, tries his best to cover up the crime to save his daughter from the prosecution (I'm guessing it's because his daughter is almost of legal age and will have to face the penalty for the violation, though I'm not really sure). The second story follows Domingo, a policeman investigating the disappearance of a group of men on their way to Manila. He and his partner, Mendoza soon discover their missing vehicle, a bus, empty without any clue on what happened to it's passengers. As he continue his investigation (despite the strict order of his boss to let go of the case), he discovers that there's a bigger conspiracy behind all of it that will change his perspective as a man of authority. Then, there's also a subtle reference to the supernatural along the way.

The different story lines made the film more interesting and enjoyable to watch because both plots offers different kind of thrills to the viewers. We feel worried for Maya and his father as they try to hide the truth about the death of the bird from the authorities. We are mystified if the unknown entity that Maya is seeing is really of supernatural origin or not. We are puzzled on what really happened to that missing group of men. We are anxious as to where this investigation will lead Domingo in the end.

In "Birdshot", director Mikhail Red proves that he is definitely one of the most promising filmmakers of the country that we should look out for in the future. Red's masterful direction is evident from the first frame of the film until the last shot. He is focused in every aspect of the film, even up to the tiniest details. The film may be a slow-burn thriller but he made sure that the tension is kept consistent from start to finish. His attention to detail makes the film's visuals more impactful. Cinematography-wise, "Birdshot" is eye-catching and breathe-taking. From the golden cornfields stretching across the land to the claustrophobic forest that is hiding a dark secret, cinematographer Mycko David  uses these locations to the film's advantage. Every scene is shot gorgeously, leaving the audience in awe. In addition to that, the wardrobe of these characters have this unique look that you usually see in Korean or Japanese movies, from the trademark red shawl of Maya's character to the vintage looking brown uniforms of the police, which gives the movie a distinct foreign look and feel.

Mary Joy Apostol gives a surprisingly good performance as Maya. Despite the fact that she is a newcomer to the film industry as this was her first full feature film credit, she was able to match her fellow actors in terms of acting. Ku Aquino who plays Diego, Maya's father, was also great. Cinemalaya 2017 Best Supporting Actor Dido Dela Paz is one hell of an antagonist. Arnold Reyes was outstanding in his role of Police Captain Domingo. He was able to give justice to his character, which was one of the toughest to pull off. His character had to go through a harrowing change along the way and Arnold depicted that in a convincing and believable way. He shined in that interrogation scene with him and Ku Aquino in the police station, which in turn was one of the most unforgettable moments of the film. John Arcilla never fails to amaze us with his committed performance as Domingo's partner, Mendoza.  His character also have the most memorable lines from the film (like "Paano tayo magsisimula kung ang meron lang tayo ay wala?") He and Arnold Reyes have great chemistry together: one is young and innocent about the lies and deceit in their surrounding, while the other is tenured and has gotten used to the evil and corruption around him and has learned to play along to survive.



The film's final moments is also one of the most unforgettable endings in a Filipino film. It's bloody, brutal, unsettling and eerie, especially the final revelation in the finale.

Mixing sharp social commentary with a compelling story, coupled with great performances of the cast and brilliant direction of it's helmer, "Birdshot" is a one-of-a-kind, must-see movie that elevates Philippine Cinema to a whole new level. This is the kind of movie that defines the word "astig".

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
"Birdshot" (2017)
Directed by Mikhail Red, Screenplay By Mikhail Red, Rae Red
Starring Mary Joy Apostol, Arnold Reyes, Ku Aquino, and John Arcilla

***

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.

Bloody Crayons (2017) movie review

Source: Star Cinema website

I've always loved watching/ reading a good murder mystery story ever since I've read Agatha Christie's classic novel "And Then There Were None". There's a certain thrill and excitement in watching and reading these types of stories because you feel like a detective, trying to discover who the real culprit is. Plus, these kinds of stories always have the best payoffs once the killer is revealed in the end. Unfortunately, there aren't any Filipino made murder mystery movies that has been released in the past years as I recall. So it was such a delight when Star Cinema has announced way back in April 2015 that they have picked up the rights to the movie adaptation of a hit Wattpad novel by Josh Argonza, entitled Bloody Crayons, to be topbilled by Jane Oineza. The said novel was a murder mystery published as a two-part book. I've read the books myself and fell in love with it, so that added to my excitement of seeing it come to life in the big screen.

It's been more than two years since Star Cinema has produced a thriller film with Emmanuel Palo's Halik sa Hangin (2015) which starred Julia Montes, Gerald Anderson and JC de Vera, although that film has a more YA fiction feels, combining the mystery/ thriller genre with romance. The result was a gothic love story which was somehow entertaining. Unfortunately with Bloody Crayons, the project had gone through a lot of changes, from change of casts and directors to revisions of the script, taking it two years to finish (the film was supposed to be released last year). But I guess the final result was worth the wait because it turns out that Bloody Crayons (2017) is the best thriller film that Star Cinema has released in years.

In this exciting new film from Star Cinema and under the direction of Topel Lee, Janella Salvador, Elmo Magalona, Sofia Andres, Diego Loyzaga, Jane Oineza, Maris Racal, Yves Flores Empoy, and Ronnie Alonte make up a barkada who troop to an island for their film project. What begins as a fun trip turns deadly when they played the game Bloody Crayons. After one of them dies mysteriously after their game, tension arise as they get killed one by one. Soon, everyone is suspicious of one another as to who the real killer is. Will they find the real culprit and make out of the island alive before all of them get killed?

Being a fan of the books from which the movie was adapted from, of course I had high expectations for this movie. Honestly speaking, whenever there is a movie adaptation of a Wattpad novel by a big film production in the country, the final product isn't always as good as it's source material. Too much changes from the novel's story makes you question if they actually just wants to use the novel's title and not the actual story (She's Dating The Gangster, 2014). On the other hand, stuffing too much of the novel's original storyline makes the film a non-sense miss mash of epic proportions (Talk Back And You're Dead, 2014). Luckily, director Topel Lee and his team of writers took time and making sure that the changes in the novel's original storyline is enough that the viewers will still recognize it's source material, but also adding some original ideas to it to make it distinguishable on it's own.

To start with, the film tries to follow the typical slasher tropes that we have seen so many times in various slasher movies. It starts with a group of friends spending their vacation in a secluded island to complete a school project. Of course, there's always the virgin (the good girl in the group which obviously is destined to be the final girl), the jock, the joker, and so forth. In addition to that, one of the main characters was even shown reading a copy of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, a nod to this classic novel that became the inspiration for many murder mysteries that followed it. This nod put a smile to my face as it is evident that the minds behind this film wants to make it as self-referential as it can be. The film takes tries to build up as much of it's characters as it can during the first act. It reveals some love triangles between the group, trying to give the characters motives to hate one another. The film becomes a bit melodramatic here, but at least it's successful in giving enough background to some, if not all of the characters.

But the real fun starts one the group plays the game they called Bloody Crayons. Here, each characters' deepest and darkest secrets are revealed. As the game continues, the tension between the characters becomes more and more agitating. This is probably my most favorite moment of the film as one of the film's actresses, Jane Oineza, really stole the show from everyone else with her character's unpredictable turn. As the game ends, one of them dies (I'm not gonna reveal who it is) sending the characters to hysteria. This is where the movie turns to it's slasher mode as the characters die one by one. Being a big horror fan, I was really looking forward to how the characters will get executed. I actually loved how the first kill was done as it was presented in a simple yet tension-filled way. Some of the kills were done off screen, most likely as the studio was aiming for a lower R-13 rating from the MTRCB which was a bummer. But nevertheless, the film compensated for it's minimal violence and gore with tremendous amount of dread and suspense.

The deaths causes everyone to start doubting their friendship and starts to get suspicious of one another. In one of the film's craziest and most fun moments, the remaining characters point fingers at one another. This scene will definitely put a smile in your face and will also keep you guessing who among the survivors is the real killer. The film is also complete with scenes of intense thrills that will really put viewers on their toes for the whole duration of the film. Director Topel Lee manages to weave some of the year's best chase sequences for a local thriller film. The chase scene in the basement was really fun and exciting and is one of the best moments of the film to watch out for.

The film is also one of the most gorgeous looking local films in recent memory. The film's cinematography was so bright and crisp. One can't help but be mesmerize by the stunning shots used in the film that you would think twice if you're really watching a genre film. The sound design of the film was also really good because the team behind it really knows when to pump up the volume to bring up the scares and when to keep the scene silent to intensify the suspense.

The film features an ensemble of up-and-coming teen stars that adds up to the appeal of the film. This project was originally led by Jane Oineza, Joshua Garcia and Manolo Pedroza, all three coming fresh from their Pinoy Big Brother stint in 2014. But after all the recasting and rewrites, they were replaced by Janella Salvador, Elmo Magalona and Ronnie Alonte. I've seen Janella before in the 2015 horror film Haunted Mansion. Just like before, she's still really good in acting. Too bad her character's writing isn't as interesting as the rest. Elmo Magalona and Ronnie Alonte were okay in their respective roles, but just like the problem with Janella, their characters we're written so blandly that they were forgettable. Also, Ronnie could use a little bit more workshop because his acting hasn't changed from the way he does it in his teleserye. Sofia Andres and Diego Loyzaga we're way better than I expected. Diego really nailed the alpha jock character he's playing. Yves Flores and Empoy Marquez were really fun to watch as their characters were written way better than the three leads. But the stand-out of the film was Jane Oineza and Maris Racal. Maris added more energy to the film with her quirky antics that was reminiscent of her unforgettable performance in Vince & Kath & James (2016). On the other hand, despite losing the lead role of the film, Jane Oineza stole the show with her unparalleled performance in her role. Her character was actually the most interesting to watch among the group. It was also the hardest to pull off but Jane manages to shine in the most demanding role in the film. It was as if this movie was really meant for her, and she definitely owned it.

The film's final twist was changed from the original novel's ending. But that actually made the film more fun for me as I was guessing who the killer really is the whole time. As the credit's role, I can't help but smile after watching it. Being a fan of the original novel, I was pretty much satisfied with it. This is the best book-to-movie adaptation that Star Cinema had.

Bloody Crayons is by far the best thriller film that Star Cinema had produced in recent memory. This is the film that is best enjoyed with your barkada. It's not exactly as bloody as I hoped. But it's fun, suspenseful, thrilling, exciting, and a surprising treat that will promise you a good time in the cinema.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5

Bloody Crayons (2017)

Starring Janella Salvador, Elmo Magalona, Sofia Andres, Diego Loyzaga, Jane Oineza, Maris Racal, Yves Flores Empoy, and Ronnie Alonte 

Directed by Tople Lee

Ang Pagsanib Kay Leah Dela Cruz (2017) movie review

Horror is one of the most popular genres here in the country, particularly when it comes to movies. So it's common that we get one or two horror flicks here in the country every year. This 2017, so far there hasn't been at least one horror movie from the country (I wanna say Jerrold Tarog's Bliss but it's more of a psycho-sexual thriller). But then, here comes this creepy possession movie from the creators of last year's Seklusyon. Finally, my thirst for horror was quenched.

Erik Matti (the genius behind Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles & Seklusyon) gives us another story of demonic possession, this time with director Katski Flores in her horror genre debut. The script, penned by Charlene Sawit-Esguerra with story by Matti follows a lady cop who moves into a small town gets drawn to a case that involves a girl that's possessed by an evil spirit. It stars Sarah Lahbati, Shy Carlos and Julian Trono.

The film opens with a sequence of a gloomy and empty dirt road in the province, with the shot taken from the back of a moving vehicle. Some creepy guy appears out of nowhere until the vehicle ran past him, only for this creep to appear again. This opening scene definitely sets the right tone for the rest of the film. The focus switches to Ruth Liwanag (in a surprising performance by Sarah Lahbati), a police officer who has just recently moved to a small town far from the city. With all those flashbacks she's having, it can be concluded that her character's definitely running away from something. Then, we are introduced to Leah Dela Cruz (Shy Carlos). With those swollen and puffy eyes and those blood-stained hands, there's clearly something wrong with her. Most especially after she climbs up the balcony and jumps off from the second floor of their house on a Sunday morning. Here, the story kicks off.

I always loved demonic possession movies, from the classics (The Exorcist) to the recent ones from Hollywood (The Conjuring and it's sequel). Whenever we watch possession movies, we always look forward to something. It's as if there's already a formula that we have memorized after seeing all those past movies. When we say possession movie, we expect seeing flying furnitures, body-twisting moments, and the inevitable exorcism scene in the finale. But despite being a possession movie (as you can read in the film's title), Katski Flores' Ang Pagsanib kay Leah Dela Cruz is something different. You won't see any of those aforementioned stuff in this movie. Instead, it offers you something else.

The film isn't your usual possession movie. Ang Pagsanib doesn't care about building up a climactic exorcism scene nor showing off the usual symptoms of a possessed victim (unnatural body movements, spinning heads, projectile vomiting anyone?). Instead, it focuses on digging deeper into the story behind the possession. It's story is like an onion being peeled layer over layer, mystery being unraveled on top of another. There's always a revelation after every scene. Secrets of every characters are revealed, giving us a much deeper look into their lives and how every single one of them contributed to what happened to Leah's character. This is no surprise since master storyteller Erik Matti is the one behind the story of the film. 

The film is also not the usual horror movie that we see these days. It's not the average scare flick that makes you jump out of your seat every ten minutes with loud noises and cheap scares (although I had one or two moments that really made me jumped). Instead, director Katski Flores is invested in building up the mystery behind Leah's possession. The film is overflowing with creepiness and dread from start to finish. From the dark palette of it's cinematography to the film's quiet moments, the film is very consistent with it's dark and gloomy tone. It evokes a feeling as if everyone's doomed from the beginning until the end and there's nothing we can do about it. But despite the depressing atmosphere, the film manages to get us hooked to it's story with it's intriguing mystery. The film is also unapologetic when it comes to violence and gore, making it truly nightmarish.

The film also boasts a great cast. Shy Carlos deserves praise for her portrayal of Leah Dela Cruz. Her character is probably the most draining role in the film. It needs an actress that can properly portray a sick and possessed girl without bordering on being over-the-top. And she manages to do that, especially in one scene (the one featured in the trailer of the film) where she's sitting on her bed and she's hearing voices in her head. She reminds me of Rhed Bustamante's performance in Seklusyon (2016). Julian Trono was also good as good as Gabriel, Leah's love interest. In the story, he builds a strong brotherly bond with Ruth's character, which became a crucial plot point in the film's climax. Julian has this innocent charm which perfectly fits his character, an honest yet flawed teenager. 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten's Ethan Salvador also had a cameo and he always steals the scene every time he's in it.  But the biggest revelation in this film was Sarah Lahbati. Her portrayal of a police officer going after demons is one of the most bad-ass Pinoy heroine in a movie for a long time. Aside from having a beautiful face, Sarah Lahbati proves in this film that she can act. I love it whenever she throw her lines with wit and punch. Unlike her past movies like the aswang thriller Liwanag sa Dilim, she definitely stood out in this film and I am looking forward to seeing her in more movies in the future.

All in all, Ang Pagsanib kay Leah Dela Cruz is one unique horror movie experience that rarely comes to Philippine cinemas. Katski Flores' film is one effective exercise of dread and thrills.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰ of 5

Ang Pagsani Kay Leah Dela Cruz (2017)

Starring Sarah Lahbati, Shy Carlos and Julian Trono, 

Directed by Katski Flores