REVIEW: The Healing

Title: The Healing

Director: Chito Roño

Producer: Star Cinema

Distribution: Star Cinema

Date of premiere: July 25, 2012

Fresh from finishing watching all the movies in Cinemalaya 2012 last Saturday, I rushed over to TriNoma Mall to view the R18 showing of Star Cinema's The Healing. It was my fourth film for the day but I had no complaints, since I am a big horror movie fan.

And The Healing did not disappoint. It feels fresh and unique, since it may be the first Filipino horror movie that takes its cues from gore-fest slashers like Saw, Hostel, and Vacancy. Unlike previous horror movies, which only flirt with the possibilities of blood, and if ever, will not show them onscreen, The Healing is more than over-the-top in execution. [I wrote a shining review about it for PEP.]

The film also breaks taboos in Philippine cinema. What are these taboos? Killing children in a violent manner is one of them, and this movie has one of that.

What I like most about this film is that it seemed to give nods to several obscure pop culture niches. For me, it was a treasure trove of references, kinda like the excellent Cabin in the Woods.

Here's a list of the references I saw in The Healing:

[SPOILERS BELOW.]

1. The scene where the kid mowed down groups of monks using a ninja weapon was fun, and akin to Lolita-inspired anime.

2. When the kid jumped off from the roof and got impaled on a pole, then slid slowly down, it reminded me of Omen. This scene was cut from the R-18 version.

3. When the policeman snapped and shot everyone moving along a corridor, it reminded me of video game shooters, like Counter Strike.

4. When Ynes Veneracion brandished a large knife to behead Allan Paule, it reminded of Rena in Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni.

Rena Ryuugu

5. The scene where an old man held someone hostage in a boxing gym reminded me of the real-life bus hostage in Quirino Grandstand, which resulted to the death of several Chinese citizens. Why? Because a TV crew was stupidly broadcasting the events live.

6. When the camera feed broke for a few seconds in the scene where Kim Chiu and Martin del Rosario were hiding in a remote house, it reminded me of the recent Shyamalan-penned Devil.

The surprise video footage from Devil.

7. Lastly, Mercedes Cabral was a hilarious Sailor Moon knock-off.

By the way, if you were wondering what scenes were cut to make the movie R-13, you should read the MTRCB certificates posted near the cinemas. I read it, and here are the scenes that were cut.

a. Allan Paule's actual beheading not shown.

b. Again, when the kid was stabbed by a pole, the slide down was cut.

c. The corridor-shooting scene was shortened.

RATING: 4 stars out of 5
SUMMARY: Essential viewing for horror movie fans. Watch the R-18 version, if you can.

Cinemalaya 2012 Report

[Note: The previous post had been deleted. This is a new post.]

This is the first year when I have actively patronized the Cinemalaya Film Festival. For almost a week, I stayed in CCP to catch all the movies in competition, including all the short films.

Cinemalaya 2012 features 10 films in the New Breed category, five films in Director's Showcase, and 10 short films.

As of this moment, I have seen all of them except two: Paul Sta. Ana's Oros (New Breed) and Raymond Red's Kamera Obskura (Director's Showcase).

Of the movies I've seen, I liked The Animals, Aparisyon, Ang Nawawala, Posas, and Kalayaan.

What I learnt about this film's festival is to never assume what movie is good, and what is not. The movies I thought will reap awards failed, while those I thought were just filler were actually good (most notable was REquieme!).

Below are the details of what I though of each film. They are listed in order of viewing.

NEW BREED

1. Ang Nawawala (Marie Jamora) - I made it to the gala screening of this charming movie about isolation and youth. The music is impressive, and I want a soundtrack. Dominic Roco and Annika Dolonius should get nominated for their performances. Dawn Zulueta is a strong contender for best supporting actress. There was this POV change in the middle of the movie (sauna scene) that I thought was too drastic. (4.5/5) [Read my PEP review]

2. Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino (Lemuel Lorca) - I expected this movie to be one of the impressive ones, but my expectations were not met due to the weak storytelling, and only passable performances from the supporting actors. JM de Guzman was great, though. There are many things happening outside the movie that are just mentioned in passing, and there are unnecessary graphic sex scenes. (2/5)

3. Diablo (Mes de Guzman) - I admired the symbolism of good and evil in this film, but I think it's a little confusing. Good cinematography. A little scary what with shadowy figures, weird radio programs, and unexpected tremors. Ama Quiambao should be nominated for best actress. (3/5)

4. Mga Dayo (Julius Sotomayor Cena) - It is admirable for showing a fresh treatment of OFW stories, this time without the overused drama of foreigners abusing Filipinos. Instead, what this film shows is how Filipinos interact with each other in a foreign country. Good performance from Sue Prado. (4/5)

5. Sta. Nina (Emmanuel Palo) - Interesting premise, but the direction it took is less than likable. There seems to be a teledrama treatment, complete with many characters, changes of POV, and overbearing music. Story meanders. (2.5/5)

6. Aparisyon (Vincent Sandoval) - Very strong treatment of a story set during martial law. Tension is treated well, and there is one scene that made me jump out of my seat (this never happens to me, really). All four lead actresses--Jodi Sta. Maria, Mylene Dizon, Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, and Racquel Villavicencio--are contenders for the best actress plum. (5/5) [Read my PEP review]

7. Ang Katiwala (Aloy Adlawan) - Feels like the movie is divided by two halves that are hard to put together. On one hand, it is an inspiring movie about a man learning about Manuel Quezon's life. Then there is a story about squatters and death. The film tries to put these two together through an exposition of Quezon's teachings about the Philippines, but the widely-different treatment between the two is glaring. Good action scenes, and beautiful shots. (3/5)

8. REquieme! (Loy Arcenas) - I first thought this movie was filler, but it was really interesting. There are some standout funny scenes, and we get great performances from Shamaine Buencamino and Anthony Falcon. You feel that there is some stretching done to the plot though. (4/5)

9. The Animals (Gino Santos) - An eye-opener. Gritty, horrifying, affecting. I cannot stop thinking about this movie hours after I left the theater. It made me want to take action, to convince the affluent youth to avoid excesses. Should be required viewing for the youth. (5/5)

10. Oros (Paul Sta. Ana) - The theme feels tired. Do we need another poverty porn movie? Great performances from the two Kristoffers save this movie. Who knew Kapuso actor Kristoffer Martin can act? (3.5/5)

DIRECTOR'S SHOWCASE

1. Mga Mumunting Lihim (Jose Javier Reyes) - Hilarious scenes made me like this movie. Where else can you see top actresses use curse words and dirty fingers? Still very much ranks below Jose Javier Reyes's perfect Live Show, though. Could that film be his peak? (3.5/5) [Read my PEP review]

2. Kalayaan (Adolfo B. Alix, Jr.) - Great film about loneliness and isolation. The decision to use long takes is genius, as it makes the viewer feel the lead character's boredom. This films has the most gorgeous shots in the festival. Some of my friends did not get it, but it's expected. The unclear relationship between the mermaid's sexual advances and the lead character's psyche still confuses me too. (4.5/5)

3. Bwakaw (Jun Lana) - Has some of the festival's funniest moments. But funny does not a good film make, since there are humorous scenes that affected the plot's serious theme (the distorted face of a corpse is one of these). There are a lot of themes here that should have been explored more to make the story richer, like the miraculous statue and his relationship with his co-workers in the postal office (more particularly, with Alan Paule). (3/5)

4. Posas (Lawrence Fajardo) - This movie made me understand why Fajardo's Amok is always mentioned in a positive light. The movie has a serious theme about corruption in the police force, but this is not presented in an in-your-face manner. Great performances from Art Acuna and Nico Antonio. Art Acuna is scary, and Nico's best scene was when he was forced to kill. I just wish Nico lost his too-perfect abs. Do starved pickpockets who live in the street have abs? The shot of the mission/vision of the police is also too hard-sell. (4.5/5)

5. Kamera Obskura (Raymond Red) - Interesting premise but deathly boring. Needs more weirdness to ramp up interest. Flying bikes and camera-welding hands are not enough. (3/5)

SHORT FILMS

1. As He Sleeps (Sheron Dayoc) - I feel like the short format is not enough to tell the whole story. (3/5)

2. Balintuna (Emmanuel Escalona Jr.) - All gimmick, not much substance. Kids cannot act. (1/5)

3. Bohe: Sons of the Waves (Nadjoua Bansil) - Promising start, but it devolved into bad cinematography and bad acting. (.5/5)

4. Pasahero (Max Celada) - Hilarious and uncomfortable. The ending feels like a gimmick, though. (4/5)

5. Victor (Jarrell Serencio) - I appreciate the new treatment of the story, when it showed what happens after the faux crucifixion. Some parts feel badly scripted. (2.5/5)

6. Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong (Sigfrid Bernardo) - Tried not to laugh because the subject matter is so serious, but I cannot help it. Tight storytelling and great performances from its actors. Shocking beginning, so kudos for Bella Martin, who played the dying grandmother. (5/5)

7. Manenaya (Richard Legaspi) - Sad and affecting, in beautiful black-and-white. Takes some hard thinking to get what the story is about. (4/5)

8. Ruweda (Hannah Espia) - Great great editing. Actors seem to be amateurs though. (4.5/5)

9. Sarong Aldaw (Marianito Dio Jr.) - What saved this is the beautiful poetry. Cinematography needs improvement. (4/5)

10. Ulian (Chuck Gutierrez) - Feels too long, because nothing much happens. Poor production values. (1/5)

Stay tuned for my predictions on who would win the awards.

TV rant: What TV5 should be doing

When TV5 was launched in 2008, I fully supported it. After all, alternative programming shouldn't be so bad, right? More TV shows on TV means more choices for TV viewers who have no cable connection.

Four years later, and all I can do is shake my head. The fact is, TV5 is floundering. Yes, it is still generating buzz, and its audience share is growing. But its net loss is growing too, perhaps a result of its aggressive pirating of top stars (Sharon Cuneta, Aga Muhlach, and Derek Ramsay come to mind), and its slate of expensive shows with only a few advertisements (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is an example).

So what happened? Simple. Programming became stagnant.

There was a time when TV5 was doing so well in aggressive programming. This was the TV station that brought a noontime program on evening primetime. This was the channel that offered its own Sunday talk show, despite predictions that it won't do so well. This was the channel that had a strong Saturday and Sunday line-up, due to its smart set of weekend programming.

But now, it seems like the powers-that-be at TV5 have backed down and are too cautious to put shows up. Check any set of shows the network announced at the start of a year, and see that a good number of them don't get aired at all. Where's that dance nation show? Where's Kanta Pilipinas? 

Some shows get delayed too much, they should have been canned instead. Extreme Makeover was exciting, until it took a long time before it was aired. Excitement waned by then. Look at Game 'n Go. Wasn't that supposed to be a weekday noontime show? Why wasn't it placed there? It's not like they have another show to put up on weekday noontime, right? (Answer: No, they only have nonperforming koreanovelas right there now.)

TV5's Saturday and Sunday evenings, which the channel had dominated more than a year ago, have also lost their sheen, thanks in part to Talentadong Pinoy. (When will TV5 realize that viewers are tired of this show? It will survive, but only if it is given a long hiatus.)

So what should TV5's people be doing? Be aggressive in programming. Admit that when a show's stagnant, it needs to be taken off the air, or be given a grand makeover.

One grand gesture they could do is to move Willtime Bigtime to a noontime schedule. Yes, versus Eat Bulaga! and It's Showtime. Willtime Bigtime is not anymore winning ratings in primetime anyway, and TV5 is having trouble putting up any show on the noontime block. Willie Revillame's show should have no trouble beefing up TV5's noontime and afternoon block, exciting viewers once again.

Besides, Willtime Bigtime's presence in primetime weakens that programming block for TV5. Getting the variety show out of there leads to exciting possibilities--all of a sudden, TV5 can experiment and put up new shows that can battle GMA-7 and ABS-CBN's set of primetime dramas.

An open primetime leads to good possibilities for the Kapatid network: it can finally air their dramas earlier. Looking back, David Archuleta's mini-soap opera could have gained good ratings if it was aired earlier. I loved that show, but the late primetime schedule was ridiculous.

 It can put up a daily reality show early. Their new artista search will benefit greatly if it can be shown at 8PM, the time when GMA-7 and ABS-CBN are just starting their teleseryes.

Right now, TV5's stagnant weekday primetime is not doing them any good. There are not enough shows to begin with. How can viewers be excited? Hell, how can big stars be excited to become a Kapatid if there are no shows they can go to? Derek Ramsay, Aga Muhlach, and Sharon Cuneta could be doing primetime teleseryes right now, but they aren't. Sayang naman ang malaking talent fee. #rantover