REVIEW: Amorosa: The Revenge

Title: Amorosa: The Revenge
Director: Topel Lee

Producer: Skylight Films

Distribution: Star Cinema

Date of premiere: August 29, 2012

The first minutes of Amorosa: The Revenge are fascinating. The spate of jump cuts and rough editing make the film feel like a dream, or a memory carefully recalled to confront the present.

Sadly, director Topel Lee cannot sustain this style, and so his latest horror film takes a turn to narrative hell.

Angel Aquino plays Amorosa, mother of two sons, Rommel (Enrique Gil) and Amiel (Martin del Rosario). Several tragedies force them to live in an inn haunted by a vengeful ghost. But the ghost is not the biggest concern Amorosa has to face.

The main issue with Amorosa is that there are too many things going on. It is also too bad that several conveniences are introduced just to move each of them along.

Aside from the lead character's story, the ghost's story is also told in flashbacks. Her name is Sandra (Empress), and she was raped years ago in the same inn, when it was still an abandoned property.

There's also the story of a group of three drug addicts-turned-rapists, an over-eager policeman who harbors a secret, and an old gardener who may be magical.

Much narrative logic is sacrificed just to bring these stories together. For instance, the workers of the inn suddenly decide to go on a vacation towards the film's climax, just when a killer is coming along.

The film is also hampered by the worst of horror movie conventions: stupid characters who actively seek danger. In one scene, Angel Aquino opens the door to find a dead policeman out in the porch. When the killer haunting her turns up behind her, she runs up the stairs, completely forgetting that she is still holding the door open.

What saves the film is the strong performance from Angel Aquino. Enrique Gil's acting can also be as solid, until he goes into hysterics. Martin del Rosario is okay, while Empress feels miscast.

If you're a fan of any of the cast, then you may like this film. Other viewers should look elsewhere.

RATING: 2 stars out of 5
SUMMARY: Amorosa is not boring, and some scenes are scary. Narrative logic is what's lacking here.