#philippinecinema

[parasasine]

Barber’s Tales / Mga Kuwentong Barbero (2013), dir. Jun Lana

[thesmolines]

Dead Kids

“Kung may isang tao na gusto mong mawala sa mundo, Sinong gusto mo?”

For me, this exact line wraps up the entire thought of this film by Mikhael Red. Dead Kids is a story of how four teenagers are desperate to get back to the school bully, who is a privileged kid and a constant problem to their everyday lives by keeping him as hostage in exchange for money. Although the hefty sum of money they might get from all this is one of their motives, you can see right through the characters that the money is not just what they longed for. It is their strong eagerness to take matters into their own hands for that sense of power they thirst for when the antagonist is around.

Being the first Filipino original movie on Netflix, I was instantaneously intrigued the moment I saw how social media is hyping up this film. I must say, it was worth it. I had to pause once in a while to laugh or grasp the scenes because it is both funny and intense. Dead Kid did not fail me at all; this might just be added to my shortlist of favorite movies for how funny yet critical this movie is. Thus, here are my reactions without spoiling y’all! Three C’s, here we go!

1.The Characters!! Oh my goodness. The characters are very much underrated. They are rising actors who gave justice to the role they were given. From the antagonist down to the supporting roles, all were nothing but good! I love how they gave us new faces for this movie because tbh, I am so tired of seeing the same lead roles over and over again. I love the role of Khalil Ramos. Although the lines were not your typical heavy punch lines, the way he delivered it made a big impact. He was very effective and convincing that I felt how scared he was that his girlfriend might rat them out.

2. The Cinematography also made the film cooler than it already is. The shots were amazing plus you can feel the thriller vibe the movie is trying to emanate because of the color tone of the movie. The goal is to shift from pop-friendly moments that can be seen during parties inuman sessions of the cast to dramatic tones when the boys are about to meet their fates.

3. The Cursing, the slurs made the scenes even more realistic. If I have to take a shot for every swearing I hear in this entire movie, I would puke my entire intestine out because it is literally in every scene. The slurs for me, was like the seasoning of the entire chicken for it surely gave the entire film the flavor we, teenagers seem to love. Its depiction of how easily warped the ideologies of the youth of today also left me in awe. They portrayed how susceptible the youth are in doing things that might put them in great risk, especially without the proper guidance of adults.

As I have mentioned earlier, this movie also touched several relevant social issues that most filmmakers avoid. The depth and meaning behind every dialogue spouted by the characters served as a silent wake up call to the growing inequality and rampant oppression of those who have less. They also gave us a peek in the dirty world of those who are in power and how they can get away with everything just because they have the means.

This isn’t new to the eyes and ears of the audience but how classism and social divide was portrayed in this movie gave us quite a clearer view as to how the weak get weaker and how they are easily persuaded and used in situations where they are made to believe that getting out of their hell hole called poverty is within their reach if they agreed to the circumstances they are given.

Overall, I love the movie and the way they told the story but WHAT A CLIFFHANGER!!!! I still have questions bombarding my mind up until now. I am still skeptic who ratted them out? How did the police found out that it was them? Or why was Yssa not arrested if she became an accessory to the crime? Or What happened to Blanco right after he was saved by his father? Nevertheless, It was a really good movie and I’m hoping to see more movies like this.

[leerose09]

Philippine Cinema: A Story Waiting to Reach the World

I grew up watching Filipino films and television. They were part of my childhood and introduced me to the power of storytelling. As the years passed, my taste evolved—from Mexican telenovelas to Asian dramas, then to Western cinema, and eventually to classic films from different eras and countries. The more stories I experienced, the more I found myself asking a difficult question:

Why hasn't mainstream Philippine cinema achieved the same global impact as some of our Asian neighbors?

The answer isn't a lack of talent. Filipino filmmakers, actors, and writers have earned recognition at international film festivals, proving that creativity has never been our weakness.

The bigger challenge seems to be the system.

Mainstream productions often prioritize commercially proven formulas, celebrity-driven casting, and stories aimed primarily at local audiences. That's understandable—films need to earn money—but relying too heavily on familiar formulas can discourage creative risk-taking.

Another challenge is global presence. While Philippine studios collaborate with international partners, distribute films overseas, and occasionally shoot abroad, there are no major Filipino entertainment companies with permanent production hubs outside the Philippines comparable to those of larger global film industries.

Yet the opportunity is enormous. Millions of Filipinos live around the world, carrying our culture and stories with them. Imagine if the Philippine film industry embraced that global audience from the very beginning—not by copying Hollywood or Korea, but by confidently telling uniquely Filipino stories with world-class craftsmanship.

Perhaps the future of Philippine cinema isn't about becoming someone else. It's about believing that our own stories are worth telling—and worth sharing with the world.

[edersondeaquarian]

Sunday, November 30, 2025

I finally watched the KMJS’ Gabi ng Lagim-The Movie kahapon and I spent the whole night thinking about it! It was an absolute must-watch because of the hype and honestly, it felt like a major test for modern Filipino horror. In some areas, sobrang panalo but in others, may kulang talaga.

1. The Pocong Story

This first segment, the story of the seafarer and the Indonesian ghost, was the clear winner and the segment that truly delivered the terror. The tension was so claustrophobic and tense, especially dahil sa setting… being stuck on a ship far from home. It played brilliantly on the isolation and the unique fears of OFWs.

And here's why it hit different… This story was truly based on a real-life account! They even featured the actual person and his photo on screen at the end of the segment. That confirmed the true horror source and made the whole twist even more devastating. It proves that the KMJS team can deliver intense, emotional horror. If anything, this story deserved a full feature film! Sayang that it had to be condensed… it deserved more screen time!

2. The Berbalang Story

The second story, featuring the flesh-eating creature, felt like a showcase of technical skill. Wow, I genuinely appreciated the improvements in the screen effects and production quality! It's nakakatuwa makita how much Pinoy movie makers are leveling up, especially in creature design. Plus, getting to see the Berbalang - a less common myth from Mindanao… featured like this was interesting.

But here’s the thing… hindi naman talaga siya nakakatakot. The segment was visually compelling pero the pacing felt rushed and the storyline lacked the sustained dread that the first story had. It was entertaining to watch the visuals pero definitely not spine-chilling.

3. Sanib Adaptation

The third story, revolving around the character named Angel and the possession, had so much potential because it was based on one of KMJS's most famous TV features. I remember the original TV story about the guy named Angel and his potential exposure to dark rituals sa pamilya nila… that was truly horrifying because it was rooted in a real background.

The movie chose to take the concept of sanib and create a new, separate storyline. Maganda naman yung idea pero hindi rin nakakatakot ang buong segment. The tension completely broke during one scene… may part doon na biglang nagtawanan lahat ng tao sa sinehan! It was an awkward, unintentional comedic moment which completely took away the horror. While I understand they wanted to make their own version, it felt incomplete and I honestly wish they went for a deep dive into the real, dark life story of the original person.

Overall, the film was good for entertainment, especially if you appreciate the effort in Philippine cinematography. Pero if you went in expecting 3 paralyzingly scary stories, you'll be disappointed because the Pocong story did all the heavy lifting in terms of horror.

It just felt sobrang bitin because they were forced to condense 3 different, complex concepts into one movie. My biggest takeaway is that our directors should trust one truly strong story and dedicate a full feature film to it - like the Pocong segment!

[newsmedianest]

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Queen of Philippine Cinema Ms Gloria Romero passed away at 91