Not your typical horror movie
- Andrea Ayala
- Dec 26, 2016
- 4 min read
So this year, Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) decided to get almost all indie movies. This got my attention coz it’s not the usual entries. I decided to watch one movie among all the entries. Anyway, after Heneral Luna, it shows that local indie film makers are starting to make quality movies worth watching.
Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough ; This must be the longest movie title I have ever encountered. This is comedy, and I am not really a fan of Filipino film comedy.
Die Beautiful ; Also categorized as comedy. Paolo Ballesteros has the leading role and to be honest I was quite intrigue with this movie when I saw the trailer. The movie showcased Paolo B's make up skills. However, I saw an interview from the writers that the movie was conceptualize because of what happened with Jennifer Laude. So, that got me turned off in watching it. But in fairness to the movie, my coworker said the movie was not about Jennifer Laude.
Kabisera ; Didn’t really catch my attention. But in my research it’s about extra-judicial killings and other abuses in the Philippine society.
Oro ; It’s about mining. But I will campaign to boycott this movie. They actually killed a dog in this movie. So NO! I will not support this movie.
Saving Sally ; A love story 10 years in the making with animation. Not really interested in love stories.
Sunday Beauty Queen ; A documentary about OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) in Hong Kong. Not really interested. However, they won best picture in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Vince & Kath & James ; a teen love comedy movie isn’t really my cup of tea.
And then we got Seklusyon ; Directed by Erik Matti, one of the best indi film makers. It’s the only horror movie that’s in this year’s MMFF. A story about 4 deacon’s 7 days retreat before being ordained as priests.
Seklusyon it is.
Before we continue, these are the awards that Seklusyon won from the 2016 MMFF Awards.
They won most of the awards that night. And it amazes me that they didn’t get the Best Picture Award.
We watched the movie at our favorite cinema, Trinoma. It was full packed. Before the movie started they showed a short movie titled “Sitsiritsit” I will not go into detail but I tell you, this was supposed to be a short horror story, but I end up laughing and couldn’t move on laughing till the end of Seklusyon.
So, the movie Seklusyon was set in the late 1940s. Padre Ricardo was sent by the Catholic Church to investigate about a miracle child named Anghela. She has healed a lot of people and she is quite famous. On his visit, he witnessed firsthand on how Anghela cured the sick. She seems to be spitting black goo after she heals people. Padre Ricardo was not convinced with this miracle. When he went back to the local church that night, he found Anghela covered with blood and crying “they killed them all”. He rushed to Anghela’s house and found out that her parents were brutally murdered.
Next scene, we get Miguel and 3 other deacons who are about to inter their 7 days seclusion trial before being ordained as a Priests. They were to stay in a secluded building for it is believed that the last seven days is when they are most vulnerable to the influence of the devil.
One deacon’s haunting is about his brothers that died in starvation because he horded food while at war because he was afraid to die in starvation. The other deacon’s haunting was about his mom beating him. The third deacon was a pedophile. He had a collection of children pornography photos on hand. And Miguel? Miguel’s haunting was about this girl (His girlfriend maybe), he abandoned him and became a priest and she was pregnant.
While the four deacons were on their seclusion, Anghela and her care taker Sister Cecilia arrived at their place. The caretaker didn’t want them there, but they brought with them a letter from the cardinal stating that they will stay at place until Anghela is safe.
That night Angela said something to the caretaker that made him leave the next day. And that is the start of weird things happening. Throughout their stay the hauntings that the deacons are experiencing are getting worst and worst that finally they have succumbed into believing that Anghela is indeed a saint that will help them overcome this 7 day ordeal.
Meanwhile Padre Ricardo found out about Anghela and Sister Cecilia’s past and tried to stop them. However, when he got to the place it was too late and he got burned by Anghela. Miguel didn’t fall into Anghela’s deceit and killed her but it was too late. Miguel escaped and the 3 remaining deacon’s was ordained as Priests.
But before Anghela died, she said…
“Sawa na kami makipaglaban nang patas… Dadating ang panahon na indi na nila alam kung ano ang tama o mali” (We are fed up in fighting fair…. Time will come that they will no longer know what’s right from wrong.)
The movie was beautifully made. It was not your typical Filipino horror movie. In fact, it’s not a horror movie, more on a supernatural. There were no ghosts or dead people. The Deacons were merely being haunted by their conscience. Anghela is the perfect example of blind faith from people who believe in miracles right away. The demon’s temptation was very convincing because it has truth in it. The demon NgaHela offered comfort and understanding to the distressed Deacons. Perhaps the real horror in this movie is that, the devil has penetrated our church already planting their disciples.
In terms of cinematography, it was good; the atmosphere of the movie fit its theme. Although there are just some scenes that are too dark. And I still can’t grasp the fact that they didn’t win the Best Picture award.
Comments