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Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Pinoy scare upgraded
By Jojie Alcantara
Witerary
FROM what I've read about the making of Pasiyam, it was a horror film with many limitations to be considered. It had to be shot within a short period of time, and on a high-definition (HD) or digital video (DV) format. Then they had to assemble actors and staff who would agree to be paid later on. Lastly, the story should be universal but truly Pinoy.
Pasiyam is not the horror movie you dream of being scared out of your wits. It has a slower pace than that of Feng Shui (and less of the screamers). According to director Erik Matti, it is "partly inspired by the Da Vinci Code... you think the story is settled and then boom! It's not what you thought it was." With so many twists, the audience is left guessing what's going to happen next.
This movie is grounded on real, human drama. Pasiyam is about an aging mother who dies in the fold of caretakers, a married couple and a daughter. Her children, who had up and left her for years, come back to the province to bury their mother. The eldest son is played by Roderick Paulate (in a non-screaming gay role), who returns from Saudi Arabia. After the burial, Roderick told his siblings to stay for the pasiyam and pray for the soul of their mother.
When the traditional nine days of novena began, so did strange things inside the house, with unfolding events leading to shocking family secrets unlocked.
Lily Monteverde, executive producer of Regal Entertainment Inc., is proud to team up with her son Ronal Stephen "Dondon" Monteverde. Directed by Eric Matti (also one of the producers), and written by Dwight Gaston, the movie packs an impressive cast of actors led by Roderick Paulate, Cherry Pie Picache, Yul Servo, Maricar de Mesa, Ana Capri, Christine Reyes, Aubrey Miles, Jaime Fabregas, Dexter Doria, and stage actress Ermie Concepcion.
There were no bigger roles and all the characters were equally important and working together for an effective finale. But they didn't expect Paulate to accept the role immediately when the story was pitched to him.
Pasiyam is Matti's first horror film, though he has done horror for television, Kagat ng Dilim, which was even ahead of Nginig and Wag Kukurap by four years. He
quotes, "Making a horror movie is a risk. It needs careful manipulation of the audience. Careful in the sense that if you go overboard on the horror scenes in wanting to scare your audience to death para sulit ang bayad nila, then you'll overdo the horror and leaves you open to resorting to cheap tricks. The risk is that, as filmmakers, we want it horrifying but don't also want any of the cheap tricks like strong music to jolt the audience. It is a complicated genre to handle because you have to be constantly ahead of your audience but you shouldn't be fooling them too much to be condescending towards them, thereby alienating them." Well said, Matti.
It opened in Manila first week of December to mixed reviews, a promising box-office and was rated B by the Cinema Evaluation Board. I recommend you to watch this film with an open mind. It has none of the scary scenes that will make you shriek like I do in my fave Asian flicks. It has the shock and gore that will leave you thinking, though. Most of all, you can sit back, relax and take in the superb photography, cinematography in seeming black and white setting, and the non-intrusive dark music that provides support for the eerie atmosphere all throughout.
Lastly, I would love to hear more about its "behind the scenes" twists of tales according to the cast and crew. Whether part of the promotional gimmick, it heats up curiosity: on the truth of the old, decaying house in Pampanga being really haunted; on Cherry Pie's statements that ghosts were felt during their shoot; on that spooky scene featured in Korina Sanchez' Rated K Halloween Special, where Roderick lies in bed while a fuzzy image hangs like a specter beside him. Hmm, shivers of delight from a horror fan like me.
Thanks sanitylane for the photos. Check www.witerary.com; react to witty@info.com.ph
(December 15, 2004 issue)
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