Mentorque Productions

Uninvited: Anak sa Anak a (long) review. Yes, it is a cathartic revenge film - it has a straightforward story with a stellar cast. Director, Dan Villegas gets us lost in a bloody and disturbing night —-reeling us into a world of the posh and the vengeful. Walang masama na mag enjoy ka sa fantasy revenge movie … truthfully, I feel like we need it as a society at times. this feeling of catharsis. yes, hindi bago ang theme ng paghihiganti sa Filipino movies … but the way it is artfully told, this is an enjoyable tale as old as time. Some say Uninvited felt like a motherly take on Calvento Files and Taken. Like Doting Mother with a knife. Some say it seemed unrealistic. But for me, I really got lost in the world of the Uninvited Guest, Eva Candelaria (played masterfully by Vilma Santos). This is a story of Eva/Lilly on a mission to get her long-awaited revenge against Guilly Vega, a billionaire she blames for the brutal killing of her daughter. The film unravels like a dark graphic novel, weaving from one scene to the next. Sneaking into a billionaire scion’s party. Lots of booze. Sex. Scandals. Blood. We feel just like Eva Candelaria in that sleek but cold mansion. Walking through the halls unweaving one secret to the next, exchanging plasitikan pleasantries, and then we build up to what brought us to this night. The film’s story is told in a non-linear way, making everything connect to the its most climactic conclusion. Some dialogue felt stilted but it is forgivable for me. The film is incredibly stylized. The color palette seemingly both luxuriant and gloomy. The cinematography is so rich in atmosphere and down to the last detail in visuals. The editing fast-paced and never drags. The film triggering and harrowing then turning it like a twist to the knife to be an almost fantasy. but believe me, it works. The film gets us lost enough in that world. The cast is absolutely fantastic. Vilma Santos gives us a powerful and stirring performance as the main heroine in the film. The way you can see how her anger seeps in as she plasters a fake smile. How her tears linger while she watches from afar, even her walk in the end of the film … so many layered emotions. She sold the fantasy for me. Aga Muhlach should have been nominated as best actor with his take on the creepily childish and frenzied Guilly. The way he just snaps from gregarious guy asking for his favorite whisky to then sneering at the audience, sobrang kagigil siya. It is kagigil because you do see people just like him. RK Bagatsing looks so hot and was a scene stealer in this film, sobrang markado. Gabby Padilla is effective, emotions so potent as Eva Candelaria’s daughter. But I notice, a lot of the critics talk about Nadine Lustre’s role as daring and glamorous. or has good diction. No one talks about how vulnerable she is with this performance, how incredibly delicate and nuanced this performance as Nicole Vega. and how absolutely vital her performance is to have this feeling of catharsis drive it home. Nadine Lustre is a stellar actress, no small role indeed. This film is revenge fantasy. Unapologetically so. and it is good. And we can enjoy that. We need that. so let go a bit. get lost in the world. 4 out of 5 stars for me. Uninvited is showing in cinemas in the US. check your local listings.