Seklusyon Movie Review ( Humanities)

Seklusyon (2016)

Cast: Rhed Bustamante, Ronnie Alonte, Neil Ryan Sese, Phoebe Walker

Director: Erik Matti

Review:

An another Erik Matti's creation of horror films comes to the big screen, working with some old and new artists as characters in the said movie, its intention to scare viewers being the only Metro Manila Film Festival horror entry is effective. Under the production of Reality Company an almost two hour’s duration of the movie is reasonably enough to tell the story.

I don't know or have the idea if I have the right to make this review because honestly speaking, I did not watch the full movie. I arrived late and miss its first eight minutes showing but not so late I guess. So! The story happened in 1947, a group of deacons was sent to a remote convent for their seclusion for seven days to avoid the devils temptations, not until a young girl believed to be a living saint came and as the seclusion goes on, the young girl's good identity became unclear. Thus, how the deacons hold on to their faith?

 This film is quite not for those who have weak faith into God because with the story it has and the way it was told may affect a viewer's belief. It may somewhat cause you to question things related to your religion (in fact it quite affect me but still...not influence what I believe). This is what I like about this movie, its effectively influencing gaze to the audience. And speaking of faith... This film made me realize or maybe made me to really believe that "nothing should be a basis for your devotion to God. A well deliberation of the message in every scene.

Actually it is my first time to watch a horror indie film, I've never watch something like this before and it made me glad I have tried one.

I'd like the twist plus how does the mystery behind the demons was answered. At the start it really bothered me where they came from and why there's a specified demon for each deacon but later on it became clear. It is really confusing of Anghela’s character played by a young girl Rhed Bustamante whether she is a gift from God or a servant of demon. I'd like the revelation of her Character and Mother Cecilia played by Phoebe Walker was executed, it doesn't come to my mind that Mother Cecilia is submissive to Anghela.

Still, nothing's perfect and that's why Seklusyon has its' some stuff I did not so appreciated, based on my observation and opinion. There's a part in the film, a scene that for me, break it's vintage mood and atmosphere. It's the scene when Miguel (Ronnie Alonte) is running, escaping from the convent, the fast movement of the cam in that kind of angle doesn't fit the vintage mood. Also several questions we're not answered like what is being whispered by Mother Cecilia? (Just curious about it). Because every time she is going to whisper into someone’s ear, the people who hear it eventually show a different reaction.  What happened to Miguel in the end of the story?

In addition to this, I had looked for clarifications and answers for certain characters. I mean It leaves me hanging in looking and analysing their role in the story. Why after a long and hard search of Neil Ryan Sese’s character making him appear to be remaining in the end of the movie suddenly died immediately? As a new star, Ronnie Alonte portraying Miguel seemed a let-down, since he is playing the central character whose problem is somewhat important and significant in the film. But in the other hand, I get surprised on how Rhed Bustamante playing Anghela did her role as a false prophet, such a very good Actress for a young girl in that industry.

To sum up, this film obviously tackles about religion, this shows our culture of believing miracles and our tradition of sending messages to God. The saints were been part of our prayers, which every time we ask to God, we delivered it to them first. A real reflection for our faith. This maybe gives the impression of opposition to church but it leaves right questions. False prophet like Anghela that likely to appear outside those big screens and confuse our minds in this world where no one knows which is which.

Erik Matti creates another example of class movie, not seems so perfect but a film he should be proud of. Maybe it’s not just about religion or beliefs, there may be something deeper thoughts he wants to say. If you’re going to ask me what it is, I think we can relate this to self-patronization. The way we accept and continue hold on to what we have and what we are even temptations come in and wave in front of us. I think it’s a visualization of our faith to our own.