EERIE
Year of Release: 2019
JR's Rating:
(10 out of 10, Outstanding)
⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️
JR's Rating:
(10 out of 10, Outstanding)⭐️ HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ⭐️
"The Pinnacle of Philippine Horror"
Eerie /ˈirē/ defined as being strange and frightening. In the case of this film, it acts as both the atmosphere of where the story takes place and somewhat the name of the ghost which the story revolves around with. We are brought inside an exclusive Catholic academy for girls where a series of mysterious attempted suicides are bound to happen. Patricia, a non-"sister" guidance counselor, investigates the deaths through communication and experiences with the supernatural. Her curiosity brings her close to death but makes her discover the most unsettling explanation to everything. What I liked about this movie is how it made me speechless with an ending so unexpected building through a chilling story. It didn't rely on jumpscares but it drives frights from the situations that aren't so typical but also unexpected. You know that everytime night falls, there is something ought to happen. As the movie's viewer, we are torn between the dogmatic and the psychological. We question beliefs of the church while emanating the real diseases of depression and anxiety that are in need of crucial attention.
Mikhail Red is that damn amazing with creating thrillers; his recent “Birdshot” and “Neomanila” films are masterpieces on their own right. His first entry to horror, “Eerie”, is unarguably the best horror film to have spawned in Philippine cinema; it’s the Filipino film to beat this year. The cinematography is astounding, it matches Hollywood horror films aplenty due to how effective it captures the fright of the viewers at their most fragile. Bea Alonzo may be known for your romcom and drama flicks but step aside Kris Aquino we have our new scream queen. Bea’s acting in this film is beyond amazing. I love everything about her in this film; it might even be her best film to date. Charo Santos works effectively as a villain at the same time an empathetic character. Their combination is complimentary, likeable also hateable at times. This movie is truly scary but my love is through the film’s artistry, meaning and direction. The Philippines may not have its Alfred Hitchcock, Jordan Peele or Steven Spielberg but it has a Mikhail Red to be proud of. Eerie, and I emphasize this again, is the Best Philippine Horror Film to date.
🚩🚩🚩SPOILERS AHEAD 🚩🚩🚩
Here are some important points I had on watching "Eerie":
✅ Mikhail Red
- He is known for crafting astounding thrillers that are masterpieces on their own. This film might be his horror debut but it makes me feel he is meant for the genre. The story and direction in “Eerie” is worth the applause. It’s worthy of emulation for future directors in horror and thriller.
✅ Bea Alonzo
- We have a new scream queen in the form of Bea Alonzo. Last time I saw an amazing one was with Kris Aquino in Feng Shui and Sukob but Bea does being a scream queen best. I never anticipated someone who does drama and romcoms damn good in horror. "Eerie" might be the pinnacle of Bea's career.
✅ Charo Santos-Concio
- Also, I never anticipated someone who emphatizes us to the story of real individuals on TV to be a terrifying and hateable character on screen. Ma'am Charo does amazingly as "the nun" in this film. She targets the audience both with hatred and understanding in this film.
✅ Sta. Lucia Academy for Girls
- Just as how other horror films effectively uses their setting as a monster, the Sta. Lucia Academy for Girls is a character of itself in this film. It brings us closer to the tragedies of all the suicidal teenagers. The comfort room and what seems to be the attic unsettles us from our very seats.
✅ The Ghosts and Scares
- The terror in the film is with the ghosts who communicates their pain and sentiments to the characters and the audience. It doesn't rely much on jumpscares but more on the story that agitates you at the edge of your seats. Every time darkness falls, you know there is something up. My favorite would have to be when Pat enters the comfort room to the sight of a student being hanged by a nun.
✅ Frightening Cinematography
- While the ghosts are scary on their own right, the lighting sets the mood towards every scene in the movie. It's exemplary and worthy of commendation. The roaring of thunder, the gleaming of light inside the school halls and the scenery during the storm are but a few.
✅ Use of Plot Symbolism
- I already knew from the moment names of suicide victims (Erika and Clara) were mentioned that Patricia would also die and Joyce cannot just die. This is basing on how their names end. What's also unique is how the film utilized the title as a reference to the name of the movie's villain. It's cryptic but if you really are observant with details like this then you are in for a treat. The name even of Sor Alice is almost derived from the name of Erika in reverse. Correct me if I'm wrong.
✅ Depression and Anxiety
- Erika is the perfect example of depression in complete action while Patricia is that of anxiety. It doesn't just fear us with the idea of the disease but imparts the necessity of concern to people who are suffering with it. The movie imparts the idea of depression, anxiety and other psychological concerns as existent and in need of attention.
✅ Ending That Will Leave You Speechless
- My jaw just dropped knowing what really happened at the movie's end. When you expected that everything was normal again, you're in for a treat because dear the twist was almost so surreal.
✅ No Other Filipino Horror Film Comes Close
- Take my word for it, this film outshines classic Filipino horror films in terms of acting, direction, cinematography and set design even when combined. I've watched several Filipino horror films (did not review some of them yet) but not one comes close to the grandeur of this film. Everything horror about this film is authentic, destined for a global audience.
With 10 amazing reasons to watch and no reasons not to watch,
"Eerie" is a 10/10 for me.
#Eerie #MikhailRed #Horror
#2019Movies #MovieReviews #JRMovieReviews
Watched on 30 March 2019 at SM Baguio
Image Reference: Eerie Facebook Page
Time Published: 30 March 2019 (08:00 PM)
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