Nobody can deny the success of the indie movie “YANGGAW” and how it grew into this phenomenon that has spread throughout the modern media culture of us Ilonggos and Negrenses. Its director Richard V. Somes is back with an appetite for flesh and blood, with a movie that tells his (own version of the) origin of where the Aswangs came from. It’s entitled: “CORAZON: ANG UNANG ASWANG” and it stars Erich Gonzales and Derek Ramsay.
Press releases reveal that the film is said to also be a period love story set in the time of the Japanese rule. The director, Richard Somes says that the idea of the concept was created in 2008 after he finished his first horror full-length script, Yanggaw. Early production of the movie began on May 2011, and the official release of the movie is set on March 14, 2012 in the Philippines. Unlike "Yanggaw", this movie is produced by Star Cinema, and it will have a general wide release nationwide.
[CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE OTHER POSTERS & A TRAILER AFTER THE JUMP]
THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS UPCOMING MOVIE
One may notice that one of the film’s interior settings is exactly the same set used in “Yanggaw”. A very interesting and impressive little foreshadowing and reference to the first movie. Storyline-wise, it tells us that this is also the same house (which stood the test of time) where Amor’s family lived.Strictly speaking, it's possible that this may not really be a "Yanggaw" prequel, but from the looks of the trailer, this specific interior setting becomes the link between the two movies.
The film also stars Sue Prado, Jeffrey Quizon, Mark Gil, Mon Confiado, Sunshine Dizon, Wendell Ramos, Maria Isabel Lopez, DJ Durano, Dan Alvaro, Princess Punzalan, Sharlene San Pedro, and Tetchie Agbayani. Tetchie’s role has not yet been revealed; it may be a completely different character, but it also tickles our curiosity if the movie will make an extra scene which may connect this movie to Yanggaw directly via Tetchie’s character in Yanggaw.
As I watched the trailer, the only two things that really bothered me was one scene where the apparent Aswang looked like she was obviously masked with “gothic” eyeliners and black lipstick (it’s like how kindergartens pretend to be Aswangs in Halloween parties). Another thing that bothered me was a scene where the Aswang appeared to be half-beast, or has a head of a beast (which looks like a person wearing a horse head-costume). In my personal opinion, what set “Yanggaw” to be the first truly scary Aswang movie, was the fact that SIMPLICITY seemed to have been the movie’s mantra. It did not burden itself with cosmetics and prosthetics to translate into film what really is a ‘mythological creature’ that is visually simple already.
But then again, I may be wrong. And trailers do sometimes reflect an initial cut that could not really give out how good or bad the movie, in its entirety, actually is. “Yanggaw” was a testament as to how good Somes is as a director. But working with the big mainstream film company is not the same, and has proven time and again that some studio executives tend to turn masterpieces into crap. We still don’t have the verdict to this, I will be lining up to see this movie when it opens in theaters, and will be crossing my fingers…
[FOR NOW, HERE'S THE ORIGINAL TRAILER]
If you have not seen YANGGAW, you must check it out! It's one of the (if not THE quintessential Aswang movie) Click below to order a copy now...
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