Seklusyon

"Seklusyon" is unlike any other Filipino horror films. It's not only meant for jump scares but it displays what true horrors are and set loose the demons out of an ordinary character. Erik Matti never breaks our expectations of a good Pinoy horrors film the way he also scared the hell out of us in "Pa-Siyam".

Set in 1947, we follow a deacon who's off to his 7-day seclusion from the world before he officially becomes a priest. Things get a bit crazy when they are joined by a child that can perform miracles and her creepy sidekick who happens to be a nun.

Pros: The movie has an interesting premise. They were able to transport me out of the cinema and into the world they created. There were a couple of suspense-filled scenes where you can proudly say it is at par with 'The Conjuring'. I was taking notes. If I didn't, it means it was a complete waste of my time.

Cons: One word: Inconsistency. There were inconsistencies in the writing, editing, lighting and acting. Writing - there should've been a little more character development for the 3 other priests. Editing - they spent time building this character up, only to throw away the mystery in the next scene with no logic or reason. Lighting - they showed a couple of creepy parts and I can't make it out because it's so darned dark. Acting - mostly in the delivery of their lines. They're pausing in the middle of their delivery because they're conscious about making sure they said the correct line, rather than for purposes of emphasizing.

Due to its unique premise, I have very high expectations for Seklusyon... and rightfully so. The premise of its story is one of the more inventive in recent Filipino horror film history. I don't know if that priesthood ritual is true, regardless, it seems very convincing to me. The setting and atmosphere are wonderful as well; using the 1940's locale to boost its enchanting yet creepy mood. Similarly are the outfits. I love them so much especially Anghela's attire during the monastery mass. It really looks badass that I wanted to wear it during Halloween.

Another aspect that I like about the film is how it presented the lives of the 4 deacons. Their backstories are weaved carefully and it was showcased well on different scenarios happened during their seclusion. I admire the character presentation that is not over the top and the 4 deacons are the best example of this subtle but concrete identifiable character flesh-outs. Another beautiful subtlety is the film's open-ended denouement. It puts viewers in a position to ponder the themes of the film to decide who the true victors are. With that, Seklusyon sticks to our minds long after we finished watching it.

Despite of this, the film has a ton of flaws that in my opinion counterbalances the positives. First off, the dull acting. Don't get me wrong, the expressions and body language of the casts are nice; but the tone of their voices is really awful. It sounds unnatural. The intonations are hit and miss... sometimes they nailed the 1940's tone, sometimes they don't. The only decent actors on the film was Neil Ryan Sese and Lou Veloso.

Another big issue is the revelation of Madre Cecilia and Anghela's true nature. It's too convenient for my liking. It shouts the importance of the doctrine: "Show, don't tell." But in this case, they didn't even tell it! They just flashed the aforementioned characters' exposition on the screen. If they could just replicate what they did to the 4 deacons' exposition...

This writing laziness trickled down to another revelation: that Anghela is allegedly the daughter of Miguel. It's too cliché to be taken seriously, as if the writers just wanted to tie a loose end without no apparent reason.

Lastly, there are some minor observations I wanted to point out. The color grading is too sepia that it strains the eye. I also wanted to commend the filmmakers for not using special effects but sometimes to their own detriment; such as the blue-skinned Virgin Mary ghost that looks like a giant smurf.

So to sum up this long review, Seklusyon looks like a true magnum opus film from the outside as it really nailed the "realism" part of the equation. Yet, this ultra-realistic backdrop won't hide the ghosts of flaws that could potentially haunt viewers if they peeked inside the theatre's curtain.

Seklusyon could have been a breakthrough movie for the six main actors (the four deacons, the nun, and the child). Unfortunately, their acting weren't enough to make this supernatural horror story from Erik Matti convincing and memorable. He has a good eye for the perfect location and story, but not for the right actors to play the part.

The movie tells the story of four aspiring priests to a secluded area to shield them from evil before being ordained- just like how Jesus was tempted by the devil at his most vulnerable state before beginning his ministry.

The acting was terrible, dialogues were contrived, and editing seemed to have been done by amateurs. It's as if every scene was directed by different people and put together to create one film. Given the situation they were all in- trapped inside a house with the devil and their sins, you'd expect anguish, confusion, and spiritual struggle. But they were too busy throwing lines written by someone who hated God and religion all his life.

The only redeeming factor is its cinematography.

I've previously watched Matti's another horror film, Kuwaresma and it is obvious how he's fond of using vintage props. It was meant to recreate the past, but sadly, it ended up merely like a product placement. As a viewer, you'd feel like Matti was just flexing his classic collections.

And what's with all the characters being quick tempered and talking rudely to one another? The way Veloso's character said diyakono as if it's a very bad, filthy word; the nun telling the priest angrily that she has no time "para makipagbiruan" when the priest was seriously asking her questions; and the bishop suddenly reprimanding the Padre Ricardo when he was trying to reason out with him. Everything else is just so unnatural that the only thing real is each character's guilty conscience.

Just like what happened in Kuwaresma, they just decided to come up with an absurd twist to bring it to its abrupt finale. Seklusyon could have been as solid as Matti's other movie about religion, Honor Thy Father, but unfortunately it ended up rather forgettable with a lackluster performance.

It's a daring move for Director Matti to create a horror film about religion, especially the Philippines is known for very religious. The movie centers about what is the true meaning of good and evil and if these problems can be saved by the faith from God or not. This movie might be controversial by some, but Matti succeeds on tackling issues in religion not just from the Philippines, but also worldwide to the extent. Those issues are handled in a subtle manner but also those are the issues that might occur today.

The scene-stealer of this film, Rhed Bustamante, nails her performance as a creepy child faith healer of some sorts. She knows how to shock the audience with her acting skills. I wouldn't be surprised if she win Best Actress in this year's MMFF, in which this movie is also a part of.

While there are some issues and plot-holes that should be fixed, this movie is perfect for people who wanted to be scared using the dark reality of the human mind. If this movie gets recognized worldwide, I'll be happy about it. If you are into dark, subtle, and creepy horror movies, don't miss this out.