Watch List

Watch List is a solid crime thriller from the Philippines. It's lean and mean, a bit melodramatic in a few scenes, but also tough to stomach for its cruel depiction of corruption and murderous police units. Viewers follow a woman who loses her husband after he gets shot by unknown assailants. This prompts her to try and look for his murderers, and her search leads her to a police inspector who promises they will be found if she agrees to work for him as an informant. However, she soon realizes this also includes being part of a hit squad... the plot moves forward with no stop gaps after this point. It's a straightforward film that dabbles in complicated real life issues revolving around the Philippines' uncompromising police operations. Drug users and dealers are taken out with little thought given to their current affairs. If they're on the ominous drug watch list, it's uncertain how long they have left before a hit squad comes for them. Acting is convincing and cinematography vivid and gritty, especially in nighttime scenes, further amplifying the film's tense and morally grey narrative. Some of the more apparent flaws here include a feeling of predictability, as many events are easy to foresee, while the film also tends to state the obvious in some of the dialogues. This doesn't detract from the overall impression, though, that Watch List is a pretty good film that should appeal to most crime thriller fans.

This is one of the best thriller films since Marian Rivera's "Balota". The only difference was the promotional effort and the level of fan support for the lead stars. Despite having been in the industry since her teenage years, Alessandra De Rossi has never built a solid fan base, partly due to her sometimes controversial, shady and abrasive attitude. She also lacks major endorsements. While people appreciate her wit and talent, only a few fans remain loyal to her. In contrast, Marian Rivera is just as equally as bold as De Rossi, but Rivera carefully chooses her words and battles, which has helped her maintain a strong following despite her fierce persona.

All in all, if this film had been given a proper promotional push, regardless of De Rossi's polarizing image, I believe it could have reached the same level of success as Balota.

De Rossi delivers an outstanding performance, as does Art Acuña, who is truly terrifying in this film. The cinematography and sound design are impressive, adding to the overall intensity. Moreover, the film's themes feel especially relevant given the ongoing discussions on extrajudicial killings and Duterte's trial at the ICC. A must-watch and an exceptional thriller.