Smaller and Smaller Circles

Okay...so this is absolutely something different for a Filipino film! I was excited to watch it when I saw it on Netflix. I've never read the book though.

As a crime-mystery fan, at first I thought "Wow, they're making something like the Zodiac and Spotlight films!" Well, it didn't really go that well if that's what they were trying to do!

Anway, the story is way too different! It's a good story though but there were times I didn't catch some dialogue especially Father Jerome Lucero played by Sid Lucero who was eating his words. It's so hard to understand when there are no subtitles on the English parts. Other than that, they all played their roles very well.

Cinematography was fine. Color was okay but the Music which I'm very critical of was sub-par in my opinion. It's still a typical filipino "type" of music!

This film guides the viewer through a really intense thriller about a Jesuit priest trying to find the murderer of several young boys.

The story is so intriguing that the little technical problems can be left in the background. Suspense is the way the film takes to touch some hard topics that exist out of fiction.

Learning the story in this film is based on one of the first Philippino mystery novels by F. H. Batacan (Maria Felisa H. Batacan) was also an outstanding surprise .

This film is definitely something different for Filipino cinema! I was excited to watch it when I saw it on Netflix, though I haven't read the book it's based on.

That said, the story itself is unique and compelling. However, I struggled to catch some of the dialogue-especially with Father Jerome Lucero (played by Sid Lucero), who tended to mumble his lines. It was challenging to follow those moments without subtitles for the English parts. Still, the cast did a great job portraying their roles.

The cinematography was decent, and the color grading was okay. However, the music-something I'm very particular about-felt underwhelming. It had that typical Filipino "style" of scoring, which, in my opinion, could have been more dynamic and impactful.

The best Filipino thriller movie I have seen in years or maybe in my life. In my opinion, no other Filipino thriller movie comes close.

Smaller and Smaller Circles is a movie adaptation of the book by FH Batacan of the same name. It's a crime drama set in1997. It is about a mysterious serial killer at Payatas Dumping Site who kidnap and kill children it's up to Father Gus and Father Lucero to solve the crime.

I've never read the book so I am going to focus on a film. The film is dark and eerie and surprisingly terrifying. The moment the film started, it is the moment we were introduce to a mysterious crime and when they are finally knew who is behind the killings, it intensifies. The film is never dull from start to finish! It's on detective story than a action movie. The performance of the cast are brilliant! Nonnie Buencamino and Sid Lucero are perfect as the detective priest. Carla Humphrey is a revelation here! Director Raya Martin treatment is at best! Before I forget, the musical score is haunting.

As a whole, Smaller and Smaller Circles is one the best Filipino Detective story I've ever seen! I recommend you should see this film and enjoy the ride.