Rigodon Trailer Impressions: Bringing the Erotic Dramas Back in Mainstream Philippine Cinema this 2013

Rigodon is an upcoming 2012 Viva Films and Reality Entertainment romance thriller film under the direction of Erik Matti, screenplay by Layetta Bucoy and Dwight Gaston, which stars Yam Yam Concepcion (new Viva Sex Goddess), John James Uy and Maxene Eigenmann. Rigodon is slated for an November 21, 2012 nationwide theatrical release. Let's check out the return of sexy (heterosexual) films in mainstream Philippine cinema this 2013 with Viva Films' Rigodon.

Rigodon
Plot / Synopsis

Can we truly know another person, close as we might become? Secret lives, hidden passions, deceit, betrayal and vengeance are revealed in a dizzying dance of a peeping eye.

We follow the life of Sarah, who has been left by her boyfriend after he was threatened by her domineering father. Drifting, in despair, she meets Riki, a former teen star now hosting a home tv shopping show. Casual friendship turns deeper as Sarah feels herself being drawn closer to Riki, who actively pursues her. Until she gives herself one passionate night.

The next morning, we shift our voyeur’s view and follow Riki as he makes his way to his house...and his wife, Regine. Here we get to know the real Riki as he tries to juggle his incredibly complicated life, dealing with loan sharks, his boss, his still-smoldering ambition to regain his stardom, his girl Sarah, his wife Regine, and still another ex-wife, Pearl. Secrets he tries to keep, specially from Regine.

So then we follow Regine, as she struggles with raising their two children while managing her bipolar disorder and growing suspicion, frustration, and rage at her shadowy husband.

Then Regine discovers Pearl and the sick son that is the counterpart to their own girl and finds that her paranoia has become a bitter reality. She confronts Riki. Riki realizes that of all of them, Regine is the one he is terrified of losing, for Regine is the only one he truly loves. He resolves to do better by her, but being the duplicitous person that he is, cannot bring himself to cut clean and instead starts avoiding Sarah.

And when Sarah, puzzled and hurt by Riki’s evasiveness, discovers the truth, this leads to Regine discovering more devastating, soul-crushing truths about her husband. As Riki’s convoluted world unravels around him, these two troubled women’s murderous rage leads to a shattering finale.

Source: Viva Films Rigodon Official Channel

Watch Rigodon Official trailer here:


Rigodon Official Trailer Impression
Rigodon Film Trailer Review

I give up with Viva Films and how they spoil their films through the synopsis released for their films. The plot shared above came from Viva Films official channels (including FB, official Yutube trailer, and their official website) which leaves little to the imagination. Well, on the good side straight (heterosexual) kind of sexy films are back in mainstream Philippine cinema.

In fairness to other locally produced mainstream films, they did try to make drama titles that vaguely resemble ST films by including popular sexy lead on them, but none of them came close to actually titillating the male or "mature" audience as much as sexy (ST) film actress like Joyce Jimenez, any of the Viva Hot Babes, Rosanna Roces, etc. did before. Now Viva Films is reviving the sexy genre and tackling that niche male movie going market by introducing Yam Concepcion, Viva's new Sex Goddess. Rigodon is a film about unfaithfulness and its deadly consequences. The only difference between Viva Films latest sexy movie from the other 2012 Filipino movies about mistresses is that it add a thriller element to the film's plot. Well, a similar mainstream film did something similar this year with Biktima, but it didn't include that many sexy scenes. That is probably one of the main selling point of ST films before, but I don't know if Rigodon would come close to the notoriety of like Warat and Scorpio Nights 2 achieved before. We have to consider that we are still living in a country run by conservatives. Anything that goes below their definition of morality will definitely get a violent reaction from them. So far Rigodon hasn't received any fire from such dogmatic individuals and this could be because the film's trailer isn't that visible in public television channels. This could also mean that the level of risk and sexiness of the film is tolerable to their standards. If Rigodon wants to be the definitive mainstream sexy movie that is going to be the revival of the mainstream sexy film genre (like what Manila Kingpin promised on the action film genre), then it has to offer something more and not just some some smutty scenes. Well, so far it possesses that with its precautionary tale type of plot. It is not your average drama film with a usual comedy-type of an ending where the only thing hurt is the character's egos, families, or emotions. These kinds of films usually ends up with death or incarceration of one of the leads. Well, this is not some prediction as this will come to pass no thanks to that detailed spoiler by Viva Films about Rigodon. But with a somewhat decent storyline and fresh faces that would redefine sexiness in mainstream sexy films, Rigodon could be the film that would return sexy films back on Philippine mainstream cinema.

How about you guys, what do you think about this mainstream Viva Films 2012 title for mature audiences. What do you think about Viva's newly crowned Sex Goddess, Yam Concepcion? Share your thoughts Rigodon's official movie trailer in the comments section below:

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012) Movie Review

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles is a 2012 Filipino horror-comedy film produced by GMA Films, Reality Entertainment, and Agosto Dos, under the direction of Erik Matti starring Dingdong Dantes, Lovi Poe, Joey Marquez, Janice De Belen, Ramon Bautista, Roi Vinzon, LJ Reyes, Mike Gayoso, and Rina Reyes. Does this horror film shot entirely in green screen meet the hype that it established? Check out our spoiler-free Pinoy Movie Blogger's review on Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles.

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles
Synopsis

Makoy (Dingdong Dantes) will do whatever it takes to get back his girlfriend Sonia (Lovi Poe), who's pregnant with their child. Macoy made the long trip to Sonia's hometown in the province but got immediately rejected by Sonia's mother Fely (Janice De Belen). Makoy has never been one to give up. With the help of Sonia's father Nestor (Joey Marquez) and his ever-dependable helper Bart (Ramon Bautista), Makoy stays in town to surprise Sonia on her birthday. Unfortunately, Makoy gets into trouble with a group of weird townsfolk who to little did they know are the dreaded Philippine folkloric monster the "tiktik"(s). As soon as they overhear that Macoy's wife is pregnant these weird townsfolk got literally hungry for revenge. Will Makoy finally get his act together, protect Sonia and their baby, and once and for all prove himself worthy of their love? Not only that but can they all survive the ruthless attack of these man eating monsters?

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles Movie Review
Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012) Film Review

The "aswang" is one of the most used horror icon in Philippine cinema. As someone who grew up and favoring horror films, I can say that I've mostly seen them all. So what is left for there to do with the aswangs? The answer a modern take on the traditional Aswangs.

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles has so much hyped built into it. I can say that this horror film from GMA Films is successful in generating buzz in both online and traditional scene which transcended to actual ticket or box office sales. Filipino produced films specially under the horror genre are not specifically known for quality when it comes to computer generated special effects, so I can't be blamed for initially being skeptical about this film. I have this vision... a feeling if you must say that "Filipino films can still do it!" or "they can pull off the same effect that most quality Hollywood films has done" is what kicked in and the reason why I succumbed to the hype created by Tiktik: the Aswang Chronicles. I said to myself "I will watch this second Aswang film. It must not be as bad as Corazon. I hope I am not wrong this time". So did it lived up to its hype?

Right from the start, I think I know I was expecting but still gave it a try. Tiktik has that same old usual storyline and a below to average CG effects. There were times when the aswangs both on their human and monstrous forms looks somehow real, but mostly they look really amateur seen only from television fantasy-themed soaps. The fact that it also throws logic out of the window by making these monsters instantly combust ala "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" vampires turn to dust at the mere exposure or when attacked by the items that they are weak to is another reason why I stopped taking the film seriously. The fact that the whole film was shot mostly in green screen could be also be the reason why it mostly took me out of the scenes in the film. It activated that "spot the lame special effects" reflex I have when watching films. It was probably my film critic instincts but I eventually set it aside once I started accepting these known factors. Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles was not a straight on horror film, well not what I was expecting anyways. Tiktik was more of a comedy than a horror. Tiktik used a mixed of some atmospheric background music and modern rock music.

While the film was not the finest example of what a Filipino special effects studio can do, Tiktik made up for the performance and witty script it used. The performance of the actors were decent and entertaining. Joey Marquez and Ramon Bautista took the theater by storm with their hilarious moments in the film. I usually have this deductive reflex when watching movies and if they follow that personal deduction down to a tooth, then the film receives an automatic deduction for being "that" predictable. There was this one scene foreshadowing Ramon Bautista's character Bart which made me think of what he was, but as the film went on the film proved me wrong. Thus, one point for Slitherin, I mean Tiktik! The exposition as to why Bart was like (or looks like) that brought a smile to my face. Also most of the scenes with Ramon, Joey and Dingdong were mostly entertaining. The end didn't also make much sense. The final confrontation might have ended faster only if they utilized what they had at that moment, but NOOOooo they have to proceed with that "epic" finish where I also spot the green on the film's green screen. Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles decided to go over the top with logic that blurred logic and made it entertaining amidst ethe flaws of the visual effects technology it used that ranged from a subpar to a decent level.

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012) Official Theatrical Movie Trailer


The Verdict for Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012) Film

Tiktik: the Aswang Chronicles is not a straight on horror film that a horror film fan is looking for, but a good mix of comedy and suspense. One of the criteria for a horror film to be good is the believability and it being grounded to reality that Tiktik disregard in some ways to give way to a more entertaining take on a theme that has been used over and over in Philippine horror cinema. Tiktik has more laughs than creep out moments. It pays tribute to the classic Filipino horror films which originally have way more sinister plot and believable gorey practical effects than what Tiktik had with its green screen special effects. Do yourself a favor and watch Tiktik: the Aswang Chronicles while it is still in theaters or if you missed it out, then grab the film with various special features that goes with it when it gets release on home video format in the near future.

Pinoy Movie Blogger gives Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012) a 7 out of 10 (7/10) film review rating.