Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 Teaser Trailer Impressions: 2012's SR&R featuring Aliens, Zombies and Mythological Creatures

Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 or Shake, Rattle & Roll XIV, an official entry to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival (38th Metro Manila Film Festival) is an upcoming Regal Films horror anthology film directed by Chito Rono starring an ensemble casts including Lovi Poe, Vhong Navarro, Dennis Trillo, Paulo Avelino, Mart Escudero, Janice De Belen, Herbert Bautista, and Arlene Muhlach. Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 is slated for a December 25, 2012 nationwide theatrical release. Let's check out what Regal Film's Shake, Rattle and Roll title has to offer this 2012.

Shake, Rattle and Roll 14
Plot / Synopsis

Regal Entertainment, Inc. will once again feature three tales of horror with Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 this coming 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival. "Unwanted" stars Vhong Navarro and Lovi Poe in a story about an out of this world story of invasion; "The Lost Command" stars Dennis Trillo, Paulo Avelino, Mart Escudero, JC Tiuseco, Makisig Morales, and Rommel Padilla in a story about a military troupe encountering an undead army; and "Pamana" starring Janice de Belen, Herbert Bautista, Arlene Muhlach, Empress Schuck, and Dennis Padilla in a story about a very mysterious inheritance featuring mythological creatures.

Watch Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 teaser trailer here:


Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 Teaser Trailer Impression
Shake, Rattle & Roll XIV Film Teaser Trailer Review

It is another year for Metro Manila Film Festival and you know what that means right? Regal Films will once again feature another set of horror anthology in their already annual Shake, Rattle, and Roll film series. This time Regal seemingly plays it a bit by incorporating a bit of sci-fi with aliens and zombies.

This is still a teaser trailer for the fourteenth entry in the Shake, Rattle and Roll film franchise, Regal may release an even longer cut of it including official synopsis of it. I am just crossing my fingers that they won't spoil all three titles again with their official PR releases. What can we make up with the three horror episodes in SR&R 14? Well we have ridiculously fast moving zombies or undead in "The Lost Command" which I think is just enough if you pit them against a highly trained military personnel. I just wish the Rgal would try including a genuinely scary or creepy zombie episode without the supernatural mystical element to it. A bit more on the sci-fi side which they went with "Unwanted".

"Unwanted" features a fresh for a sci-fi theme for a Filipino horror film. Well of course, the CG still needs some major improving but the Philippine Cinema is getting there. The episode features Vhong Navarro who throws some witty lines that might put the "roll" in Shake, Rattle, and Roll 14. I just wish they can seamlessly marry in practical effects with CG-visual effects together to create one convincing horrific moments in one episode. The biggest complain I had with past SR&R entries is that they seem to be heavily depend on CGI-effects which may save them a few bucks but at the looks horrendously lame in the big screen. Let's just hope that this shake, Rattle, & Roll XIV alien invasion episode would deliver.

Finally we have a Regal Films horror regulars with Janice De Belen, Herbert Bautista and Arlene Muhlach with a cliched plot with "Pamana". The mere sight of a tiyanak (which resembles more of a duwende) and a very traditional Count Dracula type of vampire is more that enough to give you an impression on what to expect on this episode.

Hopefully Regal would expand or pick up on what episodes people would like on the 2012 MMFF entry of the Shake, Rattle, and Roll film franchise. The limited PR information released along with this teaser trailer about the film claims that all three episodes are directed by Chito Roño who is known for directing mostly good horror Filipino films. The question is will it mean that the stories featured here will have a somewhat superb polish that Roño directed films have been known for? I would be looking forward to the alien invasion episode which is probably the main reason why this SR&R title used it as the main subtitle for their 14th installment.

How about you guys, what do you think of the monsters or creatures featured in the teaser trailer of the Regal Film's 38th Metro Manila Film Festival Entry? What are you looking forward to watch? Share your thoughts about Shake, Rattle and Roll 14 teaser 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.

Thy Womb (Sinapupunan) Trailer Impressions: Brillante Mendoza's International Film Fest Entry Thy Womb Starring Philippine's Superstar Nora Aunor

Thy Womb with an alternative Filipino title of Sinapupunan is a 2012 drama film written by Henry Burgos and directed by Brillante Mendoza which stars Nora Aunor, Bembol Roco, Lovi Poe, and Mercedes Cabral. Thy Womb is produced by the Center Stage Productions and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and will make an international film debut to compete for the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. Mendoza's Thy Womb has also been invited to the Toronto International Film Festival in September and the Busan International Film Festival in October. There is no exact date as to when will the film be released on nationwide theaters, but hopefully a news will soon be available for it. Let's check out this latest film featuring the superstar, Miss Nora Aunor.

Thy Womb
Plot / Synopsis

The film is about a Badjao midwife coping with the irony of her own infertility amid the deprivations of her gypsy community in Tawi-Tawi. A saga of island life stuck between the devil of passion and the deep blue sea of tradition.

Source: Wikipedia

Watch Thy Womb Official trailer here:


Thy Womb Official Trailer Impression
Sinapupunan Film Trailer Review

Thy Womb looks and feels like it is the ideal film for intelligent movie goers, film critics, and alike. When you attached the name of 2009's Cannes Film Festival Best Director Brillante Mendoza and a theme contrary to what most Filipino films studios have been spewing and force feeding us through out the years, there might be this initial hostility or alien reception towards this film from the average Filipino film goer. Hopefully it transcends my seemingly ridiculous analysis. Well in any case, this is one movie I personally would want to see. The theme is very much fresh. I've always wondered how would other cultural groups would handle the everyday struggled or special challenges of a Christian Filipino, and so here is one. In an industry that is overly saturated with horror, comedy, and countless romantic films, a drama film like Thy Womb which features the lives of Filipinos who live under a different culture is a welcome thing on my book.

I believe that this trailer is just to inform the Filipinos that Thy Womb is competing for an international Film Festival, so we have to cheer for them, okay? Well that might be effective, but the trailer would be more nicer if they just dropped the voice-over or simply focus on what the film will mostly tackle. Well, this was also included in the trailer, but the introduction of the some of the artists involved in the film is not really that necessary... not unless the movie goers are really oblivious of who Lovi Poe is. Hopefully the trailer would be updated once they've decide to release the film locally. The cinematography looks superb! Tawi-Tawi looks stunning and picturesque in this trailer alone, what more on the actual film. There is also no doubt that the actors lead by Miss Aunor will be on their best feet to lead the film into bagging home the Golden Lion, and they should. This is not just some local December film festival that they want to win over, but some thing on a much higher level and caliber. With organizations like the Center Stage Productions and the Film Development Council of the Philippines backing it up, there is really this high expectation from this film. Hopefully we can soon see Thy Womb on the local big screen.

How about you guys, what do you think of the film's main theme? How about the plot and the actors in it? Share your thoughts about Thy Womb's official trailer in the comments section below:

Guni-Guni Trailer Impressions: When Skeletons in the Closet Starts to Haunt You

Guni-Guni is an upcoming horror movie from Regal Films (Regal Entertainment) under the screenplay and direction of Tara Illenberger, starring Lovi Poe, Empress Schuck, Benjamin Alves, James Blanco, Gina Alajar, Neil Ryan Sese, Julia Clarete, Gerarld Pesigan, Ria Garcia. Guni-Guni is slated for an August 22 nationwide release. Let's check out what this 2012 Regal Films horror has to offer.

Guni-Guni
Plot / Synopsis

Thirty years ago, an unborn child was buried in the garden of what is now a boardinghouse in Cubao. It lies beneath the ground, unbeknownst to the tenants who live there. One of the tenants is Mylene (Lovi Poe) who appears like the perfect girl, nice, pretty and at the top of her Medicine class. But nobody knows about her past, not even the man who loves her most, Paolo (Benjamin Alvez). Paolo doesn't know anything about Mylene's family, her long, lost sibling or her estranged, nervous wreck of a mother. Nor does he know about the very long scar that runs across Mylene's body, nor of how incomplete she always feels. And he finds that the more he tries to win back her love, the more she retreats to her secret world that nobody could enter.

One day Mylene asked to perform an abortion for fee, she feels conflicted about doing what' is right and, at the same time, being in dire need of tuition fee. Her decision ultimately leads to a dark outcome and awakens a force that has laid quiet for years in the boardinghouse grounds. Thereafter, she becomes tormented by nightmares of a dark twin, whose presence gets stronger as days pass, as strange things start to happen in the house. When one by one, the boarders die of unexplainable causes, Joanna (Empress Shuck) the resident psychic and Mylene's best friend struggles to understand the impending danger that she senses and decides to get to the bottom of the mystery; and as it unravels, they find themselves confronted by an angry soul that seeks justice.

Source: Guni-Guni Official FB Page

Watch Official trailer here:


Guni-Guni Official Trailer Impression
Guni-Guni Film Trailer Review

The Pinoy Movie Blogger has generally observed two bad habits by most Filipino film studios: (1) providing so little to none plot/synopsis to supplement their released trailer; and (2) providing too much information to the point of spoiling the actual film itself, leaving nothing to the movie audience imagination which ultimately treats the movie-going public like complete dolts. Well, the first one is not really that bad since it adds more element of mystery and the challenge of finding out what the film could actually be like, but the second one...?

Traditional Filipino film studios are at it again! They once again did another film marketing blunder by spoiling the film through their official press releases (plot line) posted in their official channel (Guni-guni's official FB Page). I already made a similar observation in Viva Film's Hitman. Now its Regal Film's turn to spoil what should be left for movie goers to find out for themselves. Pinoy Movie Blogger usually avoids spoilers to both the trailer impressions and actual movie reviews we post here, but when the actual film studios spoil their movie themselves through their press releases, then we can no longer cover up for them. You'll be the judge. Now that "that" rant is out of the way, here is what we have to say about Guni-Guni.

Even before finding out the plot of Guni-Guni's from its official press release, I already felt that the scares are a bit on the mediocre side. The usual horror side of me attempted to speculated what could the general story based on the trailer and it somewhat teased me a bit. Okay, this sure has some nice enough mystery that may redeem its so-so horror elements and special effects. She saw twins, then this might have something to do with twins. She might had a twin sister which might haunt the unfortunate victims, etc. From the title itself, it might simply be a supernatural psychological horror film ala The Road because the characters seems to be having some skeletons in their closet which eventually will come to get them. So what I did was pretty basic stuff when I am curious about a film, do a basic research about the synopsis or any information that could shed light to the mystery of the film. If there is none, then this turns to hype or I might even consider it. Then I saw the film's official FB Page where it feature that.... spoiler-full synopsis that ruined the mystery that seems to be the redeeming quality of the film. After reading it, I got disappointed. Guni-Guni's story feels very familiar. I can't help but compare it to The Healing. I am no Vilma Santos, Kim Chiu or Star Cinema fanboy, but its trailer was effective in building up hype with its creepy tesaer scenes that left some questions. The Healing didn't include any spoilers in its official press releases which opted me to actually buy a ticket to watch it. I can not say the same with Guni-Guni. I maybe wrong with this initial reaction, but the film's marketing isn't helping it either. I'll do myself a favor and will try to save my money on other films that knows how to treat their audience right.

How about you guys, what can you say about the trailer for this 2012 horror film from Regal Films? Share your thoughts on Guni-Guni's official film trailer in the comments section below: