ASWANG is a Filipino horror flick and an ill-advised remake of the 1992 film of the same name, which achieved some international recognition after it had a DVD release via Pete Tombs' Mondo Macabro outlet. They really shouldn't have bothered with this remake, though, as it's one of those entirely pointless and listless ones. It's very low key and plays out as a mere soap opera rather than horror flick for the most part. There's a great deal of dialogue waiting to be waded through here before things finally let rip at the climax, with cheesy action and made-up extras seemingly wandering in from the set of THE MAD DOCTOR OF BLOOD ISLAND.
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Leofwine_draca2 February 2018
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gstepup26 November 2011ASWANG gave me the surprise for November. I usually leave the theater after watching Regal Films horror schlockers disappointed and derisive of their dismal, derivative styles. But Jerrold Taurog has a distinctive style that leaves one riveted, even startled. (SPOILERS!) For starters, Lovi Poe gives an indelible performance here, notches away from her usual vampy airheads (see TEMPTATION ISLAND). While the backstory about the 'aswang' lore is hazy, we immediately sympathize with Poe's dilemma, of refusing to give in to her beastly nature and eat people. Paulo Avelino, again with no acting muscles stretched, gives a mostly anemic performance as a guilt-ridden gunman who falls for Poe's shapeshifting barrio lass. Amidst all the carnage and panicky townsfolk, Marc Abaya chews the scenery as a trigger-happy and sardonic hit-man who's waiting for his chance to kill a traitorous Avelino. Albie Casiño struggles but gives a wooden performance, while cutesy Jillian Ward is yet again hammy and too pushbutton-cute for the role of a little girl whose parents have been massacred and who has to flee from the gunmen with her kuya (Casiño). Precious Lara Quigaman (as Poe's older sister) and Nonie Buencamino give solid support, but the rest of the 'aswang' extras boggle the mind with their entire get-up and characterizations. Taurog sets up most of the attack scenes without knowing how to stage them convincingly and appropriately shockingly, but overcomes this with the layered storytelling (co-written with Adloy Adlawan) and the moody production sets (Ericson Navarro) and a mature performance from his lead actress. My basic quibble: the lead monster (to whom Poe is betrothed) is not as horrible and scary as he should have been (Fu-Manchu beard, scaly back and claws notwithstanding). When I looked at the credits, I was surprised to see Bembol Roco's name as the monster. Unrecognizable, but not enough to frighten you out of your wits -- just disgust you. ASWANG has a different feel from all those previous Regal horror-films, and a parameter has been set by Taurog. Alas, if only the other horror-film directors wouldn't fall back on their outdated styles!