This year’s Metro Manila Film Festival boasts of a lineup of films that—finally—have begun focusing on quality as much as commercial value. While it has received criticisms over the years for fielding in entries that cater to the moviegoing masses, critical acclaim be damned; the past few years have seen the festival slowly regaining its footing.
The films this year range from family dramas and your standard Filipino thrillers, to dramedies and musicals. Below, I write a few thoughts on Dan Villegas’ crime thriller film, Uninvited.
More MMFF Coverage: ‘Green Bones’ and ‘The Kingdom’
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
When we first see Eva Candelaria (Vilma Santos) on screen, it doesn’t take long for the audience to realize that she’s crashing a birthday party. The celebrant: Guilly Vega (Aga Muhlach), a man with no redeeming qualities whose acts of evil compel Eva to embark on her quest for vengeance.
As straightforward as such a plot is, Uninvited is reminiscent of the Philippine camp films of yesteryear, with a strong premise and buildup, only to surrender to a third act that’s as underwhelming as it is luridly gratuitous.
But, that’s kinda the point, right? Making this a nuanced character study of a mother on the verge of being consumed by her desire to avenge her daughter’s death would have been better, no question about it.
But is it going to be fun? Probably not.
Dan Villegas, working from a script by Dodo Dayao, relies on the star wattage of his lead actors, both of whom bring their A-game while working on polar opposites. Vilma Santos’ portrayal of a bereaved mother serves as the film’s beating heart, and she takes us along on her mission, which would make Carey Mulligan‘s Cassie proud. Even as the third act fully embraces its camp tendencies, Santos has the audience’s back, fully invested in her vendetta and praying she emerges unscathed.
However, it is Aga Muhlach‘s turn as an over-the-top, sinister evil-incarnate that’s tough to watch—and hard to look away from. I found myself squirming in my seat with every act of deviancy and profanity on display, and the fact that fellow audience members exclaimed on the way out of the cinema that they despised the actor (not the character) is a testament to the screenplay and direction, which Muhlach’s performance amplified to the hilt.
Taut, Compelling Revenge Story Underutilizes Its Supporting Cast
Unfortunately, while both performances are deserving of praise, the rest of the cast is either underused or simply miscast. Uninvited, with its singular focus on Santos’ character, underutilizes Nadine Lustre as a result, while making supporting characters like Tirso Cruz III and Mylene Dizon feel unnecessary. These tendencies usually occur in films of the same verve, and it’s a tightrope walk that few filmmakers can master. And while I understand that populating the film’s universe with A-list celebrities lends more credence to the lived-in world, Villegas ultimately succumbs to this double-edged sword.
Nevertheless, Uninvited is worthy of your time. Clocking in at 93 minutes, the pacing is great, the screenplay taut, and the music (Len Calvo…I just, I can’t with you. Salute.) panic-inducing. Even when the camp takes hold in a third act that generally underwhelms, Vilma Santos and Aga Muhlach’s performances are more than enough to offset the film’s other shortcomings.
A self-described cinephile who can’t stop talking—and writing—about films. Paul also moonlights as ghostwriter and editor for a few memoirs. He currently resides in the Philippines.
