THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY :)

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pelikula:

Created Monstrosities
by Jansen Musico

Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang (2012)
D: Richard Somes
S: Erich Gonzales, Derek Ramsay, Epi Quizon, Mark Gil

What makes a monster? Is it the fangs that are sharp enough to rip through human flesh, or is it the claws whose grip can snap limbs and bones? Is it the carnal longing for the taste of blood, or is it vengeful madness driven by sorrow and fear? Richard Somes’ Corazon tries to answer just that as he tells the story of a married couple torn apart by their circumstances.

The movie’s namesake, Corazon (Erich Gonzales), is a woman cloaked with intrigue. Her reputation is marred by the image of her prostitute mother who had disappeared after the Japanese war. The women of the hacienda gossip behind her back, while the men throw her suspicious looks. To aggravate all this, Corazon cannot conceive a child although she and her husband (Derek Ramsay) have been working on it for years. As an act of desperation, Corazon resorts to religious fanaticism, something that does bear fruit but with catastrophic results.

The movie, released under Star Cinema’s indie film division Skylight Films, is a welcome change from the big studio’s typical oeuvre. The cinematography and scoring are the most evident improvements. Hermann Claravall’s camera work is crisp. The colors masking each shot make the rural setting both sleepy and hostile, covered with brush but drowning in the vastness of space. Von de Guzman’s contrapuntal music fills in that void and sets the mood for each sequence.

A mix of independent actors and ABS-CBN talents comprise the cast; though it is interesting to note that the lines of that division have blurred, since most of them have treaded it back and forth. For supporting characters, Epi Quizon, Tetchie Agbayani, and Mark Gil bring their A-game. Conversely, indie favorites Sue Prado and “Kuya” Bodjie Pascua (whose role was unnecessary) lack subtlety in their performances.

Gonzales and Ramsay make a believable couple, though the former made for better viewing than the latter. (I bet the women would disagree.) Ramsay’s acting, compared to his previous works, has improved, but the material proves too much for his prowess. Gonzales, on the other hand, gives a strong start, but squanders it all as her character loses herself to the monster she becomes. To their credit, it isn’t completely their fault. The poor editing decisions not only slighted their performances, it also crippled the entire film.

Corazon is just as much as a horror than it is a romantic movie. But the nuances of cutting make several moments of the film laughable. One can only take jump and shock cuts for so long, once it goes beyond the limit, the horror gets fatigued and eventually becomes embarrassingly uncomfortable. The same goes with romance. Star Cinema reared its ugly cheese ball head via a faux intercourse montage.

The film could have been better, but I cannot discredit it for trying. It’s an undeniable step forward for Philippine horror cinema. Once you peel off several layers of the movie’s faults and dispensable details, you get to see its heart: Monsters are not born; they’re created. They are propagated by the minds of men who fear what they do not know and pervert what they do not like.

Exhausted!!

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