CINEMA ONE ORIGINALS 2018 FORECAST: WHICH ARE HAVEY AND WHICH ARE WALEY?

Later, Cinema One Originals 2018 officially begins and will run in the following theaters until the 21st: Trinoma, Glorietta, Gateway, Santolan Town Plaza, Powerplant, SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM Manila, and SM Sta. Mesa. It will also run with extended playdates at FDCP Cinematheque Manila, UP Cine Adarna, Cinema ‘76, Black Maria Cinema, and Cinema Centenario.

So, I will rank each entry based on how much I want to watch it and of course I will tell you why.

1. Never Tear Us Apart (formerly titled Fisting)

Enigmatic and controversial at the same time, the latter because of its original title, the film, shot entirely on Iphone X, is about a domesticated aging spy. The trailer gives us nothing more than an eerie lighting, black latex, and a reminder that Stanley Kubrick is immortal. Whammy Alcazaren is known to produce films that shock the senses so I think this one is also in that category.

SCREENING SCHEDULE: 

October 13
9:45pm: Santolan Town Plaza *Gala Screening*
11:30pm: Cinema Centenario | Black Maria

October 14
2:30pm: Power Plant Mall | Glorietta

October 15
2:30pm: Trinoma
4pm: Cinematheque Manila
9pm: Black Maria

October 16
5pm: Gateway Cineplex
7pm: Cinema '76 San Juan | Cinema '76 Anonas

October 17
10pm: Trinoma
5pm: Glorietta
9:30pm: Powerplant Mall

October 18
9:40pm: Gateway Cineplex
6pm: Cinema Centenario

October 19
1pm: Cinematheque Manila
3pm: Cinema '76 San Juan | Cinema '76 Anonas
6:30pm:Santolan Town Plaza
7pm:UP Film Center

October 20
7pm: Cinematheque Manila
9:30pm: Glorietta

October 21
5:30pm: Cinema '76 San Juan | Cinema '76 Anonas
7pm: Power Plant Mall
9:15pm: Santolan Town Plaza
11:30pm: Black Maria

from the same family behind Never Tear Us Apart
PAKI

October 12
5pm: Trinoma

October 17
2:30pm: Glorietta

also written and directed by Whammy Alcazaren
ISLANDS

October 13
12:30pm: Santolan Town Plaza

October 16
12nn: Gateway

2. Asuang

Found footage cinema was popularized by the Blair Witch Project but unlike the said film, this looks like more of a satire. Aside from being a comeback of sorts for Alwyn Uytingco on film in a role which doesn't look just meaty but furry (that thing on his neck would be have PETA people carrying pitchforks), this blends the myth created by popular media iconography with Pinoy mythology where Asuang, the Bicolano God of Sins, like our local Loki, holds the fate of humanity. 

Yes, Chai Fonacier and Jelson Bay are in the cast. Two more reasons to watch it. Carl Papa, writer-director of Paglisan, another entry, is on board for this one alongside Rayn Brizuela who directs it, Brizuela fyi is behind the mindfuck Memory Channel starring Gerald Santos. While that one may not be so polished, it's enough to make me look forward to his sophomore offering.

3. A Short History of a Few Bad Things

The trailer explicitly mentioned "Babylon Kids" and I think Keith Deligero's Babylon is an underrated gem of a short film. That absurd film he described as a prank call to the Philippines went to Berlin so I wonder if this third full-length film of his will have that silly and evil uncle from the short one? Obviously, it it is comedy but not a slapstick one. Expect tons of Cebuano humor and possibly something as absurd as a talking chicken.

SCREENING SCHEDULE:

October 13 (Saturday)

9:30PM
SM Manila Cinema 8

October 14 (Sunday)

4:00PM
Cinema Centenario, QC

7:00PM
Cinematheque Manila

7:15PM
GALA NIGHT
Santolan Town Plaza Cinema 4

9:00PM
Blackmaria, Mandaluyong

9:45PM
Glorietta Cinema 4
SM North Edsa Cinema 7

9:55PM
Trinoma Cinema 4

October 15 (Monday)

2:00PM
SM Sta. Mesa Cinema 10

2:30PM
Powerplant Cinema 1

4:30PM
SM Manila Cinema 8

5:00PM
Cinema ’76 San Juan
Cinema ’76 Anonas

5:15PM
Gateway Cinema 6

11:00PM
Cinema Centenario QC

October 16 (Tuesday)

2:30PM
SM Megamall Cinema 5

3:00PM
Trinoma Cinema 4
SM North Edsa Cinema 7

4:00PM
Cinematheque Manila

5:00PM
Glorietta Cinema 4

9:30PM
Powerplant Cinema 1

October 17 (Wednesday)

12NN
SM Megamall Cinema 5
SM Manila Cinema 8

4:30PM
Santolan Town Plaza Cinema 4

7:30PM
SM Sta. Mesa Cinema 10

October 18 (Thursday)

4:00PM
Blackmaria Mandaluyong

7:30PM
Powerplant Cinema 1

8:30PM
Cinema Centenario QC

9:50PM
SM Megamall Cinema 5

10:15PM
SM Manila Cinema 8

October 19 (Friday)

4:15PM
Santolan Town Plaza Cinema 4

5:30PM
Trinoma Cinema 4

7:00PM
Cinematheque Manila

7:15PM
SM North Edsa Cinema 7

October 20 (Saturday)

12:30PM
SM North Edsa

1:30PM
Cinema Centenario QC

3:00PM
SM Megamall Cinema 5

7:00PM
Gateway Cinema 6

7:30PM
Glorietta Cinema 4
Cinema ’76 San Juan
Cinema ’76 Anonas

9:00PM
Blackmaria Mandaluyong

9:30PM
SM Sta. Mesa Cinema 10

October 21 (Sunday)

5:00PM
Powerplant Cinema 1
SM North Edsa Cinema 7

8:00PM
SM Manila Cinema 8

October 24 (Wednesday)

7:00PM
Cine Adarna

4. Paglisan

Even though the animation looks like something out of a seventies Japanese animated feature, Carl Papa must still be commended because at least this is not some trying hard CGI crap but something heartfelt and obviously drawn from his experiences in life, whether personal or from the stories he encountered. As a third world country, this might be one of the best things our technology can manage right now especially with the film just having the seed money of about over a million. Since cartoons usually appeal to kids, I think tackling issues such as parents separating in such a medium is important because there are just some things which are so difficult to put into words.

5. Bagyong Bheverlynn



The film has a very fresh concept which reminds one of the Negrense folktale concerning Epefania, a young village lass who almost destroys the world chasing for love. Where her power came from, nobody knows, which almost seems the same with Bheverlynn (Rufa Mae Quinto, an unwitting lady who conjures up a literal storm vua the force of her misery brought about by her narcissist ex-boyfriend (EA de Guzman).

No need to trivialize this further, this is for me, you, anyone, and everyone who has ever loved a narcissist. I'm pretty sure this film would make you love more than it it will make you cry.

6. Mamu; and a Mother Too



Newbie director Rod Singh from UP Babaylan focuses on how it's an additional challenge for a transgender woman to raise a seemingly younger version of herself loaded with a lot pf spunk and libido. This film took a huge risk which may or may not pay off because it not only has a newbie director, the main cast are non-actors, too.

7. Double Twisting Double Back

When I first heard of this project, I was excited since here we might have a well-made fictional drama about an athlete in the vein of The Wrestler (2008) or more recently, I Tonya (2017). Then, I heard about the erotic thriller part, saw the teaser (no trailer was ever uploaded that's why it is not on the Youtube channel of Cinema One Originals), connected the dots, and thought to myself, "Is this the violent version of Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa" since the producer collaborated with Alvin Yapan before that Oro thingy happened. Why wasn't a fictional biopic about Michael Christian Martinez or Hidilyn Diaz made instead? Without the same-sex potential crime of passion angle, thank you very much.

8. Hospicio

Wait, I thought the season of "I got put into a mental hospital by accident and suddenly no one is there to help me even in the advent of Tulfo and modern technology" was already over after Unsane? Just subscribe to Netflix instead and watch the whole season of American Horror Story: Asylum. Trust me on this, please. Fine, go watch it if you are such a Loisa Andalio fan.

9. Pang MMK

Remember when Cinema Originals gave us Slumber Party in 2012? Good. Remember that. R-E-M-E-M-B-E-R. Wait, you actually finished watching the trailer?