Manananggal sa unit 32B can be anybody’s love story… until it isn’t. With its simple boy-meets-girl premise, the opening scenes subtly paved way to the spark of a blossoming romance between Jewel (Ryza Cenon) and Nikko (Martin Del Rosario), two lone strangers who, by fate, met by living in the same apartment.
The sudden shift of scenes from delicate to daring, however, inherently destructed the film’s sweet façade; replacing it with a bold and modern portrayal of a Filipino folklore that everybody is familiar of.
Director Prime Cruz, in his second movie, exquisitely challenged the cliché and opened up a world often overlooked by hundreds of portrayals of manananggals and other mythical creatures- the humanistic side of these so-called monsters and their struggle to fit inside a world entirely different from theirs.
The cinematography is definitely a stand-out in the movie. Tey Clamor’s use of dark and electric hues complemented well with the mysterious narrative of the film. Its color grading along with the efficient use of music to intensify the emotions of the characters and highlight the riveting scenes is refreshing in a good way. The play of shadows to imply the way Ryza kills her victims is highly effective- both on essence and as aesthetic. The minimal depictions of her transformation intensified the scene where she changed completely as a mananananggal.
Nestor Abrogena Jr.’s excellent production design along with the tinge of CGI sealed the deal in delivering the pivotal moment. The chemistry between Ryza and Martin in the film is also something worth mentioning.
Manananggal sa unit 32B shows Ryza Cenon’s prowess as an artist. From her mysterious character to the controversial masturbation scene, her genuine portrayal of Jewel flawlessly showed her character’s battle against her fate and her internal conflicts as a human.
Martin Del Rosario, on the other hand, is promising as a lead actor. His natural and easy-going performance as Nikko blended well with Ryza’s.
Meanwhile, Vangie Labalan’s humorous depiction of Lola, however, completed the chemistry. The trio’s interaction made the film more realistic, peppered with effortless kilig and humor.
Overall, Manananggal sa unit 32B delivered more than what it promised. With its right mix of darkness, solitude and mystery, the film narrated a love story that showed the viewers what’s beyond the kilig- it is the struggle of finding yourself and confront the uncertainties life has to offer.