In Iloilo, circa 1950s, legend has it that a barangay captain in the town of Dueñas belonged to a clan of aswang. The leader of that clan was called Teniente Gimo, and he was believed to be responsible for the many unexplained deaths where the victims were found without their hearts and kidneys.
Teniente Gimo had a wife, Melba, and a daughter, Ella. According to the legend, Teniente Gimo’s men mistakenly killed Ella to be served as the main course at the town fiesta. This story makes for a good horror movie, but KIB Production and RMS Productions give us another interesting angle, combining horror with romance and comedy.
Based on the urban legend, the movie Teniente Gimo will show how Gimo had affected his daughter’s relationship with a young man named Victor. Playing a major part in the conflict is a man named Gado whose angst towards Gimo intensified when his own family fell prey to the aswang. Also holding a grudge against Gimo is his former love flame, Ursula, who teams up with Victor in a mission to fight the aswang as well as other vile creatures called tik-tik and wak-wak. Joining them are Victor’s older friend, Bentong, and Lolo Ambo, a known nemesis of the said mythical creatures. This battle puts the entire community in total chaos.
Directed by Roland M. Sanchez, this movie employs proven cinematic technique (e.g. quick frantic cuts) that builds the suspense and provides jump scares. The romance-comedy aspect of the film is enhanced by the well placed and carefully crafted hugot lines that today’s youth are so crazy about. The sequences are fast paced and the dialogues are realistically penned and drawn from everyday lingo and real-life experiences.
An old woman who claims to have witnessed all the things presented in the movie surrounding the life of Gimo in the ‘50s narrates the film. Finding out the identity of this old lady is expected to be interesting for the viewers.
Teniente Gimo stars John Regala in the title role, Julio Diaz, Mon Confiado, Suzette Ranillo, Eliza Pineda and Joshua Dionisio as the star-crossed lovers Ella and Victor, and Kate Brios. It opens nationwide on June 1, distributed by VIVA Films.
Teri Malvar is 2016 Screen International Rising Star Asia awardee
Honor Thy Father, Hamog, and Apocalypse Child are among the 15 films chosen to be screened at the New York Asian Film Festival.
Cinema One Originals teen actress Teri Malvar made waves in 2013 when she beat Superstar Nora Aunor in the Best Actress category during the 2013 Cine Filipino Film Festival. Three years later, the young actress is now a recipient of the 2016 Screen International Rising Star Asia award in the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF).
The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) has also officially announced the 15 titles, which they described to be the “most cutting edge line-up yet,” to be screened from June 22 to July 9. Out of the 15 promising films, three are proudly Pinoy made: Erik Matti’s religious crime drama Honor Thy Father, Ralston Jover’s noir youth drama Hamog (Haze), and Mario Cornejo’s sensual surfing film Apocalypse Child.
It can be remembered that Malvar also won Best Actress in the 2015 Cinema One Originals awards night. Director Ralston Jover’s Hamog, a story on the lives of four street children who are caught in a web of consecutive and unforeseen tragedies, reaped four recognitions including Best Editing, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, and the coveted Jury Award.
Teri Malvar is recognized for her performances in “daring roles that have expanded the range of contemporary Philippine cinema.” She is best known for playing promising roles in Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s Ang Huling Cha-Cha Ni Anita, Jover’s Hamog, and Ice Idanan’s Sakaling Di Makarating.
