Let Me In (2010) directed by Matt Reeves

Last tuesday, we were able to watch the movie Let me in. i had no idea whatsoever to what this film is all about and wasn't even aware that it is a remake from the original one Let The Right One In. but upon watching the movie, i found myself enjoying it as it unfolds mysteries from different sides of the characters.

Anyway, this film is about a bullied young boy from a broken family and who lives with his mother met a young girl who just moved in next door to their apartment. Later on he becomes friend with this girl who he discover was a vampire.

Earlier, before watching the film, our class had a little discussion about certain topic which is "bubog" as defined by our professor, it is a physical, mental and emotional wounds that never heal. these are wounds that will remain wounds forever. so, through out the movie, we all had our eyes from different characters' "bubog" that ultimately gave more heart and life to the story.

but before discussing the "bubog' of the characters i would just like to first talk about the technical aspects of the film. As for the story, it has a lot of unexpected twists. Although there are a lot of similarities with other vampire films such as the twilight saga and the vampire diaries series, this somehow focused on how a personal background of a young child would affect the way he react and thinks for other people even though as we can say, they are vampires. i also liked how the story began and how the scenes were arranged. it somehow lead the viewers into concluding that the old man was the killer and the vampire. but the story unfolds, it gives another question unto what is it really thats goiing to happen both in the vampire and the young boy. upon the end of the film, i personally couldn't avoid to think if the vampire really loves the young boy or is she just really doing that because she wants someone who will help her when she feeds?

In terms of lightings in the movie, there are times that it is just not suitable with the theme and the scene of the movie but most of the time it was great and really added to the mood of the film.

Now, lets talk about the "bubog" of the characters.

The bully young guy in the film who used to pick on Owen, i think his "bubog" or the thing that haunts him and make him to be like that is because of his own brother who used to do the same bullying to him such as calling him a girl which he later on starts doing it to others.

Owen's "bubog" is the drive to find a working relationship with a partner. Since he came from a broken family, he had this urge to find someone who he can act to differently. shown in the film, he was so curious about the relationship of his neighbors and same as with his parents' status.

The old guy's wound was because of his love towards the young girl. which because of this love, he was willing to do everything it takes to protect and help the vampire.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

This movie is a good movie for vampire genre, lets say. although it also focuses on love and relationship like any other vampire movies, it is still different in way that it will also in the same time make you think about the story of each characters. this was also very interesting for me since, it is about the insights and feelings of a younger character which in a way had a very big difference with the other films.  it is a horror movie BUT it is not the "gulat" type of a horror film but it somehow let's you imagine and analyze about the whole story.

All in all, i liked the film and was not bored watching it. even without those typical "gulat" factors in most of the horror movies.

Kisapmata (1981)

Kisapmata of Mike de Leon is based from the story of Nick Joaquin "The House on Zapote Street" a true story about a father who later in the story began to unfold his unusual way of thinking and actions when her only daughter began to make her own way out of his hands. Everyone in their family is inferior to him and even tried to convinced her newlywed daughter to just live with them under one roof. One unfortunate thing lead to another until one incident finished everything off.

Notes and insights.

 For me, the film was very successful in terms of conveying and interpreting the theme that the story wants to relay and they have done it in a very neatly way. upon seeing the movie, it is not like you will immediately realized that it was filmed back so many years ago because the techniques that were used are very spontaneous and neat. The editing was also very smooth as it brought the story the real suspense and thrill that is needed to catch the attention of the viewer. the way the story is edited made it unpredictable and also will make you to wait for what is it really that is waiting for the main casts.

The embarking of the symbols to interpret the feelings, insights and perspectives of the different characters and even the story itself was also very effective. I find it also to be very interesting and convincing and will definitely makes you think about the meaning of the symbols being shown.

The entire story embodied successfully the ambiance of mystery throughout the film which i personally think, added more impact and interest to the succeeding scenes and made the ending the most unpredictable and the most interesting part of the film.

The actors who portrayed the characters were also unbelievably convincing and they were able to put up the intense emotion that the story wanted the viewers to experience. the actor Vic Silayan who played the role of the father was really scary as intended to and was able to really have a very dramatic portrayal of the character. because he was the center of the story, attentions and even how the other characters are being appreciated all depended on how they have revolved around the character. given that his role is a very important one, he has managed to bring all of the other characters around and interpret the appropriate acting for the part. Charo Santos, who played the daughter in the film was also able to convey to the audience the intense sadness and depression that an abused female can feel.