Subgenre: Slasher | Folk Horror | Religious Horror
Underlying Element: witchcraft & occult | psycho killer | time travel
Director: Derick Cabrido
Synopsis:
This movie is about the descendants of Father Mallari, who are seeking answers about the mystery of their lineage and the brutal killings that are tied to their name.
Analysis:
Mallari (2023) is a Filipino horror movie that takes inspiration from the life of Father Severino Mallari, the first documented serial killer in the Philippines.
Although the film does not revolve around the life of the real 19th-century priest, it uses the "serial killer" plot to create a fictional story about the mystery of the murders.
This is where the descendants of different generations come in. This is also where the different timelines intertwine to answer the mystery of their lineage. For some viewers, the direction of the story might be a bit confusing with the random tropes and elements that come and go.
Terror-wise, there are a lot of jump scares at the start. As the movie progresses and more questions are answered, the suspense also escalates, especially with the plot twist and big reveal towards the end. Acting-wise, Piolo Pascual's portrayal of three different characters in one movie is probably top-tier in his career.
In terms of using CGI, it is obvious that the Philippine film industry still has a lot to work on.
Overall, this whole chaotic story is still entertaining to watch, and the ending definitely calls for a sequel.
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