MMFF 2024 REVIEW: Espantaho - Old School But Not That Cool

We grew up with Chito S. Roño horror films which has defined cinematic experience and culture through the years, and for the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival, he does deserve a spot for the 50th edition of the festival. Howver with this film Espantaho starring Judy Ann Santos, Lorna Tolentino and Chanda Romero, we might have expected too much because of the hype and the number of cinemas it got overall.

Espantaho translates to scarecrow which would be the mysterious entity that will haunt the characters with its mystical ways. The plot actually follows more on the tradition of the Pasiyam (nine-day novena for the dead) which what brought the characters together. The pinoy grieving and funeral culture did stand out as many traditions and customs were observed which can relate to the viewers. However, the plot got lost with the mix of the horror elements and the Pasiyam timeline. 

You can observe that Chito S. Roño signature for his horror films, which I loved and made me look for easter eggs hidden, but being too familiar will also make you bored because of the predictability of the movie. The lore of the pestilence had potential to strike fear but felt short and it was also confusing that there is a lack of sadness and grief when the characters lost her children then shifts emotions like nothing happened. The movie screams Feng Shui and The Healing which I both love but feels like a copycat of those films.

News Buzz: Score a FREE Rolex Watch when you Pre-order HONOR X9c 5G? Promo Leaks!

Win a Rolex Watch when you Pre-order HONOR X9c 5G from Jan 10 to 24, 2025!

Excitement is building as posters spotted in several HONOR Experience Stores hint at a potential game-changing pre-order deal for the highly durable HONOR

 X9c 5G. Could this be your chance to snag a FREE Rolex watch with your pre-order? If true, this is a deal that’s bound to turn heads. 

The buzz around the HONOR X9c 5G has been unrelenting since its unveiling earlier this year, coinciding with New Year celebrations. Since then, the device

 has captured the internet’s attention, sparking viral content from media outlets and influencers nationwide, including Cong TV, Viy Cortez, Kamangyan Vlogs, Malupiton, Jomar Yee, and The Aguinaldos!

Adding to the hype, a circulating ad suggests that once pre-orders for the HONOR X9c 5G commence, customers could secure a shot at owning a brand-new Rolex watch. Dubbed the #TheToughestPhone of the Year, the HONOR X9c 5G will officially launch on

January 10 at 6 PM. Don’t miss out—join the event to learn all about this exciting promo and be part of the buzz! 

MMFF 2024 REVIEW: Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital - The best Pinoy found footage to date

MMFF Horror is either a hit or miss for me, but was pleasantly surprised with this film which I believe maybe the longest title for a MMFF horror (ever?) So lets abbreviate this into TKH for this post. 

Set in Taiwan, where a group of celebrities and content creators goes on a ghost hunting in an abandoned hospital where numerous explorers are found dead and cursed. I like they go by their real names which I find kinda meta though I hope it will not also affect them in real life.

The plot may not be new, but the direction and effects were really good. Something that I really wanted to see in a Pinoy horror flick. It may not go full all-out blood and gore but went hard with the suspense and horror quality.

This is what I would recommend if people would ask for a great Pinoy horror movie that does not feel underbugeted. As the cast are also playing themselves, they are too and their works are used as a reference in some of the scenes capitalizing on the fans and haters to build up their own characters for TKH.

We Checked What’s Inside the HONOR X9c 5G and Here's Why It's The Toughest Phone of 2025

Find out more on January 10 as we officially unveil the HONOR X9c 5G! 

Leading smart devices provider HONOR Philippines has done it again with its viral and elevated durability challenge for the most awaited toughest phone of the year, the HONOR X9c 5G. To prove durability claims, HONOR has shared the secrets of how HONOR X9c 5G became highly durable. 

“HONOR X9c 5G has an All-Angle Triple Defense now. It is not just drop-resistant anymore where HONOR X9a and X9b 5G were known for. It is now water and heat-resistant that made this smartphone the toughest phone to hit the market yet,” said HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng. 

MMFF 2024 REVIEW: Topakk - Solid action from start to end

I miss this kind of action where you can feel the pain of every punch, kick, and blow. And the action and tension is evenly distributed throughout the film and they don't feel like a stageplay action but solid performance that should make me feel if it was real or not. Yet I do believe that they worked hard for those scenes.

Topakk is the only 2024 MMFF entry to have two ratings of R-16 and R-18 depending on the cinema, though the one I watched was the R-18 version but if I would rate it, it can pass as R-16 because it was not too gory unlike films of the same action genre. I guess the rating might be about the mental health problems of Miguel (Arjo) which would be his PTSD.

Though the story is anchored on the Drug trade  and the usual stories, they did make an effort to build up Miguel's story now as a security guard and his encounter with the siblings Weng (Julia) and Bogs (Kokoy). The action was chaotic yet good, though a little dark because of the location and time, still works and also add some thrill for those scenes.

In the aftermath of the robot war, the only path forward is into THE ELECTRIC STATE.

Watch the official trailer HERE

Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Stanley Tucci and directed by the Russo Brothers, The Electric State launches globally on MARCH 14. Only on Netflix.

About THE ELECTRIC STATE:

The Electric State is a spectacular adventure from the directors of Avengers: Endgame set in an alternate, retro-futuristic version of the 1990s. Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things, Enola Holmes, Damsel) stars as Michelle, an orphaned teenager navigating life in a society where sentient robots resembling cartoons and mascots, who once served peacefully among humans, now live in exile following a failed uprising. Everything Michelle thinks she knows about the world is upended one night when she’s visited by Cosmo, a sweet, mysterious robot who appears to be controlled by Christopher — Michelle’s genius younger brother whom she thought was dead. Determined to find the beloved sibling she thought she had lost, Michelle sets out across the American southwest with Cosmo, and soon finds herself reluctantly joining forces with Keats (Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World), a low-rent smuggler, and his wisecracking robot sidekick, Herman (voiced by Anthony Mackie). As they venture into the Exclusion Zone, a walled-off corner in the desert where robots now exist on their own, Keats and Michelle find a strange, colorful group of new animatronic allies — and begin to learn that the forces behind Christopher’s disappearance are more sinister than they ever expected.

MMFF 2024 REVIEW: Hold Me Close - Romance In Japan

Completing my 10 entries of 2024 MMFF with HOLD ME CLOSE starring Carlo Aquino and Julia Barretto, directed by Jason Paul Laxamana. The film is one of romance entries for this year which promises to bring a different kind of love story from the usual. And it does so, but not really what I expected and felt.

The story is about Woody who traveled around the world searching for the perfect home. His latest move was in Japan, where he met Lynlyn and her siblings who are making a living by selling squid. Lynlyn is revealed to have an ability to know if that person could bring joy or pain just by touching them. This ability would also lead to some trouble but will also bring Woody into their lives. At first, there was no reading if it was positive or negative however it will eventually change, as they get to know more about each other. 

Set in my favorite country of Japan, her story and ability are linked with the culture and supernatural entities of the country. Though it can also be adapted to any place with that situation, yet the Japanese aesthetic just made it better but not the story. The actors are great with the performances however it suffers from the lack of establishing connection and emotion. 

Golden Globes 2025: Watch Hollywood’s Biggest Night Live on Lionsgate Play

Golden Globes will be introducing two new exciting categories this year.

With the new year just around the corner, excitement is building for film lovers everywhere - and for those in the Philippines, it can only mean one thing : The Golden Globe Awards season is here! The star-studded 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards is ready to dazzle, and Lionsgate Play is bringing all the action, drama, and glamour straight to your screen.

On January 6, 2025, at 9 AM PHT, get ready to experience Hollywood’s biggest night live and exclusive, with a single subscription to Lionsgate Play. Don’t miss the glitz and the stars – tune in for the ultimate awards show experience!

The Ultimate Holiday Series Marathon: 6 Binge-Worthy Picks for Your Perfect Break

Holidays are for cozy blankets, warm drinks, and wrapping yourself in stories that transport you to another world. Lucky for you (and us), Lionsgate Play has a handpicked lineup of binge-worthy series that’ll have you glued to the screen faster than you can say, "Where's the remote?"

From nostalgic drama to pulse-pounding action and heartwarming musicals, here's your perfect streaming menu for the unforgettable holiday season. Grab your blanket, settle in, and let the binge-fest begin!

1. Mad Men

Start your binge fest with the moody brilliance of Mad Men. Set in the slick, whiskey-soaked advertising world of the '60s, this series is a masterpiece of drama and questionable life choices. Don Draper (Jon Hamm), with his flawless suits and complicated personal life, will reel you in, but the show's entire cast of characters will keep you hooked. Catch the style, catch the drama—and maybe pour yourself an Old Fashioned while you’re at it.

CONFIRMED: HONOR X9c 5G is Coming on January 10 but Can It Survive a 500FT Drop Test?

Remember HONOR X9b 5G’s 200-ft Drop Test? Its successor HONOR X9c 5G is attempting 500 feet! 

Leading smart devices provider HONOR Philippines just dropped #TheToughestPhone of 2025 as the country celebrated New Year’s Day. Coming on January 10, HONOR X9c 5G will be launched on HONOR’s Facebook page. 

“This is our biggest launch ever and we’re excited to be dropping this the same time we welcome 2025! This smartphone is stronger with its All-Angle Ultra Defense. HONOR X9c 5G is now water, drop, and heat-resistant. Mark your calendars on January 10 and get to know the toughest phone of 2025,” said HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng.