Untold tells the story of Vivian Vera, an ambitious young reporter whose pursuit of a breakthrough story takes a dark and dangerous turn when she becomes a blind witness to a series of chilling crimes. As she continues chasing viral headlines, Vivian begins to unravel — haunted not only by the ghosts tied to the crimes she once tried to cover up, but also by the weight of her own guilt. The line between truth and fabrication begins to blur, and her relentless ambition slowly gives way to a mental descent she can no longer ignore.
It's been a while since the last time I wrote a movie review, so pardon if some parts of this review may sound generic.
Let’s start with the pros of this movie. I must that you really can’t deny that casting Jodi Sta. Maria as the lead was a already a victory for this film. Her portrayal of Vivian Vera is the film’s strongest asset. Jodi delivers a performance that’s both chilling and deeply human, she was able to capture the emotional unraveling of a woman haunted by guilt, monsters that she created, and the weight of untold truths. Her presence commands the screen, and she navigates the psychological depth of the role with a quiet intensity that lingers long after the credits roll. Simply put, Untold wouldn’t have hit as hard without her.
Although the story can feel a bit messy at times, with sudden shifts and unpredictable turns, the use of hallucinations, deep introspection, and flashbacks is well-executed. These elements work together seamlessly to unravel the complexities of Vivian’s journey, offering viewers a deeper understanding of her psychological state. While the narrative may be challenging to follow at moments, the way these techniques are woven into the storyline effectively conveys the unraveling of both her mind and the truth behind the crimes.
I also appreciated the subtle inclusion of unintentional humor in the story, especially toward the latter part of the movie. These moments provided a welcome contrast, lightening the mood during some of the more intense and chilling scenes. As Vivian faced increasingly horrifying confrontations and the conflict reached its peak, these humorous interludes helped balance the heavy tension, offering the audience brief moments of relief before diving back into the suspenseful, high-stakes drama.
Now, onto the cons of the movie. For me, Untold often felt more like an episode of Regal Studio Presents than a full-fledged feature film. It gave off the distinct vibe of a TV show, which made it harder to fully immerse in the cinematic experience. The cinematography, unfortunately, didn’t help elevate the film either — it felt somewhat lacking in moments where visual storytelling could have truly enhanced the tension.
Another downside was the use of CGI monsters. While CGI can work in certain contexts, it didn’t mesh well with the psychological horror thriller angle of the movie. The reliance on computer-generated creatures took away from the psychological tension and seemed to detract from the overall tone, which should have leaned more into suspense and mind-bending terror rather than visual spectacle.
There were also scenes that felt incomplete or underdeveloped. Without giving too much away (for fear of spoilers), I’ll say that the main plot lacked sufficient backstory, leaving some key story elements feeling underexplained. Additionally, many of the supporting characters seemed to appear out of nowhere, with little to no depth or background, which made it difficult to care about their roles in the larger narrative.
Untold could have been even stronger if it had followed a more consistent and solid storyline from the start. The pacing was a bit slow, and it took a while for the plot to truly take off. By the time the story gained momentum and the audience was fully invested in what was happening to Vivian, it had already lost some of its initial intrigue.
Overall, Untold stands out as a far better experience than many other local horror films I’ve seen recently. The jump scares were well-timed and effective, adding to the suspense, and while the tone occasionally leaned into camp, it didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment — I’m willing to embrace it.Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
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