#KMJSGabiNgLagimTheMovie
Berbalang
Starring: Sanya Lopez, Elijah Canlas, Rocco Nacino, Joel Saracho
Dirtector: Dodo Dayao
Berbalang tells the chilling tale of a mythical creature said to have been documented in the 1960s in Southern Philippines. Described as flying, human-like beings with cat-like eyes, bat-like wings, and long, razor-sharp claws, the Berbalang are believed to exhume corpses from their graves to feast on the dead.
The episode follows siblings Lia (Sanya Lopez) and Kain (Elijah Canlas). Lia, fiercely protective of her younger brother—rumored to be the last of their kind—keeps them hidden in a remote town deep in the South. For years, they lived quietly in isolation… until a wave of grisly killings and missing corpses rattled the community. Whispers spread: a Berbalang is on the loose.
Their fragile peace shatters when authorities capture Kain and force him to unleash his monstrous form. What the townsfolk don’t realize is that Kain isn’t the only one. Nearby, another man has been secretly sheltering yet another creature of their bloodline—setting up darker truths and a violent reckoning.
This episode is arguably the strongest of the three. Despite the limited runtime and lack of detailed backstory, the storytelling remains tight and effective. Alam mo kung saan nanggagaling yung kwento—walang naliligaw, walang bitin sa flow. Even with its fast pace, the narrative was laid out clearly.
The cinematography also stands out. Ang ganda ng eksena sa presinto when Kain begins to transform—the gun flashes, the red lights, the chaos—it all created a gripping, atmospheric sequence that elevated the tension.
Nagustuhan ko rin itong episode because even with the limited space and duration, wala siyang iniiwang malaking tanong. While I wasn’t a fan of the visual effects and prosthetics, forgivable naman sila dahil ang solid ng pagkakalatag ng story.
And the cast—sobrang galing. Nico Manalo, Rocco Nacino, Joel Saracho, Elijah Canlas all delivered. But Sanya Lopez? She was on another level. Her character was badass from start to finish, and I am so here for it. The final scene with her in red, wearing those punk round glasses—she looked like she was ready to slay.
Honestly, this could’ve been even better as a full-length film. Imagine Sanya Lopez doing full-blown action sequences, leaning into the grit and swagger of her character. That would’ve been epic.
Overall, despite shortcomings in the visual effects and some missing story details, the episode still conveyed its message clearly—and ended with a bang.
Rating: 3.5/5
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