“Almost Us” Review: A Charming Romcom That Gets Most Things Right

 

I might just find myself watching Almost Us again in theaters this weekend. No, this isn’t a paid review. Hinatak lang talaga ako ng friend ko to cover a block screening, but surprisingly, I walked out genuinely entertained.

What stood out first was the smoothness of the storytelling. The film doesn’t try too hard to be overly complex. It’s simple, direct, and easy to follow, which actually works in its favor. There’s a certain charm in how the narrative unfolds, allowing the characters and their moments to breathe.

Speaking of characters, Fyang is effortlessly natural on screen. Her comedic timing feels organic, and she delivers her lines with a kind of ease that makes you forget you’re watching a performance. Meanwhile, JM continues to impress. I already appreciated him in Shake, Rattle & Roll last year, but he levels up here, showing more range and presence. Together, JM and Fyang carry the entire film, and thankfully, they do it well.

Their chemistry is undeniable, the kind that makes a romantic comedy work. Almost Us hits that classic romcom formula. It’s fun, it’s funny, and yes, it’s nakakakilig. What makes it even better is how effortless the humor and kilig feel. Walang pilit, walang awkward beats, just genuine, feel good moments that land.

That said, the film isn’t without its flaws. There are moments, especially toward the end, that might leave you thinking, “Anyare?” Some scenes feel unnecessary, almost as if they were added without fully serving the story. They don’t completely derail the film, but they do slightly disrupt its otherwise smooth flow.

Still, I have to give credit where it’s due. I liked the ending. It took a more grounded, realistic approach instead of going full cinematic fantasy. Though personally, I would’ve loved a more poetic conclusion, maybe ending it habang nauulanan sila. As one line in the film, non verbatim, suggests, “Bakit ba tingin niyo romantic ang ulan?” Precisely that. There’s something undeniably romantic about rain, and it could’ve been a beautiful visual punctuation to the story. But instead, the film chooses a safer, more realistic closure, and that works too depending on your taste.

On the technical side, while the storytelling remains consistent, I do wish the cinematography matched that same level throughout. There are moments where it shines, but it isn’t always sustained.

Overall, Almost Us is a solid romcom that delivers what it promises. It’s light, entertaining, and anchored by two leads who know exactly what they’re doing. Napatawa ako ni Fyang, natuwa ako kay JM, at yes, ang pogi ni Dustin. More than anything, it’s a film that reminds you why the genre works when done right.

Rating: 4/5

Review: #KMJSGabiNgLagimTheMovie – Sanib: A Weak Finale to an Otherwise Strong Lineup

 

#KMJSGabiNgLagimTheMovie

Sanib
Starring: Jillian Ward, EPi Quizon, Lotlot De Leon, Martin Del Rosario.

Sanib follows the story of Angel, a troubled young girl harboring deep resentment toward her mother who abandoned her. Things take a darker turn when Angel begins to experience strange possessions by entities that slowly taking control of her already fragile state.

Unfortunately, this is easily the most disappointing episode of the series. The premise is overused, and we’ve already seen countless films tackle this theme with more depth and creativity. This one falls flat, big time.

It all started with DINUGUAN. Imagine watching the trailer and seeing Jillian Ward drenched in blood, thinking the episode would be gory and intense. But no, lahat pala ng blood came from the dinuguan! Parang the explanation was, blood invites bad spirits daw.

After the Dinuguan scene, ayun na nagsimula na agad yung possesions na para bang wala man lang build up ng kwento, sugod agad sa Climax.

To be honest, the story itself feels weak, which explains why the storytelling ended up messy and unfocused. The prosthetics were really bad, the visual effects were underwhelming, and overall the episode looked like a 90s horror film na umaasa lang sa prosthetics para manakot—pero hindi effective.

I will give credit where it’s due: Jillian Ward and Martin del Rosario delivered strong performances. They acted their hearts out, but even that wasn’t enough to save the entire episode.

What makes it more frustrating is the question of why this story? Of all the submissions and possible concepts they could’ve chosen, bakit ito? They could’ve easily gone with a barkada exploring haunted locations—Diplomat Hotel, Manila City Hall, or any of the countless abandoned places in the Philippines that they’ve featured before. Mas may potential pa yun kaysa sa pinakasafe, pinakacliché, at pinaka-hilaw na exorcism narrative.

Banggitin ko na rin—there is one scene I genuinely liked: yung eksena ni Nikki Co sa simbahan toward the end of the episode. Ang ganda ng rehistro, ang linis ng framing, at ang lakas ng presence niya. Honestly, bagay na bagay si Nikki Co if ever magkaroon ng bagong Feng Shui movie; he fits that eerie-supernatural aesthetic so well.

Pero ayun na nga—balik tayo.
Despite that one strong moment, this is not how you end a special movie. The finale felt rushed, uninspired, and lacking the punch you’d expect from something meant to close a trio of horror stories. Instead of leaving viewers shaken or impressed, it leaves you wondering why they chose the weakest story to wrap things up.

Rating: 1/5

Review: #KMJSGabiNgLagimTheMovie – Berbalang: Sharp Storytelling, Intense Performances, and a Killer Finale

 #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 

Review: #KMJSGabiNgLagimTheMovie – Pocong: Strong Ending, Uneven Journey

 

#KMJSGabiNgLagimTheMovie – Pocong Review

Starring: Miguel Tanfelix, Jon Lucas, Kristofer Martin

Director: Yam Laranas

An effective horror film always starts with a solid story and smooth, coherent storytelling, and that’s where Pocong shows both its promise and its pitfalls.

The episode follows Mark (Miguel Tanfelix), a seaman aboard an Indonesian vessel. With his third eye open, Mark encounters disturbing apparitions: dead seafarers and, most notably, a pocong, a supernatural entity in Indonesian folklore, wrapped tightly in white burial shrouds with bound limbs, echoing traditional Muslim funerary customs. A sighting of a pocong is believed to herald misfortune or death, a warning that hangs heavily over Mark as he fears tragedy might strike him, his family, or the ship itself.

Pocong holds great potential, especially with its introduction of a creature rarely explored in Philippine cinema. Unfortunately, the episode falls short in building a strong foundation. We never really learn where the pocong comes from or why it fixates on Mark. The lack of a proper backstory results in a plot that feels incomplete. Sudden scene transitions also disrupt the momentum, making it harder for the story to establish itself meaningfully.

The prosthetics, while present, don’t quite deliver the intended impact. Sometimes, less is more, implying horror rather than overemphasizing it can be far more effective.

What truly elevates the episode are the performances. Miguel Tanfelix, Jon Lucas, and Kristofer Martin all give compelling portrayals that ground the story. A special mention goes to Phi Palmos, who shines in every moment he appears. You can’t help but wish he had been given more screen time; he delivers his role with such precision that he easily becomes a standout.

The ending, however, redeems much of the episode’s earlier shortcomings. The final twist is chilling and Miguel absolutely delivered, and the conclusion, it leaves you holding at the edge of your seat.

Overall, Pocong is a good episode with clear room for improvement. A narration or a stronger POV centered on Mark could have provided the depth it lacked. The setting, a vast ship surrounded by endless sea offered so much potential for atmospheric horror that wasn’t fully tapped. There was an ocean of possibilities, literally and figuratively, that could have strengthened the episode’s impact.

Rating: 2.5/5

Review: Untold: A Chilling Yet Unpredictable Horror Experience

 

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)

Review: Strange Frequency: Taiwan Killer Hospital: Best For Thrill Seekers

Strange Frequency: Taiwan Killer Hospital tackles the journey of a group of celebrities led by Enrique Gil and Jane De Leon, their aim is to get 3 million views as they enter and explore the haunted killer hospital of Xinglin where numerous vloggers got victimized by the entities inside the building. 

I must say that the movie was super intense and thrilling! The use of found footage style in a Pinoy horror movie is somewhat new and they were able to pull it off as they were able to produce this movie that definitely left me at the edge of my seat. 

Although the movie was already an adaptation of a Korean movie, Strange Frequency made sure that it will offer something different and far from the original one. 

The movie felt like I entered a horror house, I felt I entered the Asylum Manila again (If you remember that escape room type of horror house in Quezon City pre pandemic days.) The movie made me feel the rush, the adrenaline, the thrill, the jumpscares really did catch me off guard at times. Watching Strange Frequencies was an experience.  

Alexa Miro stood out from the group, she irked me big time haha and I think she was very effective in annoying the audiences with her antics, I love her for doing what she had done in the movie. Zarkaroo could’ve had a good story to tell in the movie, sadly his character was really short lived. Enrique’s character was a slow burn, Rob Gomez is literally dripping wet all over his scenes, Jane did a great performance. 

I love the whole concept of the movie, except for the ending. I wish they would end up all alive and decide to make a group that will be venturing and will be exploring the most haunted places on Earth. 

Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Topakk: Solid and Action Packed

 

Topakk follows the story of a former special action force soldier that ended up having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after their group got ambushed leaving him the sole survivor, after being diagnosed with PTSD he ended up working as a Security Guard in a warehouse where he meets Weng and her brother, two drug mules who escaped mass killing ordered by the drug enforcement unit. 

This is one action movie you shouldn’t miss, Topakk probably is the best action movie I’ve seen after We Will Not Die Tonight of Erich Gonzales in 2018. The storytelling was very fluid and direct to the point, I just love how they made this movie, the story flowed in one night.

Arjo Atayde left me in awe with his performance, he was just poker face the whole movie, no emotions whatsoever, his voice was monotonous, no expressions at all, yet he delivered a superb performance when it comes to doing his fight scenes. 

I just love every bit of the fight scenes in this movie, Arjo using a flashlight as a weapon was one of the best fight scene I’ve seen, also the final battle between him and Sid Lucero is going to be one of my favorite fight scenes, well performed, well acted, I’ll give it an A+++ rating. 

Julia Montes was heavily deglamorized in this movie and goodness it made the movie even better, she did every scene bloodied or not the best. 

I love the cinematography, the fight scenes were shot perfectly, all fight scenes were executed and choreographed really well. 

The only thing I didn’t like about this movie is the color grading, some scenes tend to shift on the warmer side making the artist too contrasty red. 

For a complete Topakk Experience you should opt for the R-18 version of the movie, no holds barred, ready to bare and ready to be gory.  

Review: And the Breadwinner Is..: Vice Ganda Wins It

 

And the Breadwinner is.. delves into the story of Bamby, a breadwinner of her family, she works tirelessly as an OFW in Taiwan not only to provide for her family, but as well as to build her own dream house, only to find out that coming home to her family will be the biggest nightmare of her life. 

First things first, the movie was actually good, it could’ve been better if the story revolved around Bambi as a Breadwinner OFW in Taiwan. I would love to see Bambi’s sacrifices working with different jobs overseas rather than watching the whole movie with her berating her family over their failures. 

Exploring Taiwan would’ve been a great idea, I prefer to see Bambi working hard rather than dying slowly. I just felt bad that there was no redemption given to the character despite all of the hardship that she has been through, too morbid if I may add. 

Vice Ganda delivered a Kabogerang performance in this movie, indeed it was his best movie so far. Although I just found it absurd that she has to dress up and rekindle all the characters he portrayed in the past, I mean again they could've used the hardworking OFW in Taiwan subplot to fill in the story. 

I wish they had a huge one on one confrontation scene between Vice Ganda and Eugene Domingo to fuel up the main family confrontation scene. 

Speaking of the main confrontation scene, I just love how that confrontation scene was masterfully done, the one camera setup made it look like the audience are also there watching them berate and cuss each other throughout that long and heavy confrontation scene. 

Lastly, I wish they gave Lassy’s character more importance and longer exposure, Jun lana’s movie are always better when there’s a friend that will support the main character in the story, just like Barbs and Trisha or Becky and Badette. 

Review: The Kingdom: Great and Grand

 

The Kingdom tells the story of Lakan Makisig, the chieftain of the land of Malaya (a fictional uncolonized version of the Philippines), the Lakan has ruled for quite sometime and he needs to pass on the crown to his next worthy successor between his eldest son Magat Bagwis, eldest daughter Dayang Matimyas, and his youngest child Dayang Lualhati. 

Conflict rises when the Tiwalag’s captured Dayang Lualhati while she’s on her way to the Royal Wedding, although Lualhati was successful in escaping his captors with the help of a vanished, Sulo, things gets even more complicated as Sulo was the son of the Lakan’s former chief security who he killed because of the traditional barbaric law. 

I could say that The Kingdom is one of the grandest Filipino movies I’ve seen in my 13 years of blogging, obviously the movie was well budgeted, well planned, and well executed. From the concept down to the costumes and props up to the smallest details it was meticulously made. 

The vision of the movie was well raised and it does show a version of an uncolonized Philippines, a Philippines where catholicism wasn’t the dominant religion and every law and punishments were based by the guidance of the Bathala. 

Story and Production wise, The Kingdom was an A+++. 

Vic Sotto delivered another exceptional performance in The Kingdom, he was actually way better here than his performance in the 2019 movie Mission Unstapable: The Don Identity and also at 70-years-old Vic Sotto still was able to make a beautifully shot fight scene with Piolo Pascual who by the way was equally great in portraying the character of Sulo. 

I would like to commend Ms Iza Calzador for a very beautiful cameo performance in the movie, I felt she actually deserved to have a much bigger role in this movie rather than just having a cameo role. 

Overall, The Kingdom is a great movie. I just wished that they used a bigger venue for their finale scenes to make it grander and make it more cinematic. The story is out of the box and well written, I hope we see more movies like this in the future. 

Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Espantaho: Confused if it's Drama or Horror.

Espantaho, follows the story of Monet, things get a little weird after his partner left an oddly looking painting of farmland with an Espantaho in it, one by one the people inside their home began to disappear after a plague like scenario that took each one of them. Monet along with her estranged step mother Adele look for answers on what is happening only to find out that it was her mother, Rosa’s ex lover painter who painted the cursed painting, throughout the movie Rosa was with Monet guiding her despite the fact that she has long been dead. 

The movie was marketed as a horror movie, but after watching Espantaho I felt that rather than being a horror movie it felt like the movie was more of a family drama with a bit of horror. The issues within the family of Monet overshadowed the Espantaho, I was actually puzzled why the painting is taking the lives of people. The backstory was quite shallow although I felt that it tried to be as folkloric as Feng Shui, it wasn’t giving anything.  

Noticeably some scenes from the movie lacked consistency and continuity, obviously there were scenes that were shot on a different date, but was edited together, you;ll notice it because the tone and reaction of the characters differs from the last scene, this might be minor mistakes but it does change the mood of the scene and the movie. 

The use of flashback wasn’t utilized completely well to match the story, there was a scene where Chanda Romero and Janice De Belen are arguing inside a room and then the next scene they were already inside the car on their way to the house of Judy Ann. 

Although Espantaho got a very promising storyline as it tries to mimic a more Filipino version of Feng Shui, the movie wasn’t able to again establish its story well, it wanted to do so many things but failed to deliver. 

There were cringe worthy scenes like that of the ballroom dancing couple in the middle of Donna Carriaga’s scene, the backstory-less kids that wanted to play, the poor special effects used in the plagues, the low quality CGI;s for the pestilence. 

Despite the Best Actress worthy performance of Judy Ann Santos in Espantaho, the movie felt flat and lacking in establishing its own identity as a horror flick. 

Rating: 1.5/5

Review: Green Bones: A Great Narrative of Hope, Goodness, and Second Chances

Green Bones follows the story of Xavier Gonzaga and Domingo Zamora. 

Xavier, a young and newly minted jail guard was assigned to the San Fabian Penal Colony where he will meet Dom. Being a victim of heinous crime, Xavier grows suspicions of Dom and his gang plotting something not good inside the colony, little by little he slowly unearthed the secrets that Dom hides through the years of his imprisonment both in Central and in San Fabian. 

Dom on the other hand, a self confess criminal, has a soft spot for his sister and his deaf-mute niece, he changed for the better, but things turned out differently as her sister was killed by the syndicate that he once belong, as a promise to his sister, Dom tried to protect his niece at all cost from the hands of the syndicate that was led by the father of his niece. Dom sacrificed even his own freedom just to hide his differently abled niece where he learned how to communicate through sign language. 

Green Bones is probably the best movie this MMFF 50, the story was beautiful, the storytelling was very straightforward, they did not complicate things so that you will know where the story came from and where it is going. 

I also like that the characters are narrating their stories during the flashbacks as it smoothen the transition of the story making it easier to relate and to understand. 

Cinematography wise, it was on point, the beautiful location matched the beautiful scenes, and even the visual effects matched the vibe of the movie, serene, calm, and full of redemption. Although somehow I felt that I am watching Firefly with their location. 

Direk Zig really did a great job in doing Green Bones, it was heartfelt, it even left me teary eyed after watching it specially the ending, the scenes matched the theme song Nyebe, I have no more words to describe how I felt over that scene, it was beautifully done, a true masterpiece. 

Dennis Trillo and Ruru Madrid deserved their Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards, they delivered their characters with flying colors, Ruru proved that he is not just for action series, he can do great as an actor, Dennis is probably one of the greatest actors of this generation, hands down, he owned his character. 

Overall I super enjoyed watching Green Bones, it was a drama, yes, but not full of drama. It teaches us a lesson about not judging a person based on the surface and that nobody was born bad, it's the circumstances around them that dictates who they will be. 

The story of the movie was simple and fluid, Direk Zig masterfully turned a great story into a great movie. Green Bones is a must watch. 

Rating: 4.5/5