YANGGAW

FEATURE PRESENTATION | THU NOV 12 | 10:00 PM | INNIS TOWN HALL
Dir. Richard Somes, Philippines 2008, 98:00, 35mm, English, Tagalog/Ilonggo with English subtitles, Canadian Premiere, Cast: Ronnie Lazaro, Tetchie Agbayani, Joel Torre

The aswang—a fearsome vampire-like creature in Filipino folklore—is hardly an uncommon choice as the subject of local films in the Philippines, but director Richard Somes’ take on this mythical monster is downright groundbreaking. Finally, an authentically Filipino fright fest untainted by J-horror!

In a remote small town, where superstitions and witch doctors still play a major role in daily lives, a young woman returns to her family after a long absence, afflicted with a mysterious illness. As the household copes with caring for her, disturbing incidents start taking place in the village. Livestock are found dead, the carcasses half-eaten, but when people disappear too, the real nightmare begins.

What makes Yanggaw so powerful and compelling is its nuanced focus on the emotional turmoil of those indirectly affected. In addition to the gruesome bloody scenes, it plays up the intricacies of familial ties. Burdened with a dark secret and torn loyalties, the sick woman’s kin faces agonizing decisions, and as the crisis escalates, the moral plight of each individual takes on complex and tragic dimensions. The uniformly excellent acting helps set the mood right from the start—an unsettling sense of foreboding—and when the aswang finally appears, the ensuing terror and chaos will make you leap off your seat.

As the story twists and turns in unexpected ways, you’re kept constantly guessing—and terrified. But far from being just a gore fest, Yanggaw shows how a local myth can be made into a superb horror film without sacrificing cultural identity.

- Raymond Phathanavirangoon

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:
Philippine-born Richard Villarosa Somes is an award-winning art and production designer for numerous films, such as Gagamboy (2003) and Exodus: Tales from the Enchanted Kingdom (2005). He ventured into directing music videos in 2005, which inspired his directorial episode in the long-running TV omnibus series Shake, Rattle & Roll 2k5 (2005). Somes also worked on the “tele-epic” TV series Rounin (2007) and Anti-Hero (2008).

PRINT SOURCE:
Ronald M. Arguelles, Creative Programs Inc.
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