Seklusyon

Seklusyon (lit. 'Seclusion') is a 2016 Filipino supernatural horror thriller film directed by Erik Matti. The film is under the production of Reality Entertainment.[2][3][4] It stars Rhed Bustamante, Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte, Lou Veloso, Phoebe Walker, Dominic Roque, Elora Españo, John Vic De Guzman, JR Versales, Jerry O'Hara, Sherry Lara and Teroy Guzman. It is an official entry to the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival, where it won 9 categories, including "Best Director" award for Erik Matti.

Seklusyon
Theatrical release poster
Directed byErik Matti
Produced by
  • Erik Matti
  • Ronald Stephen Monteverde
Written byAnton C. Santamaria
Starring
Music byFrancis de Veyra
CinematographyNeil Bion
Edited byJay Halili
Production
company
Release date
  • 25 December 2016 (2016-12-25)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino
Box office₱100 million[1]

The film is Erik Matti's third MMFF entry in recent years after his 2014 film Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2, and 2015 film Honor Thy Father which was the subject of controversy that year when it was disqualified from the "Best Picture" category of the festival's award.[5]

Plot

In 1947, Padre Ricardo (Neil Ryan Sese) arrives at a marketplace to investigate people whose ailments were miraculously healed by a child named Anghela Sta. Ana (Rhed Bustamante), who is assisted by a mysterious nun, Sister Cecilia (Phoebe Walker). Ricardo becomes suspicious of Anghela's powers; every time she heals someone, black liquid drips from her mouth.

Miguel (Ronnie Alonte), a deacon, arrives at a monastery and meets Sandoval (Lou Veloso), a former priest who has been excommunicated by the bishop. Sandoval tells him about the old ritual where deacons or aspiring priests are sent in a secluded area on the last seven days of their training, the purpose of which is to shield them from evil, for it is believed that the last seven days is when they are most vulnerable to the influence of the devil. While in seclusion, Miguel meets fellow deacons, Carlo, Fabián, and Marco.

While in a church, Padre Ricardo discovers a bloodied Anghela, her parents having been murdered. The bishop orders that Anghela and Cecilia be moved together to a secluded place - the same monastery where the deacons are undergoing their training - despite Ricardo's protests about his suspicions of Cecilia. However, the bishop allows Ricardo to continue his investigation.

Sandoval at first refuses to let Anghela and Sister Cecilia stay, as they will disrupt the deacons' training, but later begrudgingly agrees because he is told that their stay is under the order of the bishop. Anghela uses her powers to make their bread, which had gone moldy and spoiled, edible again, as well as turning the tap water into wine. The deacons - except Miguel - are impressed with her powers, seeing it as miraculous.

During the course of their stay, the deacons are plagued by recurring nightmares in the form of their sins: Marco's gluttonous nature was the cause of his siblings' death from starvation during the war; Fabián's entry into the priesthood is a way to leave his physically abusive mother; and Miguel is taunted by his dead ex-lover, Erina, in the form of the Virgin Mary.

One night, Anghela goes into the kitchen to ask Sandoval for food and water, and later on talks to him about his excommunication. As Anghela convinces him that he was not at fault for his sins, Sandoval leaves the next morning, thanking the girl and handing the deacons under her charge.

In the course of his investigation, Padre Ricardo arrives at a convent to question the Mother Superior about Sister Cecilia. Despite her rudeness, the Mother Superior willingly gives him Cecilia's records, but warns him to stop investigating and to never return. The records state that Cecilia was raped by several men during the war and that part of her face was burned. She later became Anghela's teacher; it is implied that Anghela healed her wounds. He also discovers that Anghela was raised in an orphanage and was adopted. To Ricardo's surprise, one of the documents appeared to have the name "NgaHela" written on it, a rearrangement of Anghela's name which is said to be the name of the devil incarnate. The document explains that Anghela's healing and miraculous powers come not from God, but from the devil. With evidence of Anghela as a false prophet and Cecilia being one of her minions, Ricardo visits the bishop to warn him of Anghela's true nature, but at the same moment Sandoval bursts in the room and shoots the bishop dead. He informs the shocked Ricardo about Anghela's whereabouts and that she is waiting for him.

On their last few days of training, Anghela convinces the four deacons to redeem themselves from their sins by feeding their vices, sometimes using Sister Cecilia as a pawn for her schemes. The first to succumb was Marco, who gave in to his gluttonous nature. Next was Fabián, who is revealed to be abusive towards women due to the abuse he received from his mother. Carlo is revealed to be a pedophile and was the next to succumb to Anghela's power.

During a mass held by Anghela in the chapel, Miguel unsuccessfully tries to convince the other deacons that she is not to be trusted. He angrily calls Anghela a false prophet and runs into the woods, where he is followed by Anghela, Cecilia, and the three deacons. During the chase, Miguel trips and is knocked unconscious. The next scene shows a flashback of Miguel's relationship with Erina. It is revealed that Miguel left Erina with their unborn child to undergo the priesthood. Feeling betrayed and heartbroken by his decision to leave her, Erina hangs and kills herself after giving birth to their child. During this time, Anghela sees Miguel and heals his head wound. As Miguel wakes up, he realizes that Anghela is his daughter. Back at the chapel, Anghela continues her ritual and has the four deacons drink from a cup filled with black liquid. Miguel drinks from the cup, but is still doubtful.

Padre Ricardo finally confronts Anghela, and tries to exorcise her, only to be burned to death by her supernatural powers. Miguel witnesses what happened, seizes Anghela, takes her to the chapel, and barricades the door. There Anghela reveals herself as NgaHela, a demon whose malevolent plot is to take over the church; those whom she heals end up worshipping her.

As Sister Cecilia and the three deacons try to break down the barricade, Miguel grabs a knife and stabs Anghela several times. Black liquid drips out from her mouth as she slowly dies. Miguel then escapes, never to be seen again. The movie ends with Fabián, Carlo, and Marco, ordained by the new bishop into the priesthood, still unaware that they were not blessed by God, but by the devil.

Cast
The cast of Seklusyon with director Erik Matti (middle).

Production

The production team of Seklusyon decided not to use any special effects to make the film as realistic as possible. Touch hubs were used but no computer-generated characters were devised for the film.[6]

Reception

Jill Tan Radovan of Interaksyon.com writes, "Seklusyon succeeds at being the ‘real horror movie’ that its creators—Reality Entertainment and Eric Matti [sic]—intended it to be [...] Taken literally, it sends goosebumps up one’s spine."[7] Mari-an Santos for Philippine Entertainment Portal writes, "The undeniable Erik Matti ending makes [Seklusyon] worth the time, making audiences think and see the world outside with a new set of eyes."[8] Clarence Tsui for The Hollywood Reporter writes, "Seclusion drips with a ferocity about how false messiahs manipulate meek minds who, as the film's finale suggests, then propel even more malicious pretenders onto the pedestals of power. The film is Matti's call for an awakening, and it certainly stirs with spine-tingling moments aplenty."[9]

Oggs Cruz of Rappler gave a balanced review. While praising the film as being "immensely intriguing" and "curiously elegant", he feels that the screenplay is awkwardly paced and Ronnie Alonte's performance wanting.[10]

gollark: I have a bunch but they are probably not great to learn it from.
gollark: I think some mod had that.
gollark: As I said, rednet runs over modems.
gollark: Ender modems can send and receive at arbitrary distances.
gollark: You can use a regular wireless modem on the other end.

See also

Accolades
Awards
Year Award Category Recipient(s) Outcome
2016 42nd Metro Manila Film Festival[11] Best Director Erik Matti Won
Best Child Actress Rhed Bustamante Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Phoebe Walker Won
Best Supporting Actor Lou Veloso Nominated
Best Cinematography Seklusyon Won
Best Screenplay Won
Best Sound Design Won
Best Production Design Won
Best Editing Nominated
Best Musical Score Nominated
Best Original Theme Song "Dominus Miserere" by Francis De Veyra Won
Special Jury Prize Rhed Bustamante Won
Male Celebrity of the Night Ronnie Alonte Won

References
  1. "Will Erik Matti be directing Darna this 2017?". Philippine Entertainment Portal. 2017-02-02.
  2. "Here are the films competing in MMFF 2016". ABS-CBN News. 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  3. "FULL LIST: 8 MMFF 2016 entries, trailers revealed". Rappler.com. 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  4. "Trailers, photos: Get to know this year's MMFF entries". ABS-CBN News. 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  5. "[WATCH] MMFF 2016: 'Seklusyon' trailer released". Rappler. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
  6. Bonoan, Reggee (8 December 2016). "'Seklusyon' ni Erik Matti hindi ginamitan ng special effects" [No special effect used in Erik Matti's 'Seklusyon']. Bandera (in Filipino). Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  7. Radovan, Jill Tan (26 December 2016), "REVIEW: 'Seklusyon' depicts evil in most charming form", interaksyon.com, retrieved 26 December 2016
  8. Santos, Mari-an (25 December 2016), MMFF 2016 REVIEW: Ronnie Alonte gets chilling look at the nature of evil in Seklusyon, Philippine Entertainment Portal, retrieved 27 December 2016
  9. Tsui, Clarence (14 December 2016), "'Seclusion' ('Seklusyon'): Film Review - Macau 2016", The Hollywood Reporter, retrieved 26 December 2016
  10. Cruz, Oggs (1 January 2017), "'Seklusyon' Review: Unsubtle provocation", Rappler, retrieved 1 January 2017
  11. "Winners at MMFF's Gabi Ng Parangal night". GMA News. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
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