Eerie: E for Effort

I am a fan of horror movies. Who isn't really? And the Philippine cinema has had its fair share of scream-worthy horror thrillers such as Sukob, Aswang (the Maricel Soriano one), and Feng Shui (the first one). I know that was just three movies and that's because I was lying when I said we've had our fair share of scream-worthy horrors. Our cinema's repertoire when it comes to this genre is a horror story on its own.

On this essay, I will tell you all the reasons why Eerie, a Star Cinema horror movie starring Bea Alonzo and Charo Santos, is such a poor attempt at revitalizing this well-loved movie genre. 

Let me start by summarizing what Eerie is all about:

The movie tells the story of Miss Pat (Bea Alonzo). A guidance counselor tasked to help the troubled students of Sta Lucia. Like any other school, Sta. Lucia is haunted by the ghost of the past which is causing quite a stir. Also adding to the already gloomy air of the school is Sor Alice (Charo Santos), the school's mother superior. When a student was found dead one morning, Miss Pat goes beyond her job description to uncover the truth. Even if it means that she must butt heads with forces such a Sor. Alice

Now let's talk about what Eerie is not:

1. Eerie is poorly acted. 

One would expect that acting giants such as Bea Alonzo, Charo Santos, and Jake Cuenca will truly shine in this film. To say that I am disappointed will be a colossal understatement. Bea Alonzo has garnered a reputation (and rightfully so) when it comes to acting. But here subdued, one-dimensional portrayal of an earnest guidance counselor is but a shadow of the plethora of other movie characters she had successfully portrayed. 

I was never a fan of Jake Cuenca. There is something about his demeanor that puts me off. Maybe because I feel like he takes himself way too seriously, or it's just me. Despite my personal opinion about him, I think Jake Cuenca is a good actor. And I think that his acting acumen was underused in this movie. The last few minutes of his character in the movie could have been a spectacle of his acting prowess. But I guess the director had other things in mind (like his weak attempt of a resolution)

Charo Santos is a legend, but in all honesty though, aside from her weekly letter reading at MMK and her Lav Diaz collaboration, I am not familiar with her work. One would expect that a domineering character such as Sor Alice will be played accurately by a powerful woman such as Charo Santos. Who, in her interviews for the movie, showed exceptional command. But every time she delivers her line, I find myself waiting for the screen to fade in and fade out, giving way to the week's letter sender.

Other characters were also underutilized and unnecessary.

2. Eerie is tiring.

Halfway through, I already felt the exhaustion of paying attention. Granted that my attention span is really short, I offered my full attention and it sucks that the movie did nothing to keep it. What makes it even sadder is how the story will just take a sudden, unexplained left turn to nowhere without establishing the previous route. But the saddest fact of them all is how the movie ended. The directors attempt to resolve the conflict was poorly done. His effort for a cliffhanger was poorly done. The ending made no sense.

3. Eerie missed a lot of opportunities.

I don't think horror movies should be limited to just the paranormal, metaphysical, and monsters. After all, the real monsters in this world are humans. And I almost thought that the director and I shared the same sentiments.  It would have been okay (to me, at least) if Sor Alice turned out to be the antagonist. Her iron fist rule on the school is believable and realistic. The movie could have advocated against corporal punishment (at school at least) along the way. It could have worked out that way. But no, the movie just had to include ghosts and make them liable for everything. Because horror movies work that way.

Eerie also had the opportunity to explore and expound self-harm and suicide. It could have been given a better context and a more thoughtful explanation that is both sensitive and educational. But its just part of the story and the characters back story so she could empathize with one of the characters. And that was it.

Eerie also had the opportunity to tackle school governance, fervent worshipping, and building maintenance. But no, it had to be about ghosts because it was a horror movie and horror movies do not deserve to have substance.

Eerie gets a boot from Raven

Last but not the last, Eerie should have been retitled to CR, because that is where most of the scenes were. We just had to go back to the CR every other frame because it's a horror movie. And horror movies love comfort rooms. 

I just had to come out of blogging retirement to write about this. I also had the reactivate my Facebook to let the world know about how I felt about this movie. I'm important like that.

If you have P200+ to spare and 1 hour and 41 minutes to waste, then watch this movie. If you'd rather watch the newest episode of RuPaul's Drag Race that Netflix uploads way too late that I already accidentally saw what happened, we should be friends. 

That's all.