Movie Review: Huwag Kang Lalabas
Huwag Kang Lalabas is a trilogy film that tells three stories of haunting secrets, folklore, and urban legends. The first episode, Kumbento, stars Beauty Gonzales where she plays a novitiate who reluctantly uncovers something that has long been kept secret within the walls of the convent. The second episode, Bahay, lead by Aiko Melendez and Joaquin Domagoso, is based on a familiar urban legend with mysterious deaths happening in their rural community. The third episode, Hotel, stars Kim Chui, which is about an overseas Filipino worker who returns home and, for lack of a better choice, goes into quarantine in a run down and insect-infested hotel.
I have a personal bias in the horror genre as this is my favorite genre in a film, that is why I always look forward to prioritize horror films in MMFF and Huwag Kang Lalabas didn't fail me. It's a different kind of Filipino horror film and so different from the Shake Rattle & Roll franchise. The first episode, Kumbento is the most frightening among the three and my favorite as well shines with its atmospheric horror feels. The location itself is creepy. The slow burn treatment from the start until the suspense elevates upon reaching the unveiling of mystery towards the end is effective. This episode succeeds in delivering a chilling horror feel. The second episode on the other hand plays with the mystery of the story and the anticipation that everyone is waiting to solve the mystery. The third episode is the most crowd favorite that audiences can relate to with Brenda Mage as the comic relief, timely subject matter about pandemic and virus and the lead star of the film Kim Chui that adds premium to the film as we love seeing her in a horror film. There is a common message that the three episodes tell us about the real horror in life and there is another common object on how the three episodes got interconnected to each other. Overall, Huwag Kang Lalabas offers something new to the table in terms of the Filipino horror genre.
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