Award-winning director Carlo Ledesma, known for directing the 2011 movie “The Tunnel” that does not only boast a 100% Rotten Tomato rating but also parades the awards it won from the 17th Annual AIMIA Awards, A Night of Horror International Film Festival and Screamfest Horror Film Festival. For his 2019 entry, Ledesma directed the horror movie “Sunod” which can be best described as the ‘misfit’ of the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival for being the only horror entry among family-friendly movies.
“Sunod” follows the single mother named Olivia (Carmina Villaroel) as she takes a call center job to pay for her daughter’s, Anelle (Krystal Brimner), hospitalization. Little did she know that the building she works in is haunted by a restless spirit.
A story that combines lore, horror, and commentaries on workplace woes, “Sunod” outright reveals the terrifying toxicity experienced by workers working night shifts under exploitative supervisors. Furthermore, it also conveys the oppression and lack of opportunities experienced by the underprivileged. Though at the very heart of this film, is a drama about the love of a mother to her daughter and the length she’s willing to cross just to protect her.
Frankly, “Sunod” is just another run-of-mill movie. It offers nothing new, it’s formulaic and predictable. However, this movie perfectly defines where we are now with the way we make horror movies. Ledesma's movie proves that there is no need to be over-reliant on cheap jump scares to scare anymore. All a movie needs to do is to be as precise as possible with the cinematography to create visually arresting imagery and feed on what we know about the story rather than summoning all sorts of deus ex machina to terrify the viewers. Smart writing is the future of cinema. Although I wish that "Sunod" raise the ante a bit more, it did enough to bewitch me.
"Sunod" is truly a surprise. It’s well-made and smart. Villaroel’s dedicated performance is captivating and convincing, but the real standout is Kristal Brimner. Her performance is a combination of endearing and scary. Her character is, probably, the most challenging role of this film but Brimner shows composure and dedication to what she does. The sky is the limit for this young actress.
In conclusion, “Sunod” is, easily, your next ‘must-see’ horror movie. It may not be a groundbreaking film, but it sure gets how horror movie works and how it can be a platform to discuss social issues.
3.5/4
