Pasahero

What would you do if you saw someone in danger in a public place-would you step in to help or wait for someone else to act?

Some may say "I will help", but it's different and difficult to do when you're actually in that situation.

The movie Pasahero explores the psychological (or sociological) phenomenon called the bystander effect-where people are less likely to help someone in need when others are around. Here, passengers on a train witness a crime but choose to stay silent, perhaps out of self-preservation. But that choice doesn't leave them in peace, as they're haunted by guilt and the spirit of the victim.

Pasahero isn't your typical horror movie. Social horror is a genre that's rarely explored in Philippine cinema (I guess), making this film a must-watch. While it has some noticeable flaws, it conveys a powerful message about helping or speaking up when you can. Easier said than done, but as Desmond Tutu said, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."

Good concept, poor execution.

I'm not sure if it was due to budget constraints or something else, but there were several parts where the pacing was noticeably slow, making the narrative feel dragging. The acting performances were also underwhelming - some characters lacked emotional depth, making it difficult to fully connect with their struggles or motivations. The story itself had great potential, especially as a horror revenge film, but the execution fell short.

Many scenes could have been more impactful if they were written or directed differently. There were also instances where the characters' decisions or the unfolding events felt unrealistic, breaking the immersion. The cinematography had its moments, but certain scenes suffered from poor color grading, which affected the overall atmosphere.

It could've been a gripping horror revenge film, but the flaws in pacing, performances, and technical aspects weighed it down.

If you're looking for an immersive scary movie, this may not be it. It's more of a movie your teacher would have you watch for you to reflect on various themes (I think it'd be better I don't say it here), and it indeed serves its purpose, except through the lens of a horror movie set in modern Philippine settings. With an intersection of digital, cursed rituals, and the typical avenge "justice" story.

It has great shots, atmospheric "Instagram-worthy" cinematography and setting. It may even feature some of the best "After Effects" visual effects out there in PH, like when scenes are overlapping with train flashbacks-a huge step in the industry.

However, it has a polarizing mix of great and bad actors. I'm not an expert in acting, but I know what it feels like to be pulled from the immersion. And it happens quite often, unfortunately. And it's primarily the reason for this low rating.

Personally, the combination of immersion-breaking acting, modern-digital-outdoor setting just, psychologically speaking, made it neither scary nor suspenseful nor thrilling. It rarely has its moments.

But I guess, atleast, it does leave you reevaluating your principles.