Kentayunaur

It doesn't hold back on trying to be suitable for mass consumption or appealing to the general audience.

It has its flaws, such as some situations being unrealistic (I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers) and some scenes in the ending feeling a bit anti-climactic, but the build-up was really good.

The casting (the assigning of actors to the characters) was great and very "surprising," to say the least, with an interesting combination of actors: Aga Muhlach, Vilma Santos, Nadine Lustre, Tirso Cruz III, Mylene Dizon, RK Bagatsing, and Elijah Canlas. This one didn't feel like they picked characters at random-the chemistry was really there, and I would've loved to see more of it in a TV series.

Notable mentions for acting go to Aga Muhlach, whose hysterical behavior and performance were so good that he was genuinely intimidating and maddening. Definitely a strong contender for the Best Actor award.

I loved the set, cinematography, and overall atmosphere of the film - it was modern yet vintage. It's one of a kind and the production team really nailed it with the high-society crime vibes. I think Filipinos have truly nailed making movies cinematic, and this one is solid proof.

Another notable mention is the accompaniment of cinematography and VFX to create industry-leading violence and gore. It didn't look "unprofessional"; in fact, it's quite a step forward in terms of execution.

In terms of plot, it's not the most unique (see synopsis), but an execution worth watching.

Again, I'd like to reiterate how much I appreciate the direction the movie industry is taking. They are becoming bolder and bolder, moving away from the typical "family-friendly" movies, and I believe Uninvited will go down in the history books for this shift.

Overall, an industry-leading Filipino movie for those into crime, thrillers, vintage aesthetics, violence, and a bit of gore. It's still some ways off compared to Western production, however.

It tries to do a lot of things and, as expected, ends up performing "quite below average" on all fronts.

It was less of a horror movie and more of a revenge-mystery-moral-family story... but isn't? It's not even trying to scare you. The countless immersion-breaking moments, at the very least, kept it from being even remotely "suspenseful."

Apparently, it suddenly became a drama. Though, in fairness, it was a bit sad ("a" for singular). However, throughout, I wasn't able to connect with the characters. They could die and you wouldn't even care. The characters themselves didn't even care!

It didn't help that the pacing was one of the fastest I've ever seen. You're thrown right into the situation, and the succeeding events feel like one season of a TV series cramped into one movie.

They flexed a lot in the VFX department. They might actually consider making a CGI action movie instead. There were some "epic" (not "scary") VFX scenes, and a few genuinely gross and phobia-inducing moments-leeches, rats, locusts, and trypophobia (holes). It's both progress or a curse.

But in terms of progress in the Philippine VFX industry, it's still nothing revolutionary when it comes to closing the gap to realism. It's noticeably more frequent, so it's ambitious on their end, but at the expense of breaking immersion because of how "CGI" it is. Still, I gotta hand it to them, it does have its moments.

The sound effects and "jump scares" often felt too over-the-top, honestly making me chuckle instead of scream. I have no idea how this passed their review process.

The story is... forgettable at bes, and I'm generally lenient and don't throw that word around lightly. The mystery wasn't even interesting: it's your typical "abandoned cursed object" plot device, solved merely by asking a few people. They didn't even solve it themselves.

There were plenty of instances where the characters' reactions or acting didn't align with what was actually happening, and that's what irks me the most. A ghost could be beating someone or throwing an object, yet the actors' faces and reactions failed to convey the gravity of the situation. It's like they see ghosts or supernatural events once a week.

They are great actors; their legacies have proved it. But here, it felt like they gathered legendary performers via a raffle and mixed them together. JC Santos and Judie Ann as couples, seriously? There's no chemistry; not that the plot revolved around it. Anyway, this might be one of my least favorite movies from all of the casts.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a horror movie where you can scream and enjoy jump scares with loved ones, this is seriously not it. But if you want a quick mystery and some CGI, you can give it a shot.

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.