Aswang

I enjoyed this blend of horror. Something old. Something new. Of course, we old schoolers have seen this before....an old family with a sinister secret is hiding something and it's up to an outsider to find out what it is before they themselves are destroyed or consumed by it. In this film, it's something we didn't really expect so therein lies the true horror element. Not just a true horror element, but a taboo one at that. One of the best uses of horror in this film is the off screen presence of lurking doom. What is it? When will it strike. Who will it strike? How do you destroy or kill it? Is it human? Was it human? It's the same fear you get when walking in the woods near dark. A good creepy fear.

I had never heard of this film, I must confess. The 90s were a horrible dry time for horror, but this isn't bad at all. It's pure schlock, frustrating at times and plot exposition isn't handled as well as it could be, but it's worth a watch if you like obscure horror.

The film plays like a cross between The Evil Dead (with the backwoods, claustrophobic feel and some 'running fast with the camera' bits) and the superior recent French movie Inside (the central concept, albeit given a supernatural angle). It's quite professionally done (although due to a lot of the nonsense I subject myself to, my standards are low!), the effects are good enough and the performances capable. Some of the concepts are a little distasteful, and in the gloomy netherworld of tame mid-90s horror, were probably quite nasty. I wasn't aware of Aswangs before watching this movie, very creepy mythical beasts. It's a shame this film didn't do better, as there's quite a bit of mileage in these nasty bloodsucking creatures, I reckon

( I really, really recognise the guy who plays the central male role, but this is the only movie he's done apparently...strange. He looks just like somebody else. Who could I be thinking of?)

Damn! I've been fooled again! I still don't learn from previous lessons not to trust comments on DVD covers.

I don't know WHAT I was thinking when buying this DVD. Whoever wrote those comments and synopsis should be shot. It says here this movie was a sensation when it hit Sundance in 1994? What kind of sensation? Puking?

Let me quote some of what's written on the back cover:

"After a brief theatrical release, nervous video chains refused to carry the film and the shocker [BWAAAHAHAHAHA] all but disappeared."

When it disappeared, why did they bring it back? IT DISAPPEARED FOR A REASON, GODDAMMIT!!!!

I WANTED TO GET RID OF THIS MOVIE, BUT NOONE WANTS IT. I gave it to a friend for his birthday, and he posted it back to me a week later. that goes to show how bad it is. I hope more people would buy this film because I won't be the only one stoopid enough to see it.

Hey, i didn't even spoil it for you.

I saw this film on DVD thanks to Mondo Macabro, the front of the cover declared the film to be a gore fest as did the blurb at the back, and even though it did have some bloody moments, it was no more gory than say , the Evil Dead or Friday the 13th , the story tells of a pregnant girl who has hit hard times and doesnt particularly want the child , she is given a very generous offer by a wealthy couple to stay with them in luxury and then hand the baby over and get generously paid , the dream becomes a nightmare as she realises that the family are Aswang , a breed of Filipino vampire with a taste for babies in or out of the womb, they eat the babies with their huge snake like tongues, the story plods along at a slow pace and you know thats the case when you start thinking what shopping you have to get tomorrow, a one off watch type movie

You could call this movie like "Rosamary's Baby", only done way worse. Not saying that "Aswang" is an horrible movie though, on the contrary actually. It's being saved by the fact that it's taking an original approach to a well known genre, without ever becoming a great movie as well though.

The movie is being a big of a mixed bag. On the one hand it's being a quite original and also atmospheric movie but on the other, it isn't a really well told one. It's a movie that takes a more slow approach but in its slower moments it doesn't manage to build up any tension. The movie is really lacking in some good interesting mystery and some well done horror. It doesn't make this the most interesting movie to watch.

With a more experienced director at the helm this movie would already had been a better one. A more experienced director would had know how to handle this story more properly and make it a more interesting and effective movie. Instead now the storytelling is too often lacking in its pace and approach.

Still it remains a somewhat refreshing movie to watch, due to its original take on the genre and also because it often isn't holding back on its gore. I therefore still consider this movie to be a watchable one and even a recommendable one as well, especially when you also consider that this was an extremely low-budget production.

6/10

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