Slumber Party (2012)

The year 2010 is notable for a number of reasons. The Manila Police District took the heat for the Rizal Park hostage-taking incident and Venus Raj placed fourth in Miss U. These two events shaped writer/director Emmanuel Dela Cruz's insanely funny movie, Slumber Party. Expect lots of screaming, a tense hostage drama and a glittery DIY beauty pageant.

Set on the eve of the Miss Universe competition, close friends Phi, Elle and Jhana decide to do a "vigil." That "vigil" includes applying a fairly generous amount of makeup, wearing evening gowns, and doing a mock competition called "Kamuning's Next Top Model."

The punchlines are relentless in Slumber Party. Its quick wit, sharp dialogue and rollicking slapstick are endearing. It helps that the film is buoyed by a wonderful ensemble of committed actors. Markki Stroem is perfect as the arrogant clotheshorse Elle, scene-stealer Niño Muhlach makes an engaging, iron-willed Kapitana and funny man Archie Alemania (Jhana) gives a side-splitting performance as the movie's resident free-loader. Long after the end credits roll down, you'll remember his lip-smacking pout and micro mini shorts.

Ang Nawawala (2012)

Ang Nawawala has the pulse and sheen of a foreign movie. Of all the films in Cinemalaya, director Marie Jamora's coming of age rockathon is the most technically accomplished. Finally, a movie without shrieking roosters and earsplitting tricycles blaring in the background has arrived. 

Jamora is a savvy filmmaker and she plays to her strengths. Years of directing short films and music videos (40 as of last count) paid off.  Ang Nawawala is solid, cohesive and glossy. Elements perfectly complement each other—editing, production design and music are all faultless. 

Beyond its technical merits, Ang Nawawala offers nothing new that we haven't seen before. It doesn't have the emotional resonance of Vincent Sandoval's Aparisyon nor the scope of Loy Arcenas' Requieme!. What it does have is an irrevocable coolness factor which many viewers will find appealing—irresistible even. It may not win best picture (leave that to the big shots), but it will definitely win in the box office, which in the end, is just as important as the latter.     

Requieme! (2012)

When the lights dimmed and the film started playing, jaws dropped to the carpeted floor of CCP and stayed there. Blame Rody Vera's rip-roaring screenplay. The last time CCP reverberated with glee was during a midnight screening of Jade Castro's Zombadings. 

Film editor Lawrence Fajardo (Amok) worked his magic and turned Requieme!—a biting satire on how Filipinos deal with sexuality, grief and death—into a tight, thoroughly engaging movie. Although there were glitches during the screening (audio kept tuning in and out), that didn't hamper the movie's impact. If Requieme! were a lesser movie, people would have burned the theater to ashes.

Arcenas is developing into a fine filmmaker, displaying a flair for witty, character-driven movies. Society's double standard is none more evident in our country and Arcenas doesn't hold back in showing all its gory, thorny details. 

Kalayaan (2012)

Director Adolf Alix fuses local folklore with contemporary socio-political elements in Kalayaan. 

The first half of the movie is rife with beautiful long takes of Ananda Everingham. The 30-year-old actor's boyish face works magic for cinematographer Albert Banzon. Everingham is the movie's heart and soul and he shines in scenes where his character is lost in thought, drowning in remorse and doubt. 

The second half of the movie is punctuated by Zanjoe Marudo's angry soldier rants/revelations. He's like the walking Cliff's Notes of the movie. You can only take so much of his yakking before you start wishing for a tsunami to frisk him off to the Indian Ocean. 

As for the mermaid element, if you're thinking Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989), think again—Alix's lust-driven she-fish could scar you for life. 

Kalayaan is a minor film in Alix's repertoire. Don't expect too much, enjoy Everingham's wonderful acting and take the movie's pretense with a grain of salt. 

Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington

An irrevocable curse, a laser-zapping serial killer and zombies — gay zombies. Who wouldn't be interested in a movie like Zombadings: Patayin sa shokot si Remington?

Jade Castro's gay themed horror film closed this year's Cinemalaya, attracting a bevy of eager moviegoers.

In the movie, Remington (played by acting dynamo Mart Escudero) overcomes his prejudice when he experiences first hand what it's like to be gay.

Just like Remington, most of the gay characters in the movie are stereotypes — cardboard cutouts of people made for the silver screen. They walk, speak and act the same way.

Pigeonholes, together with the movie's blunt humor, give the movie an air of crudeness and inconsideration. People with strong opinions about gender issues: steer clear.

Because Zombadings is a parody of the gay/horror movie genre, watch it with a grain of salt. Suppress your inner Roger Ebert and avoid over analyzing the movie's sociological significance. Accept it for what it is and enjoy Mart Escudero's acting chops. This kid’s bursting with talent.

There’s a new Eugene Domingo in the house, and he’s male.

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Release date August 31, 2011 (Philippines) Director Jade Castro Cast Mart Escudero, Janice de Belen, Eugene Domingo Scene-stealer Roderick Paulate. Stellar as always. Essential Onscreen Weaponry The serial killer's laser gun slash gaydar Verdict Nonstop laughs and witty banter from the talented ensemble make Zombadings worth watching.

A Day in the Life of Gloria Arrovo (2005)

Four years ago, the MTRCB squelched the living daylights of A Day in the Life of Gloria Arrovo—a political satire shot in animation. That, of course, didn't prevent good Samaritans from loading brisk 50-second clips in youTube. Although blunt and far from perfect, filmmaker RJ Mabilin's animation shorts are irresistibly charming and likable—a far cry from the woman with black, leathery wings flying in the horizon.

View the videos here and here.