Poster of Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan. Picture from Regal Leisure, Inc.
Turning a preferred ebook right into a film is not any simple feat as a result of it’s important to please the readers and persuade them that it’s a devoted adaptation of their favourite ebook, and you wouldn’t do something to destroy or tarnish it. Then, however, if it will be a literal page-to-page translation, you then would even have individuals complain, nonetheless. It’s a take a look at of resolve and mettle for the filmmakers to seek out that elusive center floor the place they might respect the supply materials and be capable to add their very own nuances, touches, and imprint to the film model. Briefly, it combines literature with film magic.
There is no such thing as a query that some inventive and inventive liberties needed to be taken to be able to apply the imaginative and prescient of the filmmakers with out fully disregarding the supply materials to keep away from being known as lackadaisical or missing any originality. Oftentimes, it’s a irritating balancing act, and it’s exhausting to realize, however it has been executed up to now when the 2 factors meet. When that occurs, the readers themselves deal with the film as virtually a visible help or part of the ebook itself.
The newest book-to-movie adaptation known as “Ang Mga Kaibigan Ni Mama Susan,” managed to distill sufficient of the essence of the favored ebook by Bob Ong and switch it right into a fright-fest mixed with respectable performing and trendy cinematography. Actually, it received the remedy it deserves provided that that is in all probability the preferred ebook of Bob Ong.
Director Chito S. Rono was introduced in to direct “Ang Mga Kaibigan Ni Mama Susan” as a result of a superb variety of probably the most memorable trendy horror motion pictures at Regal have been beneath his course. So, it is smart to convey him in for this one as a result of to have chosen some other director wouldn’t have been the very best transfer for the film given its nature. Actually, the film felt extra cohesive due to him, and there was a sure total feeling that the film was in good arms due to Chito S. Rono.
Joshua Garcia could be happy with his efficiency right here as a result of it didn’t solely show to be an accurate casting alternative based mostly on his earlier performing credentials. However judging from what he confirmed right here in “Ang Mga Kaibigan Ni Mama Susan,” he knew he had no alternative however to ship, and to his credit score, he did so. Typically stress is an effective factor, as it will possibly assist the actor dig deeper or push himself to carry out to the very best of his capabilities in each intense scene that’s required.
Realistically, amongst all of the younger mainstream actors we have now now, he’s in all probability one of many few remaining that folks would naturally gravitate in the direction of as a result of he does exude this sure innocence about him which is required based mostly on the fictional character “Galo” he portrays, to the purpose that when he will get scared or shocked, so do the moviegoers. Thus, there may be authenticity to the horrors he faces within the film as a result of it reveals on his face, actions and reactions.
There have been moments in some scenes whereby I used to be creeped out by the imagery that was being proven, and right here is the place the experience of Regal is available in as a result of “Ang Mga Kaibigan Ni Mama Susan” falls precisely of their wheelhouse and realm of mastery of offering the scares as a result of the eye to element right here was superb they usually clearly didn’t spare any value in all the pieces. There have been some cases the place I may really feel the gloominess, darkness, and eeriness of what was being proven in most of the scenes.
It jogged my memory quite a lot of the manufacturing worth of “The Heiress,” starring Janella Salvador that was launched in 2019 from Regal Leisure, Inc. “Ang Mga Kaibigan Ni Mama Susan” has a really comparable aesthetic when it comes to the previous film’s manufacturing worth, however that is like 3 times extra of that. Certainly, time and time once more, they’ve confirmed that relating to Horror, Regal are nonetheless the very best at it, domestically.
Lastly, it’s practically unattainable to completely do a book-to-movie adaptation as a result of these are two completely different codecs, two completely different media, and two other ways of getting entertained. So, for anybody to anticipate that “Ang Mga Kaibigan Ni Mama Susan” would have been capable of fully please the hardest-to-impress readers, they’re dwelling in a distinct world. No fictional or non-fictional ebook has ever been completely became a film with out flaws, inconsistencies, and disconnects from the supply materials. Nevertheless, this one got here near attaining that feat. As a substitute, concentrate on this being a film which did its greatest to convey all of the positives of the favored ebook by Bob Ong to life in cinema. In any case, that is leisure, and if you’re after the general leisure worth, then yow will discover it right here for certain. I can say that with certainty.
“Ang Mga Kaibigan Ni Mama Susan” is obtainable for streaming on Prime Video.
My Remaining Rating: 8/10
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