"sukob ibig sabihin pag nag-sabay o magkasunod ang magkapatid magpakasal ito yung sukob sa kapatid o kaya naman hindi pa tapos ang 40 days ng isang namatay na kamag anak ay nagpakasal ka na, ito yung sukob sa patay. sukob - pamahiin."


Taking a cue from the horror movie craze of its neighboring countries the Filipino film horror genre seems to be coming back from the grave (pardon the pun) recently, and Chito Roño's "Sukob" is a worthy addition to the growing compilation. Roño previously directed the widely glorified, perhaps overrated, "Feng Shui". I thought "Feng Shui" was good, but not wholly remarkable, and "Sukob" is a few notches above that, and ranks into a more superlative layer of local mainstream films in general.

The plot, as with "Feng Shui", revolves around a superstition, only this time it's a little more complicated. As soon as Sandy ("Feng Shui" star Kris Aquino) marries Dale (Wendell Ramos), a ghostly figure begins manifesting before her and apparently causing the deaths of the people around her. Dale's psychic niece, Joya (Maja Salvador), claims she sees visions of another newlywed couple (Claudine Barretto and Bernard Palanca) who are suffering the same fate and may hold a key to unlocking the mystery behind the apparent curse. This will undoubtedly link it to "Feng Shui" with the many similarities in themes, but the superior craftsmanship of this film should carry it ahead.

Fans of the genre (and of Barretto and/or Aquino) will have their fill, and realize that Roño has clearly established himself, perhaps along with Yam Laranas, as one of the most effective local directors of horror films. "Sukob" is less than establishing of an atmospheric setting than a series of effective "jump scene" tactics but altogether it works because the setup is kept interesting and suspenseful. A barrage of horror movies, especially the slickest ones, tend to wear out their welcome with lack of genuine scares and excessively repetitious schemes.

The film is highly skilled technically, particularly for a Filipino film. I really liked the cinematography, particularly in the early scenes involving Claudine, where the sepia effect is done nicely and keeps the whole movie from being visually monotonous (I'm guessing they used a filter although they also may have polished it during the editing). The effects also look superb, though they do falter in some points (but hey, we're not Hollywood). Most of the actors give convincing performances, giving it a feeling of an ensemble film, even if eventually you have to admit that it's Claudine who virtually carried it. Salvador is a bit underused but she's great in the scenes that she's in, while the currently ubiquitous Glaiza De Castro (boy, does she ever rest?) provides ample support for Barretto.

The ending of the film is somewhat a misfire, though. It's not that bad but I think it could have been better with a more satisfying resolution. Still, it's not a big deal and once you can suspend your disbelief past the obligatory leaps of logic, you'll do fine. As far as horror films go, "Sukob" delivers.