'Basement' brings out the spine-tingling feeling of fear for the unknown

February 11 2014

What happens when a bunch of people from different walks of life share the same dreadful experience? This is the question that Basement seeks to answer and the answer will shock every viewer.

The film rounds up an ensemble cast, each of them seemingly playing against type. The first group includes Chynna Ortaleza as a pregnant mom, with Mona Louise Rey and Carl Acosta as her kids.

Then there’s Louise de los Reyes, Kristoffer Martin, Teejay Marquez and RJ Padilla as young, wild and free-spirited band members who are also junkies.

Everyone pines for a good love story. In the film, Sarah Lahbati and Enzo Pineda play secret lovers. Enzo’s character is a married man and his wife is the best friend of Sarah’s character.

Absolutely worth watching out for is the tandem of Kevin Santos and Betong Sumaya. Kevin plays a truck driver, with Betong as his assistant.

In a rare film role, Pilita Corales plays a cool lola. Jan Manual appears in yet another lovable gay character. He plays the cheerful gay nurse who assists Pilita’s character.

The beautifully arresting Ellen Adarna lends her performance here as a victim of the dark force within the basement.

It also features Dex Quindoza as a middle man in a drug transaction, Dion Ignacio and Alvin Aragon as security guards and Aljur Abrenica in a special cameo.

Basement depicts a 'survival of the fittest' kind of scenario. Each character is locked inside the basement on a gloomy, rainy night while a manananggal lurks within the area. This otherworldly element is out to kill them one by one, so they have to stick together and help each other in order to make it out alive.

The concept is simple, but the beauty of Basement lies in the execution of the film. The swift camera movements, well-placed reaction shots and the greenish tinge provided by the color-grading worked to the advantage of the film. Such elements successfully blended into an atmosphere of doom and distress that highlighted the horror mood of the film.

The unexpected comic relief is courtesy of the Kevin Santos-Betong Sumaya tandem. Though deadpan in his acting, Kevin’s character injects humor in scenes that could otherwise be dragging. Betong Sumaya is a natural and his effortless depiction of a slow and easily scared truck driver is commendable.

Character development was also well pulled-off. Each character was significant in moving the plot forward and everyone delivered, acting-wise. Props to Mona Louise Rey who was successful in winning the sympathy of the audience. Louise de los Reyes, Kristoffer Martin, Teejay Marquez and RJ Padilla were also really convincing as drug-addicted teens.

Overall, Basement was a thrilling horror movie treat. It was just not about having a bad day. It was not merely a series of unfortunate events. It gave the feeling of paranoia permeating into the bones. It translated that creepy, claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in a dark place. It is ultimately about the spine-tingling feeling of fear for the unknown. That is what’s in store for you when you enter the Basement, so park at your own risk.

Catch Basement in cinemas nationwide beginning February 12. See you at the movies, Kapuso!

-Text by Samantha Portillo, GMANetwork.com