Cavite (2005)

Directors:

Neill Dela Llana
Ian Gamazon

Writers:

Neill Dela Llana (writer)
Ian Gamazon (writer)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

Deliver unspeakable terror or lose everyone you love...

Plot:

Flying back to his home country, an American man is informed that his mother and sister have been kidnapped and will be killed if he doesn't comply with certain demands.

Plot Keywords:

Security Guard | Bank | Bus | Squatter | Islam

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Ian Gamazon	...	Adam
Edwin Lagda	...	Running Man - Adam's Dad / Alleyway Victim
Edgar Tancangco	...	Adam's Father
Norma Tancangco	...	Adam's Mother
Quynn Ton	...	Little Sister
Mariza Levario	...	Arguing Voice (voice)
Neill Dela Llana	...	Arguing Voice / Alleyway Assassin
Dominique Gonzalez	...	Dana
Ryan Lagda	...	Little Boy Thief / Kidnapped Kid
Nestor B. Casilis	...	Terrorist with Gun
Rico V. Lagda	...	Kidnapped Kid
Robert Sanque	...	Thug in Bathroom
Joven F. Abrenica	...	Thug in Bathroom
Solita R. Nadal	...	Woman on Cell Phone

Runtime:

USA:80 min

Country:

Philippines | USA

Language:

English | Filipino | Tagalog

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Noveleta, Cavite, Luzon, Philippines

Company:

Gorilla Films

Movie Connections:

Featured in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006) (TV)

Quite the admirable young independent film

Intense, and intensely low-budget, this action-suspense experimenter is one of the most effective student-like movies I've seen. Keeping true to their moniker (gorilla productions), rookie film-making team Neill Dela Llana and Ian Gamazon (also the star) show a surprising amount of skill in their hard-edged, guerrilla approach. The fast-paced thriller, also masking as edgy Philippino travelogue, traces the nervous steps Gamazon must undergo after being virtually hijacked by an unknown overseer. Playing out much in the same vein as many popular "momentum flicks" (Crank, Nick of Time etc), here these gifted newcomers instill a realism even they could not have hoped for at times.

Once thrust has been set into motion, Gamazon is shot in an alluring realism amidst the scenic decay of our title city. The technique will be a bit much for many viewers of more stable cinematography, coming across mostly as a Tony Scott with few dollars to spare. At times intrusive and overbearing, somehow the effect manages to end up complimenting this little project splendidly, working better then it should because the perfectly exploited locations and real crowds this amateur crew uses to perfection completely engage the viewer with the breakneck plot as it unfolds.

Not all is well however. We are all willing to suspend our disbelief in favor of embracing a well enough thought out piece of fiction, but the groundwork that makes for this immersed experience is not firm enough to sustain the realism it so graciously offers for the eye. Lead, and pretty much only, character Gamazon is also somewhat disappointing in the self-casting, really never breaking out of a self conscious projection and loosing himself inside the part. His puny presence could perhaps be another reason some would reject the movie, but of course those would be the action purists. Others interested in more experimental fare would do well to check out this little gem of a young team coming with a lot of adventurous film heart; the darkly appropriate political insight, as elementary as it is, becomes that much more affirmative once viewed in direct parallel to the reality of it all, making Cavite more then the frenzied action it showcases.