HAPLOS... With A Slight Touch Of Horror

Posted by Jojo Devera , Labels: , , , ,

Haplos
Haplos (Mirick Films International) is the story of Al (Christopher de Leon), an engineer who falls in love with Auring (Rio Locsin), a ghost, while having an affair with Population Commission officer, Cristy (Vilma Santos). Clearly meant to be gothic movie, Haplos is supposed to scare the viewer to death, unfortunately, it is a film that dies. The movie's first major flaw is the relationship between Cristy and Al. Virginal Cristy has her first taste at the hands of Al. In one scene, Cristy says that she views the event as isolated, but in another scene, she says she has fallen in love with Al. Between the two scenes, however, she never sees Al. Does perception change with time? In general, yes but only if there is cause to change. Al, for all intents and purposes has disappeared from Cristy's life after the isolated bed scene. The second major flaw involves the time frame of Auring, the ghost. She was supposed to have been raped and killed during the Japanese occupation. She reappears to select men, in this case Al, in order to seduce them. That was the only logical explanation for the fact that she allows herself to be kissed so quickly. Since she is dead, she should not die again. When the house burns down in the end, therefore, her house should reappear as it does and Auring should reappear but she doesn't. Where's the logic?

The only good thing about the film is its sound, which imaginatively uses various background noises for thematic effect. The reason Haplos fails is due largely to its direction. Well-written scenes come off stale because they are not dramatized. In one scene, Cristy decides to scare Al by putting on a furniture sheet while acting like a ghost. The camera was positioned in such a way that we can see both Cristy, masquerading as a ghost and the unwary Al. The scene failed to elicit a scare and neither is Al whose face is hidden by Auring's movement. Or take the first shot of Auring as she paddles behind Al who is on a boat. She becomes a mere speck in the background. Instead of focusing on Auring in some way, all we got is a straight, simple shot of two boats crossing. Because the director does not know how to direct his actors, they end up delivering uninspired performances. Rio Locsin is the best of the leads, with Christopher de Leon a poor second. Vilma Santos apparently cannot decide how to approach her role. Haplos, simply put is a bad horror film.

Directed By: Antonio Jose Perez
Screenplay: Ricardo Lee
Director Of Photography: Romeo Vitug
Musical Director: Jun Latonio
Film Editors: Ike Jarlego, Jr., Edgar Jarlego And George Jarlego
Production Design: Laida Lim Perez
Produced By: Mirick Films International
Release Date: December 25, 1982
Haplos theme song performed by Eva Eugenio

18 Response to "HAPLOS... With A Slight Touch Of Horror"

  1. ronald says:
    9:35 PM

    Hi Jojo,

    Great review! I think I have this on VCD but I havent seen it yet. Will check it out.

    Regards,
    RSE

  2. Jojo Devera says:
    11:10 PM

    Thanks a lot Ron! Since Haloween is just around the corner, it may be a good time to pop in that VCD for a little scare. :)

  3. Dennis says:
    12:08 AM

    Hi Jojo!

    Haplos is definitely lacking in many merits but despite that I still watch it whenever it airs on cable. I even saw this on IBC-13 back then. One drawback in cable version was the abrupt ending. It doesn't show the end credits where they are all rode in bancas heading back home.

    I like Rio's role. She was so ethereal in the movie in my book. I did like the scene when Al (Christopher) and Auring (Rio) first met and the line uttered by Auring: "Minsan mas buhay pa sa atin ang taong matagal nang patay."

    If I wasn't mistaken the opening score was also used in the Claudia Zobel starrer Shame. Maybe it has used been many times in many other pinoy films.

    Great insights as always Jojo!

  4. Jojo Devera says:
    12:20 AM

    Hello Dennis!

    I had the chance to read Ricky Lee's original screenplay of Haplos and it was definitely much better, has nakakakilabot. He mentioned that the role of Cristy was just a minor character pero since Vilma was going to playing the part, pinahaba ang role niya. Rio's performance in this film is one of her best. Sayang at natal siya ni Gigi Duenas for Himala.

    Jun Latonio did the musical score for Haplos and Shame so hindi nakakapagtakang may pagkakapareho ang music ng dalawang pelikula.

  5. Dennis says:
    10:08 AM

    Kung sinunod lang sana nila ang original script as you said mas nakakakilabot. Sana hindi na si Vilma nu'n para mas nagfocused kina Al at Auring. Love triangle ang kinalabasan ng pelikula. Hindi rin matawaran 'yung akting ni Gigi Duenas sa Himala pero I would go with go with Rio's.

    Kaya pala Jojo hehe...one and the same ang scorer sa two films. Thanks sa insights!

  6. Jojo Devera says:
    12:49 PM

    Ricky Lee was disappointed sa naging outcome ng pelikula. Mirick Films wanted Vilma to play the part of Christopher's girlfriend in the film kaya pinahaba 'yung role niya. The original screenplay had a more gothic flavor kaya mas nakakakilabot. I also thought Rio delivered the best performance of her entire career in Haplos, nakakapanghinayang nga lang at hindi nabigyang-pansin...

  7. Dennis says:
    12:18 AM

    Maybe that time Mirick wanted to earn more kaya pinasok sa role si Vilma. I really like ang isang film kapag sinamahan ng gothic settings kaya gusto ko ang old fashioned horror movies like sa Hammer. Very atmospheric pa.

    Wow! I haven't seen all of Rio's roles Jojo pero you saying that Rio gave her all in Haplos is something worth watching again. Considering also October as spook month!

  8. Jojo Devera says:
    7:29 AM

    Alam ng lahat na Vilmanian si Jesse Chua kaya he insisted on casting Vilma sa pelikula. So nagustuhan mo rin siguro ang Itim at Gumising Ka Maruja...

    Sa dami ng gnawing movies ni Rio, I liked her best in Haplos. She could've gone a different way but what's great about her performance is the way she kept her character's mystique and the vulnerability all throughout the film. She's not just a ghost who haunts but also a woman in love.

    That's why I reviewed Haplos. just in time for Haloween...

  9. Dennis says:
    12:10 AM

    Kaya naman pala hehe..I like Itim alot. Off the topic na but I like the scene when Tommy Abuel hears something walking upstairs when's alone and it's the katiwala lang pala. I like the look on Tommy's face on that scene. Very effective. Medyo dragging lang ang Gumising Ka, Maruja sa 'kin. Hindi ko masyado mareconcile sa film na Susan Roces and Philip Salvador as lovers.

    It's safe to say Rio owns the movie despite a bigger co-star. I like what you said- "She's not just a ghost who haunts but also a woman in love"!

    I'll be watching this again along with the 'other' one...

  10. Jojo Devera says:
    6:54 AM

    Itim is one of my all time favorites. It still gives me goosebumps whenever I watch it. Technically well-crafted ang pelikula. As for Gumising, hindi naman ako masyadong na-bother ng team-up nina Susan at Phillip and the pacing was just right. It's Lino Brocka attempting to discover mood...

    Wala naman sa kung sino ang co-star, the important thing is how convincing the performance was and in Rio's case, nilamon niya ng buong-buo si Vilma sa pelikula...

  11. Dennis says:
    10:29 AM

    Medyo weird lang kasi pinapalabas dati sa Ch.2 tuwing Holy Week 'yung Itim. May scene na kinukunan du'n ni Tommy 'yung nagpipinitensya pero parang 'yun lang naman.

    Nagulat naman ako na nagdirek pala ng Gumising Ka is Lino Brocka. Expected that Philip was cast dahil sa direktor pera parang pang Celso Ad dahil kay Susan naman hehe..

    I could very well watch the whole film just for Rio's effective role! Ikaw na mismo nagsabi kung gaano kagaling si Rio in the film Jojo!

  12. Jojo Devera says:
    10:55 AM

    Itim is translated as Rites Of May and Holy Week ang time frame ng movie kaya siguro around that time ipinapalabas. Naisip mong si Celso because of Susan's back-to-back horror movies pero yun lang ang mga pelikulang ginawa with him. Si Lino ang nagpanalo sa kanya ng FAMAS for Gumising Ka Maruja besting Nora for Atsay and Vilma for Rubia Servios.

    Haplos is definitely worth watching if only for Rio's excellent performance...

  13. Carlo says:
    8:21 AM

    Hi Jojo. How did Charito's Ina Kapatid Anak won over Nora's Ina Ka Ng Anak Mo at the URIAN? Though I thought Charito did a great job as a foil to Lolita's Pura character, I still believed that Nora's Esther role in Ina Ka was more worthy. Thoughts?

  14. Jojo Devera says:
    8:31 AM

    They thought that Charito gave a more showier performance in Ina, Kapatid, Anak compared to the restraint Nora exhibited in Ina Ka Ng Anak Mo. Isagani cruz, one of the Manunuri's thought the part where her character bursts out and said she will see them in court was uncalled for and that no woman would think of any impersonal legal proceedings in the heat of the moment...

  15. ronald says:
    8:56 AM

    Maybe it's time for a "more faithful to script" remake of Haplos. :-)

    RSE

  16. Jojo Devera says:
    9:09 AM

    I don't see any actress nowadays who can play the role of Auring as honest and effective as Rio Locsin...

  17. Dennis says:
    10:59 AM

    Honestly, may pagka-Celso sa 'kin ang dating ng Gumising Ka and most likely din dahil malakas ang impact ng two Celso Ad-Susan horror fims. Nanalo pa si Susan sa huli.

    Haplos is included in my tagalog 'horror' film watch this Halloween!

  18. Jojo Devera says:
    12:50 PM

    Posible nga sigurong mapagkamalang si Celso ang nagdirek ng Gumising Ka, Maruja although its more of a supernatural thriller than an out and out horror movie just like his two previous outings with Susan Roces.

    Kung magma-marathon talaga ng mga tagalog horror films, Haplos should definitely be included in the list...

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Karapatang Magpalathala 2006-2013. SARI-SARING SINENG PINOY Lahat Ng Karapatan Ay Nakalaan. Disenyo Jojo Devera