Sumigaw Ka Hanggang Gusto Mo (1999) is the only Filipino suspense-thriller film I can remember that involves teenagers and a human killer. The Road (2011), a psychological horror film did come close but they also delved into the supernatural.
Come to think of it, most Filipino films do focus on the supernatural. When I found out about Bloody Crayons, I was pleased that they fully grasp the suspense-thriller theme without adding the frights from horror films.
Bloody Crayons
Director: Topel Lee
Bloody Crayons is a 2017 Star Cinema suspense-thriller film directed by Topel Lee. This film is an adaptation of the Wattpad book "Bloody Crayons".
A group of graduating students goes to an island for a short film project when they are rattled by a mysterious killer who strives to kill all of them.
The synopsis says it all. Well, except the identity of the killer. But with such a simple and unpretentious story line, it wasn't difficult to enjoy the film.
The direction built was straight and clear. Along that road are nine characters (less after some got killed) which we got to know even if it was just for a short while. When they started playing the Bloody Crayons game, there was a brief harmony among the characters.
BUT... that same moment also marks the turning point and emergence of each personality's darker shade. The deception and confusion led to an even more interesting and gruesome series of events.
The young actors' performances were on point but there are those who stole the spotlight. There's Jane Oineza who played Olivia. Switching from killer to victim and back to killer asked a lot from her but she delivered. Yves Flores who played Justin also stole the spotlight with all his outbursts.
With all those together, I found how surprisingly okay Bloody Crayons is. Although there is something I can pick on - slow-mo beach scene. Yes, every slasher film has a "mature content" and Topel Lee made it subtle.
But since this is a Filipino version of a slasher film, can't we just cut that scene out? Or, maybe don't make all of them agree to swim. In a group, there is always someone who would spoil the fun, the killjoy. Though I hate that person, I would love to see one in that scene. I'm just little concerned with the younger audience.
Despite that, all is good with the Bloody Crayons.
So. How do you play? Find out here!
Images from Facebook.com/bloodycrayonsthis2017 (Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)
