Gay Zombies Will Make You Laugh To Death

I got to experience another first - my first Cinemalaya movie.  I have been in the industry for quite some time but I have not been into one Cinemalaya. You can curse me and make me a zombie for living under the rocks. Speaking of zombies, I got an invitation from a friend on Facebook to answer a survey which I wholeheartedly obliged since I'd also ask friends to like pages and all.  After  some time (cause I really don't know if it had been a week,) I received an email from a film outfit and gave me instructions on how to get free ticket to the first screening of Zombadings 1- Patayin Sa Shokot Si Remington (Trans: Gay Zombies - Scare Remington To Death.)  So it got me interested, I posted some shout-outs on my FB wall and on this page's wall and voila! free ticket.

I didn't even know that it was the closing film for this year's Cinemalaya at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. And it happened last Saturday night. At 10:00pm, I was at the CCP
lining up for the free ticket. I was accompanied by a friend who bought his ticket a couple of days ago. At first, I was regretting my decision to claim my free ticket because the venue was packed with people both getting out from the previously shown  movie and the unmindful and excited crowd waiting in line to see the 11:45pm movie.  Zombadings, in fact had already created a following on the net and the pink community that all tickets were sold out and I even heard that there were people who were not able to get in the main theater that night too.

The film showing started with the writer and director's speech. They thanked the crowd for supporting them and congratulated the entire cast and crew for finishing the film which was almost 2 years in the making.  Then the film was shown to the crowd's delight. It was as if a curtain of howls, screams and laughs opened the movie. I learned that the team behind this movie is also the makers of Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros) - another Cinemalaya film, which explains the theme of the movie and the resemblance of the father and gay son beat.  The movie, for me, gave positive and uplifting views towards homosexuality while giving homage to gay's innovation of inventing their own language, thus the title of the film "Shokot" which literally means scare.

Though some scenes were reminiscent of old Filipino slapstick and were often stereotypical, the movie was very effective with the lead actor's superb acting skills.  Mart Escudero was a surprise.  His effortless portrayal of a cursed straight guy and effectively shifted roles, from being straight to a budding gay-speaking homosexual who also began to be torned between his heterosexual love interest (Lauren Young) and his sexy childhood best friend (Kerbie Zamora) as part of his punishment. Who did he end up with? Well, you have to watch the movie to find out.  On the other hand, Roderick Paulete and Eugene Domingo provided good laughs with their short but effective line delivery. I'd also give credits to Janice De Belen and John Regala's role as parents to Remington (Escudero).

And since this is not basically a review, I will save my comments for another time. Zombadings will be shown in mall theaters on August 31st. Probably, Zombadings is the most funny movie this year and I highly recommend this to everyone. Oh and  I assure you, that you will never leave the cinema without even saying AWAARD!

For the movie teaser you can click this link.  Read more interesting review of the movie here.  Like them on Facebook here.