UNLIKE HIS PREVIOUS films, Erik Matti’s ‘Seklusyon’ won’t hand you the biggest names in showbiz, but promising stars with enough talent to let the film’s real strength shine through.
‘Seklusyon’ is this year’s entry from Reality Entertainment, headed by the dynamic duo of director Erik Matti and producer Dondon Monteverde, to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2016. The studio previously gave us award-winning films ‘On The Job’ and ‘Honor Thy Father,’ among others.
The film stars rising actors Ronnie Alonte and Dominic Roque, alongside total newcomers John Vic de Guzman and JR Versales, as four deacons sent to a seclusion house to resist the Devil’s attempt to attack their faith and lead them off the path of holiness.
At a recent meet-up with Matti during the press conference for ‘Seklusyon’ in Quezon City on Friday, December 16, the award-winning director said that even with a mostly new cast, they didn’t fail to deliver. The actors brought out exactly what their characters needed and helped make the most of a film that leans heavily on its story.
In fact, ‘Seklusyon’ earned a strong review from the leading US-based newspaper The Hollywood Reporter, with critic Clarence Tsui describing the horror thriller as “a grainy, gory parable about the triumph of evil.” The film was the lone Philippine entry in the non-competition Hidden Dragons section of the 1st International Film Festival & Awards Macau (IFFAM), where it held its world premiere on December 11.
The Promising Actors as Deacons
The most familiar names among the leads are Ronnie Alonte and Dominic Roque, but it’s Ronnie’s character, Miguel, who carries ‘Seklusyon.’ Miguel is a righteous deacon who enters the seclusion house to grow closer to God, but finds himself haunted by the apparition of a woman he used to love.
Part of the famous dance group, #Hashtag at It’s Showtime on ABS-CBN, Ronnie Alonte is now one of the most busiest young actors with projects all around. He stars in two MMFF 2016 film-entries including ‘Seklusyon.’
The 20-year-old actor shot to fame last year as a dancer in #Hashtag on ‘It’s Showtime’ on ABS-CBN, and has since appeared in several episodes of the long-running drama anthology ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya,’ including one based on his own life story.
When asked about his absence from IFFAM, Ronnie told the press his management didn’t allow him to leave the country because of several other showbiz commitments. It’s been a busy year for him — he had to head out immediately after the press conference to prepare for his December 17 concert. Alongside leading ‘Seklusyon,’ Ronnie also stars in another MMFF 2016 entry, ‘Vince & Kath & James‘ under Star Cinema.
Like Ronnie’s character Miguel, each of the other three deacons — Fabian, Carlo, and Marco — wrestles with visions of guilt from their past, haunting their thoughts. Three equally promising actors bring them to life.
One of the most beautiful faces in the local showbiz industry, Dominic Roque is one of the four deacons in th thriller film, ‘Seklusyon’ that promises to bug every moviegoer starting December 25.
One of our favorite Kapamilya actors and undeniably one of the most beautiful faces (and bodies) in showbiz, Dominic Roque has been acting in film and TV since 2010. His credits include the hit teleseryes ‘Aryana,’ ‘Moon of Desire,’ and ‘Pangako Sa’Yo,’ as well as the recent ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’ and the film ‘Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay.’
John Vic de Guzman is a total newcomer to acting but no stranger to celebrity status — the star volleyball player captains the College of Saint Benilde Blazers and already has a growing fan base of his own.
Athlete-turned-actor John Vic de Guzman debuts his acting career in an Erik Matti-film. How’s that?
Also new to acting, JR Versales isn’t exactly new to the Reality Entertainment family, having worked behind the scenes on ‘Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles’ and ‘Wapakman’ before landing this role. At first glance, JR might look like an average Filipino, but his Moreno complexion gives him real screen presence even standing among other good-looking castmates. It wouldn’t surprise us if he lands more film roles after this.
JR Versales is sure to connect with the Filipino audience in Seklusyon. Given with that strong Pinoy aura, he might just be the next big thing in the local showbiz.
The four young actors are joined by a stellar supporting cast, led by sought-after child actress Rhed Bustamante (‘Maria Leonora Teresa,’ ‘The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin’) as Anghela, a child with miraculous healing powers, and newcomer Phoebe Walker (‘Gayuma’), who plays the child’s equally mysterious guardian — the one who turns the deacons’ secluded retreat into a terrifying nightmare.
The four young hunks are joined by Director Erik Matti, Phoebe Walker, and Rhed Bustamante in this photo taken during the press conference of the film on Friday, December 16.
Matti and Monteverde have never shied away from betting on talented newcomers.
“As a studio, our number one priority is the material. We write the script without thinking of who to cast, at least not right away. We have many established actors who are very good but at the same time, we also have a good number of talents who are just waiting to be discovered,” Monteverde noted.
“We’ve always believed that when we do fantasy or horror, we do those genres without regard for big stars that often come with certain expectations. We just get the right actors for the right role,” added director Erik Matti.
The film also stars veteran actors Neil Ryan Sese, Lou Veloso, Elora Españo, Jerry O’ Hara, and Teroy Guzman.
Catch the film on the opening day of MMFF 2016, December 25. Our review of the film is coming soon on the blog.