Seklusyon: The Real Horror Movie

Disclaimer: the following article aims not to offend any religious group or discriminate personal culture and beliefs. With all due respect, these are my personal opinions for educational purposes only. Read at your own risk.

Right before watching the film Seklusyon, I expected it to be visually haunting where paranormal images are exposed all throughout the movie. But it left me questioning the norms.

Seklusyon is a horror thriller film directed by Erick Matti under the production of Reality Entertainment. The film deserved all of the awards where they won 7 major awards including Best Director for Erik Matti, Best Supporting Actress for Phoebe Walker (Madre Cecilla, a nun) Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound Design, and Best Original Theme Song.

The cinematography and curation of this film is outstanding. The warm vibe that the editor had put together gives a vintage and eerie feeling as it portrays the 1947 setting. The lighting and camera movement is impressive though it gets too dark at some scenes. The screenplay was smoothly delivered leaving you goosebumped at the lines of the characters. Although at some point, the film spoils the capability of the audience to guess on their own what will happen next. Giving less thrill to my opinion which I’m quite disappointed. Also, I’m not that impressed by how the metaphors at some scenes but I appreciate what they had to do. Some of the actors acting skills needs improvement in order to deliver a good horror feeling. But with the use of reference of the verses on the bible, it takes you to another level of disturbance. It has a spine-chilling impact than what anyone would expect at any typical horror movie. It is full of mystery about the existing beliefs which makes this an exception. The set of every scene is appealing the fact that they made the film realistic as possible without using any special effects. The music plays used are good, an addition to the vibe the film gives to the audience. But what really caught me the most is how the story unfolds when the true identities and intentions of Anghela and Madre Cecilla is revealed.

In 1947, those aspiring to be priest are sent into a remote convent to live in a Seklusyon (seclusion) for 7 days. It is said that the power of the devil is strongest at the last days of training of becoming a priest. The faith will be tested due to the attempt of the devil in making them reconsider their choice of becoming a priest. Until a mysterious girl named Anghela set conflict to the whole story. It is unclear whether Anghela is sent by God or an agent of the devil.

The concept of the story is brilliant. To be able to screen such film in the cinemas against the church is surprising. It talks about not only the religious sectors but also the leaders of our nation. It emphasizes the idea of a false prophet where it should be worshiped or condemned. Are those who bring miracles are sent by God or a false prophet in the image of God behind the curtain of pure evilness? Is there such thing as a living saint? Or a devil in the body of a “God” to distract people from knowing what is right and what is good for them. The protagonist of the story stood aware at the strangeness of the whole scenario. He escaped the seclusion a day before their calling to priesthood. Making the other deacons be proclaimed as an official priest the day after. Now the question here, are all who stood “religious” called by God? Or were they perceived by the devil as the image of a divine to continue praising them for the rest of their lives until death? Anything that is perceived as “good”, people praise for it without knowing that sometimes, “good” is not always what it seems to be. Or is it just another phase of challenge, testing how strong the faith of a person has.

The ending took advantage of ambiguity to create a compelling story that kept us all at the edge of our seats resulting the audience to make a choice between two alternatives, leaving the rest to our opinions and beliefs.

It is a never-ending opposition between two parties. Either of the two has strong substantiation that some people may favor and some people may not. All opinions and beliefs are respected as every individual unfold the series of events of his own life. We stand firm in our own faith at what we believe in and no one should be judged by how he/she perceive things in the world. In order to achieve peace, respect and acceptance shall prevail.

Indeed, Seklusyon is the real horror movie.

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