Excellent performance, especially by Nadine Lustre and Epy Quizon, make this riveting, albeit oddly-paced thriller truly a stand-out and a return to form for the award-winning young actress.
VIVA FILMS
Actors: Nadine Lustre, Diego Loyzaga, Epi Quizon, Krissha Viaje, Jacq Yu
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Premise: When a couple finds out they hit the biggest jackpot in the lottery, they make a quiet exit in their sleepy town; however, things don’t go as planned. (Vivamax)
Director: Yam Laranas
Watch it on: web.vivamax.net, Vivamax app
Why You Should See It:
It takes a while before the momentum spikes in this harrowing Yam Laranas thriller, which also serves as a singular comeback for the award-winning actress, Nadine Lustre. There’s a prevalent eerie atmosphere that perpetually envelopes the film’s plot, but gore and the abrupt tonal shift to its gloomy yet intense second half make Greed, no less than a gripping tale.
Greed follows impoverished barrio couple, Kichi (Nadine Lustre) and Tomi (Diego Loyzaga) who try their luck at a lottery and find out they won the jackpot. Kichi considers sharing a portion of their winning to Dadong, brilliantly pulled off by Epy Quizon, but Tomi suspects such a choice can only bring about unnecessary problems. That suspicion becomes clear when Dadong finally finds out they won. They plan to make a discreet departure from their village, but the devil already has its plans laid out for them.
The performances of its lead actors, especially Lustre and Quizon, truly make the film a compelling standout. There are gems to find in its imperfect plot, although pacing and unnecessary scenes remain persistent worries until the end. That said, Laranas’s visionary choices seemingly work out pretty well for the film, but there is no denying improvements could have made this suspense thriller so much better. Quizon’s Dadong benefits massively from the character’s well-woven background. Once greed takes its toll on his soul and humanity, he becomes a nefarious creeper. Diego Loyzaga’s Tomi similarly takes the same path, but the lack of conviction in his delivery makes him pale in comparison with Dadong. Kichi has largely confused character development, but the actress’s almost faultless take on her nuances and layers makes her tangible and more grounded.
Greed is a curious exploration of human tendencies when desire and greed take over. It’s a reminder of how desperation pushes people to do [certain] measures to survive, a cautionary tale that puts a warning sign on success or wealth. As a comeback for Laranas and Lustre, this riveting thriller is a victorious effort. However, one can still think how the film could have turned out better–if some blemishes, like uneven pacing and ineffective camera tricks were eliminated.
5 – Excellent
4 – Very Good
3 – Good
2 – Tolerable
1 – Terrible
Greed made a special advanced premiere on March 16 via Vivamax Plus. The film can be streamed worldwide via the Vivamax app and site starting April 8. Watch the official full trailer, below:
