Tenement 66’s potent mix of thrill and suspense is an irresistible magnet that makes viewers glued to this teenage crime feature, whose underlying socio-political themes may be a standalone spectacle.
Dreamscape Entertainment | EPIC Media
Actors: Francine Diaz, Francis Magundayao, Noel Comia Jr., Jess Mendoza, Lehner Mendoza, Lou Veloso, Raffy Tejada, Martha Comia
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Premise: A troubled teen’s plan to distance himself from the crimes is foiled when a desperate need for money arises. With the other youngsters of the tenement, they try to rob a unit but son discover horrors that are far worse than they could have imagined. (iWantTFC)
Watch it on: KTX.ph, iWantTFC
Why You Should See It:
The misery of the poor and the needy takes the spotlight in this third full-length feature from Rae Red, following her critically-acclaimed Babae at Baril (2019) and Si Chedeng at Si Apple (2017). She explores the talents of young actors, Francine Diaz, Francis Magundayao, and Noel Comia Jr., who all play young indigents at the brink of doing the most foolish act in their lives.
18-year-old, Teban (Magundayao) just got out of prison. He promised himself to never get into the same situation again. But a frequent confrontation of needing money has been making him consider the proposition of his neighbor, Lea (Diaz), who’s been keeping tabs on their grumpy old neighbor, Tatay Nando (Veloso), and his box of cash. When an emergency arises, he reluctantly signs up with Lea’s plan.
During the night of their small heist, however, they had to tag Teban’s asthmatic cousin, Ron-ron (Comia) along, to prevent him from divulging their act, and thus avoid the chance of them getting caught.
Much of the film talks about the aftermath of the three teen’s reckless escapade, and it’s grim in every sense of the word.
Red has previously tackled similar motifs in her past films, but here she digs deeper, delving into the criminal tendencies of the youth when confronted with poverty and hunger. She has to thank the artistic brilliance of Magundayao, Comia, and Diaz, who each pulled off exceptional take on their problematic teen characters.
Magundayao, being around in the business since 2005, has an impressive movie and film portfolio to brag. He has his Best Supporting Actor trophy from the ToFarm Film Festival (for his performance in the 2017 film, Instalado), as his crowning glory. Comia, on the other hand, has received top accolades from Cinemalaya and Young Critics’ Circle, for his magnificent performances in Kiko Boksingero (2017) and Death of Nintendo (2020), respectively. Diaz is among ABS-CBN’s fast-rising female stars, and in this film, she breathtakingly portrays Lea, who is the complete opposite of practically every character she took on in the past.
The three young actors’ soaring performances are an unmissable gem in this showcase of dread and sinister, but the plot itself, and what it represents are metaphorical wonders that invite audiences to think about, how youngsters of today carry and give in to their inner vulnerabilities and criminal tendencies.
It offers a glimpse into the lives of these unfortunate souls, and the extra lengths they often have to go, simply to survive. And to Red, and her film’s exceptional cast’s credit, the result is way more haunting and beautiful, at the same time, than most could imagine.
5 – Excellent
4 – Very Good
3 – Good
2 – Tolerable
1 – Terrible
Tenement 66 now streams on iWantTFC and KTX.PH. Watch the official trailer below:
