GUMISING KA, MARUJA (Lino Brocka)
The great master filmmaker Lino Brocka directed two horror tv shows back in the early 70's MALIKMATA & ANINO. His foray into the horror genre is the gothic love story GUMISING KA, MARUJA. Penned by Tony Perez who makes a living by hunting ghosts nowadays forming an organization called QUESTORS and also written Brocka's sexiest film to date INIT. The result was a mixed up of some narrative flaws with impeccable design by Mel Chionglo & outstanding cinematography and great haunting musical score by Ernani Cuenco.
The opening scene narrates the story of Maruja Isabel y Mira born 1872 in love with Gabriel a poor peasant but bethrothed by her elders to Rodrigo Velasquez, captain of the civil guard. She was reincarnated in the person of Nina Concepcion, (Susan Roces) actress and producer. Most of the scenes take place in an old ancestral mansion house as Roces plans to shoot a film about the life of Maruja despite several warnings that the place was haunted. Her crew started to be missing one by one. Brocka's films are all character driven here he gets fine performances from his leads particularly Roces specially when screaming, Philip Salvador as Marco during the present times and Rodrigo during the past. Add some ensemble fine actors like Mario O'Hara, Laurice Guillen, Mary Walter & Manny Ojeda. The problem with Brocka is he doesn't resort to special effects and he let the haunted ancestral house stand by itself and it certainly succeeds! Is it scary, no! But there are a few moments when you feel that your spine is chilling just by peeping inside the house! Its more of a psychological horror. What's missing here are morbid humors that you can find in those Hitchcock thrillers but the music will continue to haunt you just like a Bernard Herrman score.
Pinoy horror movies were the main staple during the 70's, some are B-movies, but this one is a cut above the rest, technically outstanding that will stand the test of time. I just wish that the master print is still in fine shape or better remastered and clean so that the future generation will still look up to it.