MISTERYO SA TUWA (Abbo dela Cruz)
Spoilers Alert!
This film is the best example of a one-hit wonder! From the man who chopped Lorli Villanueva's finger in ORO PLATA MATA comes this tale of greed, love for family and revenge. Money is the root of all evil. Based on actual events, MISTERYO SA TUWA boasts of excellent technical aspects and great ensemble acting of the entire cast.
A plane crashed in the mountains of Quezon in 1950. A group of noble folk were celebrating a fiesta but not a big feast but a small one. The villagers loot the baggage and all the things of the survivors of the plane crash. This is my only gripe for this film.......the villagers were treated just like primitive people who will do anything just to get something from the crash site. The central characters played by Johnny Delgado, Ronnie Lazaro and Tony Santos, Sr. found a suitcase filled with half a million pesos and a bunch of documents. They made a decision to divide the money and share it with their families. Even the other villager saw it, Lito Anzures who wants to get the suitcase full of money. To get the plot more exciting, enter Mario Taguiwalo, the town mayor who also wants to get the suitcase and made a bargain with Lito Anzures to kidnap Delgado, Lazaro & Santos to get the money. The three were tortured to death and I can't divulge anymore the ending because it would spoil the whole movie.
From the time of the opening scene, you could actually smell the lambanog drank by the noble folk in this remote village in Quezon. The crash site is so realistic also in a way that you can smell also the dead bodies of the passengers. Peque Gallaga played Mr. Murphy, the corpse who owned the suitcase. Before Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS hit the stratosphere, we are ahead again in terms of uh, torture scenes and its more disturbing, gripping and gruesome! The last few minutes will keep you at the edge of your seat!
Lito Anzures used a tin can slid to cut Johnny Delgado's ear. Ronnie Lazaro's fiancee, Maria Montes was molested in front of him. Anzures is menacing as the villain, Delgado, Lazaro and Tony Santos, Sr. were all convincing that whatever happened, they will stick to their decision not to give the suitcase. Great supporting cast also from Alicia Alonzo & Ama Quiambao. The musical score by Jaime Fabregas is the best musical score I've ever heard next to Jose Gentica's score in ORO. Add the perfect production design by Don Escudero & Rodell Cruz and you've got a classic film in the league of the other films produced by ECP during their time. I just don't know why the critics didn't like this movie.
