It's the definitive proof that O'Hara handles the camera and cuts film far better than either Brocka or Bernal. The opening beach sequence has quick cuts, then freeze frames where the sound carries over and you wonder what kind of sadistic acts they go on performing behind the freeze...
His handling of sound effects and music is great, too. The Pasig river fight sequence has a tender lullaby playing in the background.
Elivera Manahan isn't quite a villain, tho.
And oh, Celso Ad. Castillo is brilliant here. Same with Joel Lamangan. Actually the entire cast is great.
Here's something interesting: Perla Bautista plays Dan's mother. Perla is, or so I hear, the great love of Erap's life. And Celso plays an Erap figure, who (he, he, he, very prophetic) makes a bid to take over the 'province.'
It's not quite a contemporary setting. Elvira is governess of a rich and powerful 'province.' It's suppose to stand in for Manila, and Elvira for Imelda. It's actually an alternate reality Philippines. The social and political criticism here is actually quite sophisticated. And I think O'Hara's take on Imelda is more accurate than Brocka's in Gumapang (which, I think, is Brocka's attempt to remake Bagong Hari).
It's one of O'Hara's darkest films (except for maybe Pangarap ng Puso, which is, if anything, even stranger).
