ON THE JOB: THE MISSING 8 (2021) Review
Directed by Erik Matti
3 hours and 28 minutes. That’s the running time of Erik Matti’s follow up to his acclaimed crime thriller On The Job, On The Job: The Missing 8. It’s quite lengthy when you think about it but it’s a crucial watch and Matti made the film so entertaining and personal to its main character that you feel like you’ve dived in to his world and joined him as the story unfolds.
On The Job: The Missing 8’s masterful storytelling touches relevant issues in a though-provoking way making the watching experience go beyond the screens. From the story, production design, cinematography, music, acting, everything is gold. It did not even feel like it was more than three hours long. That’s how much I was immersed in the story.
Inspired by true events, the story of media being targeted brutally because of their work is evil enough. But the film dives deeper, it breaks the line of who or what good or evil. You see the politicians who will do anything to be in power, you see the journalists who, to their core, hates politicians and wants to expose whatever dirt they have, you see people who are easily swayed by the good things that are built around a person. The film shows that evil is around us and we can only hope that the conscience of the people will choose not only the truth but also the good.
Exposing traditional and corrupt politics with technologies today, On The Job: The Missing 8 will take us to an intense, eye-opening and timely ride. I love every minute of it and it reminded me of how I should be more passionate about the truth and about justice.
5 OUT OF 5 STARS
‘On The Job: The Missing 8’ is now showing in select Ayala Malls Cinemas until November 8, 2022 from Anima, Reality Studios and HBO. Rated R-16 by the MTRCB.