P77 (2025) Review
Directed by Derick Cabrido
I would like to apologize to Barbie Forteza if I can’t do justice to how incredible her performance is in P77 in this review. Saying she took her role to heart or performed well is an understatement. Barbie’s performance is on a whole new level. It will take the audience to the mind-boggling world that the film created, like how her character, Luna, is experiencing on screen: chaotic and emotionally draining.
P77 isn’t your typical horror movie. It isn’t your typical Filipino movie. The layers in the film can be easily seen as a mysterious puzzle that unfolds as the story goes deeper. But there’s more to it than weird sequences and jump scares that will make you question how you understand the film. Is it real? Are they who they claim to be? Is any of it making sense?
Even though everything’s unclear, you get to be heavily invested in the story because of Barbie’s performance. She is the heart and soul of the film. Her portrayal of a sister, daughter, and granddaughter going down as a result of the unnatural happenings in P77 is incomparable. Even if you’re unsure of what’s happening in the story, Barbie’s performance will make everything clear and certain.
Euwenn Mikaell has a strong screen presence. From Firefly to P77, the child actor effortlessly draws the audience to sympathize with his situation with Luna (Forteza). If looks could kill, JC Alcantara’s mysterious character will be the death of anyone who easily falls in love with a good-looking, mystifying guy. Other supporting characters portrayed by Jackielou Blanco, Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Rosanna Roces and Ms. Gina Pareno were all properly used as well.
While I do appreciate the efforts in making the story complex, I think the world-building could’ve been better. Going around the rooms and the halls of P77 could give the audience more of a grasp of how Luna navigates the place. Because visually, it looks as though it could tell more with its setting. Knowing that the sets were created from scratch, the production design is really impressive. The interiors of the room felt alive and could at any time give the audience a scream or two.
As for the scares, director Derick Cabrido has some tricks up his sleeve. As the jump scares are effective, the tension builds fear and there are afterthoughts following the reveals that can cause nightmares. It’s not an easy watch. Like you need to read, or rather, see between the lines to uncover the message of the story. But P77 is a decently told story of someone who uses an alternate reality to cope with pain and misery.
3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
‘P77’ is now showing in cinemas nationwide from GMA Pictures, GMA Public Affairs and Clever Minds, Inc., distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures Philippines. The film is rated R-13 by the MTRCB.