Talahib: A slasher flick with chills and misses

In Talahib, filmmaker Alvin Yapan crafts a supernatural thriller packed with jump scares and blood – lots and lots of it.

Kapamilya young actress Gillian Vicencio leads the cast and is joined by Joem Bascon, Kristof Garcia, Jess Mendoza, Kate Alejandrino, Dax Alejandro, and Yam Mercado, among others.

The film is part of this year’s Sinag Maynila Film Festival running until September 10 at these participating cinemas: Gateway Cineplex 2, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Manila, SM Fairview, SM Mall of Asia, SM Manila, SM North EDSA, SM Southmall, SM Sta. Mesa, and Market! Market!.

TALAHIB: SYNOPSIS

A vengeful ghost killer haunts an abandoned subdivision, going after unsuspecting victims who stray near the talahiban and kills them by asphyxiation.

Two police officers pursue the case, only to hit a dead end as they discover they are hunting a bloodthirsty murderer from the afterlife.

This realization dawns on them when they encounter a group of young friends who claim to be on a spirit quest in the grassy area at night.

In reality, these friends are trying to exhume the body of someone they know personally.

But why? And how does this relate to the recent killings in the area?

Unbeknownst to the group, including the police officers, their actions will trigger more deadly consequences that they are ill-equipped to handle.

A CYCLE OF VIOLENCE

Talahib is the latest addition to movies under the so-called slasher genre, a category of horror films characterized by a killer or group of killers who commit murders with sharp weapons.

The elements are all present: a relentless killer on a rampage, an unending chase to drum up suspense, graphic violence in the murders, and, of course, a generous amount of blood and gore.

Story-wise, Talahib starts strong but occasionally stumbles due to uneven execution, which diminishes the suspense right when it seems poised to peak.

Additionally, while the killer’s backstory is touched upon, it could be more fully explored to add depth to his character and more effectively convey the anger driving his horrific acts even after his death.

To be fair, the story takes a dramatic turn as it reaches its shocking and bloody conclusion.

The film conveys a lesson about how crime and violence can be passed down through generations, creating a vicious cycle where innocent family members often suffer the consequences, despite their lack of involvement in the original crime.

It also addresses social injustices, including the influence of the wealthy over the less fortunate and the exploitation of nature for greed and modernization.

Gillian Vicencio delivers moments in the film that showcase her potential as an actress, and this role could pave the way for more opportunities in the horror genre.

While Talahib may not be perfect and occasionally falls short of fully realizing its promising narrative, it still has shock value that could entice fans of slasher films.