Don Filipo (2021)

Not very good either as horror or BL

If bare skin could compensate for other weaknesses in a film, this would be quite a good film. For no good reason, the male characters spend more screen time in just their underwear or less.

However, there isn't much of BL here except that one man has a one-sided love for another, and it doesn't feel at all like BL. As for horror, there are plenty of the usual tactics (ominous music, ghosts appearing in mirrors, etc) to scare those who would *not* want to watch horror because they are easily scared. The film isn't at all likely to appeal to those who actually enjoy horror.

Still, this isn't a lengthy film and if you are not expecting groundbreaking work in either BL or horror, it isn't altogether bad. There is a bit of a plot twist towards the end, though it seems like a twist that seems to exist for the sake of having a twist. One might also appreciate the characterization of Obet--the motivations for his behavior and the struggles he undergoes lend some semblance of depth to an otherwise superficial film.

And while I'm not averse to nudity in film, the focus on the men's bodies is pointless. The characters may simply be in their underwear, but does it serve the story for the camera to linger on ... whatever region the clothing is covering with more eagerness than an underwear commercial. It would actually seem more respectable if an underwear company had sponsored the film and asked for product placements. Perhaps the filmmakers are eager to have something to attract audiences, but if this is so, it is baffling why they have not gone for full-blown BL and steamy sex scenes.

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Horror is so ... well, simply Filipino. He does play a major role, but it's messed up. Instead of the gay component, the gay interest comes first, when the director loves half-naked bodies or the sympathetic Pinoy actors strip directly to their nakedness (mainly Luis Padilla and Drei Arias), the gay component is relegated to a smaller percentage. The fact that Mia (later Lamia) will betray Dino was clear to me from the beginning, the conclusion is strange. Overall, slightly below average, the effort to show the beautiful bodies of the young protagonists, including shots of their crotch dressed in briefs, does not save it.


Horor je takový ... no prostě filipínský. Hraje sice hlavní roli, ale je to zamotané. Místo gay složky je na prvním místě gay interest, kdy se režisér kochá polonahými těly či sympatické pinoy herce svléká přímo do naha (především Luis Padilla a Drei Arias), gay složka je upozaděna do menšího procenta. To, že Mia (později Lamia) zradí Dina, mě bylo jasné už od začátku, závěr divný. Celkově lehký podprůměr, snaha ukázat krásná těla mladých protagonistů včetně záběrů do jejich rozkroků oblečených do slipů to ale nezachrání.

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A BL horror with an interesting ending

This in reality is a noble gesture in trying to provide a different feel to the BL genre. It frankly is not very scaring but it did have a very interesting ending to it that came as a surprise at least for me. However, the main actors were certainly not afraid or ashamed to show their Adonis bodies nude or in very tight underwear and speedos. How refreshing! A BL movie that showed guys being guys in scenes that called for nudity. We did not have to speculate or guess. We saw. It brought this to an adult level without it being in any way pornographic or celicious. Kudos for them for doing this even if the production was a bit week.
You can see my full review of this movie at BLBliss.com.

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