Ligalig (2006)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Powerful

best movie i've ever seen.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

This Filipino thriller starred,written and director by Filipino actor Cesar Montano entitled "Ligalig",a Filipino word for "Trouble", is obviously an imitation from the French slasher flick directed by Alexandre Aja and starred by Cecile De France and Maiwenn "Haute Tension",also known by its English title,"High Tension.Although Montano denies it by claiming that this was an original work,the viewer who has seen both films cannot deny the fact that this Filipino film indeed has taken on the concepts involved with the French movie from the story,the characters,the moods,the settings and the much talked about "twist" that involves a character with a split personality that had many of the viewers of the French flick divided.So instead of trying to prove that Montano is lying,I will just focus my review on the comparison between "Ligalig" and "High Tension".No question that Montano was amazed by the French movie that he decided to take a Filipino counterpart without giving acknowledgment to director Alexandre Aja and his writing partner Gregory Levasseur.Instead of having best friends Marie and Alex going to the latter's family at the rural area in Southern France to study,the story involves a taxi driver Junior who is going to his girlfriend's family Trixie.But before everything was set up,we get to see a man named Damian driving a truck who is apparently responsible in killing people for reasons even the Filipino actor does not know just like the killer who was lurking behind truck in the rural area of Southern France.Junior and Trixie was with a female friend as they drive towards the latter's family.Familiar elements from High Tension was taken as they drive which I felt had no connection whatsoever in the overall story such as Trixie leaving Junior when the former wanted to pee in the plantation, the masturbation "scene" which the female friend did to Junior as a homage to Marie's masturbation "scene".Then when they all arrived in Trixie's house,the female friend decided to take a bath with her lingerie on as a homage to Alex's taking a shower.I felt those scenes were simply placed there to remind us of the French film. Nothing more.They have no overall effect to the story.What's worse,unneeded elements on the story were added such as Trixie's mother who loves to shoot with her gun and Trixie's brother who is stricken with PTSD.This was to show that her family are psychologically impaired but does not provide any impact in the story.Probably they tried to serve as a diversion from Damian.Nothing more. Too bad that it didn't.The mother and the brother were just there for entertainment.Or better yet,to remind the viewers that the killer shot Alex's young brother.Finally,came the twist.When Damian appeared,he started to kill Trixie's family and took Trixie into captive.While the French movie made clear on the steps the personality change of Marie occurred - Marie saw Alex taking a shower and felt lust,she masturbated and the split of personality occurred - this movie only showed that Junior turned into Damian as the movie needed him to.In short,the twist was simply contrived and unrealistic.Added to that,there were a lot of unanswered questions as to why Junior is turning into his dead violent father and starts to kill people.Overall,the only purpose was to show that indeed Montano can direct a slasher flick similar to the French flick.Nothing more.What's more,the characters and the dialogues are silly.The story is weak and contrived.Too bad that melodramatic elements were added too that served no purpose in the story. And what about the special effects? The viewer can see how poor they were.When Junior was taking the police to the headquarters,viewers can see the poor use of green screen as the background of cars looks far different as compared to the taxi.The "lightning effects" whenever Damian appear have become tiresome.Cameras as constantly shaking. The opening and closing credits were just simply too stylish like an MTV video.One might just laugh at these special effects which unknowingly turn this slasher flick into comedy because of it.Saying this,it only shows that it is confused on what kind of movie is it going to be.Overall,this was a poor film and a poor imitation at that.I could go on but there are simply too many things that is wrong with this movie that a 1 out of 10 rating is even considered high for it Why was this given an "A rating" in the Philippines?

Cesar Montano stars,wrote the screenplay and directed this film entitled "Ligalig" which happens to be a French rip off of the movie made by Alexandre Aja and starred by Cecile de France and Maiwenn known as "High Tension".No question that this Filipino film totally imitated the French slasher flick from beginning to end.It took everything from its story,the characters,the murders,the twist of having the main character - Junior - who is suffering from double personality and the conclusion.Too bad that it was a poor imitation as some elements that were done were out of place such as the masturbation scene,the shower scene,the gun toting mother and brother,the prostitutes involved and many others.As for the additional elements such as the melodramatic and violent characters,they looked simply out of place as well and does not contribute to the overall story.What's worse,there are more questions that needed to be answered at the end of the movie as plot holes can be detected by intelligent viewers.Added to that,the use of special effects too were clumsily done and excessive.They could be tiresome as the movie progresses.One might even laugh at their use in some of the scenes.In summary,this was a bad movie.I know that the Philippines can produced better films than this.

Cesar Montano is probably the best Filipino actor I have ever seen in after I have seen numerous Filipino films.One that I like is about the Philippines' national hero "Jose Rizal".Too bad that I felt truly disappointed upon seeing him involved in this Filipino film entitled "Ligalig" (English translation: Anxiety). I felt that he truly has somewhat downgraded his career particularly being a director being involved in an imitation to a French horror film "Haute Tension".Too bad that I have seen "Haute Tension" and what is worse is the fact that almost every scene in this film was adapted from the French original from its rural setting,the double personality of the main character that happens to be a taxi driver and the killer,the killings that have transpired, the "masturbation" scene,the objective of the killings which is obviously romantic and a lot more.What's worse is the fact that it made fools of its viewers as the dialogues that have transpired were both silly and childish.Do I need to even mention the poorly done special effects?Anyone familiar with the French film will definitely see a Filipino version it.A very poor version that is.Skip it at all cost.

I was in the public library and it led me to this particular DVD called "Ligalig".It was a multi-awarded film in the Philippines.I decided to borrow it to see whether it was really a good film.After viewing it,there is only one thing I could say about it. To put it in words,"Ligalig is definitely High Tension". Not in the sense that the movie is filled with suspense and tension but rather due to the fact that it was an imitation of the French film,"Haute Tension" which is also known as "High Tension",for majority of the movie.The story involves a taxi driver named Junior.He is taking her girlfriend Trixie on his taxi together with their fellow friend.We have Junior and Trixie as the main characters instead of having Marie and Alex.A mysterious killer appears named Damian,who slashes people's head.We have Damian riding an old car instead of having an unknown killer riding a truck.When Junior visits Trixie's family,a number of murders take place.Damian kills all member of Trixie's family just like the killer murders all members of Alex's family. As the story progresses,the viewers will be surprised to see Junior is seen performing the killings and has Trixie in captive just as the viewers were surprised when Marie is seen murdering people and has Alex in captive.Then the conclusion has Junior professing his love of Trixie just as Marie is towards Alex.The final scene is somewhat different with Junior getting killed when Trixie tries to escape while Marie locked up in a psychiatric hospital with Alex looking on a window.This Filipino movie as a complete imitation of the French movie as I have previously stated.Most of the scenes from the latter was added to that former.Unfortunately,it does not match the suspense filled French version.What's worse,the viewer is exposed to poorly handled special effects.Except for the great performance of Cesar Montano,there is nothing really positive that could be said in it except possibly the guts and courage that the filmmakers have in producing another version of the suspense-filled movie that many people are still talking,discussing and debating about until now.