The legend of Teniente Gimo
In Iloilo, circa ’50s, legend has it that a barangay captain belonged to a clan of aswangs. He was called Teniente Gimo, and he was believed to be responsible for the many unexplained deaths where the victims were found without their hearts and kidneys.
Teniente Gimo had a wife, Melba, and a daughter, Ella. According to the urban legend, Teniente Gimo’s men mistakenly killed Ella to be served as the main course at the town fiesta. This story makes for a good horror movie, but KIB Production and RMS Productions give us another interesting angle that combines horror with romance and comedy.
Based on the untold story of the urban legend, the movie Teniente Gimo will show how Gimo had affected his daughter’s relationship with a young man named Victor. Playing a major part in the conflict is a man named Gado whose angst towards Gimo intensified when his own family fell prey to the aswangs. Also holding a grudge against Gimo is his former love flame, Ursula, who joins Victor in a mission to fight the aswangs as well as other vile creatures called
tiktiks and wakwaks. Joining them are Victor’s older friend, Bentong, and Lolo Ambo, a known nemesis of the said mythical creatures. The battle puts the entire community in total chaos.
Directed by Roland Sanchez, the movie employs proven cinematic technique (e.g. quick frantic cuts) that builds the suspense and provides jump scares. The romancecomedy aspect of the film is enhanced by the well-placed and carefullycrafted “hugot” lines that today’s youth are so crazy about. The sequences are fast-paced and the dialogues are realistically penned and drawn from everyday lingo and reallife experiences.
The story is narrated by an old woman who claims to have witnessed all the things presented in the movie surrounding the life of Gimo in the ’50s. Finding out the identity of the old lady is expected to be interesting for the viewers.
Teniente Gimo, distributed by VIVA Films, stars John Regala, Julio Diaz, Mon Confiado, Suzette Ranillo, Eliza Pineda, Joshua Dionisio and Kate Brios. It opens nationwide on June 1.