The 2026 Migrant Workers Film Festival has opened conversations about what it means to leave the country, during its Philippine leg screenings across university auditoriums, cultural centers, and film labs.
Following its run in Hong Kong, the festival has turned its lenses toward the complex web of labor, displacement, family sacrifice, and resilience that defines the Filipino diaspora.
PUP Department of Filipinology Assoc. Prof. Rose Roque
The event, organized as a cultural and educational initiative by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, featured a curated lineup spanning nearly four decades of migration cinema.
The festival’s footprint has stretched across multiple institutions, creating spaces for students, artists, and migrant advocates to engage with audiovisual heritage.
The Philippine run kicked off last October 1 and 2 at the UPFI Film Center Videotheque, featuring screenings paired with talkback sessions featuring CAP National Secretary General Edge Uyanguren, Migrante International Deputy Secretary General Josefina Pingkihan, and filmmakers Nawruz Paguidopon, JT Pandy, and Richard Soriano Legaspi.
On October 7, audiences gathered at Lawak Sinehan in UP Cebu to trace generations of migration narratives in partnership with local academic unions and community groups.
As part of the Ateneo Art Gallery’s Moving Image Program last October 8, a special screening of the 1987 landmark documentary “Migrante” was held at the gallery’s Ben Chan ArtSuite.
Migrante screening at Ateneo
Screenings also took place at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Bulwagang Bonifacio last October 9 and PUP Claro M. Recto Hall last October 13, drawing deep engagement from the university’s academic community.
On October 20, screenings at UP Los Baños Makiling Film Laboratory featured a dedicated focus on Paguidopon’s “Rhose” series, along with works by Legaspi and Pandy.
The festival landed at the Mowelfund Center last October 21 for afternoon screenings of “Migrante” and “Modern Heroes, Modern Slaves,” paired with reflections from invited speakers.
What sets the event apart was how it treated cinema as a catalyst for dialogue. Each screening was followed by talkbacks that bridged historical documentation with present-day realities.
During the Ateneo Art Gallery session, moderated by PUP Department of Filipinology Assoc. Prof. Rose Roque, Migrante International Chairperson Joanna Concepcion pointed out the truth that the fundamental conditions driving Filipinos abroad have barely shifted in the 39 years since “Migrante” was first released. Concepcion underscored how the state’s labor export policy continues to treat citizens as commodities, directly contradicting official rhetoric surrounding workers’ welfare.
Gusto Nang Umuwi Ni Joy still photo
CAP Deputy Secretary-General Jeune Genesis Aramburo echoed this statement and reiterated the call to address the root causes of forced migration. Aramburo noted that if Filipino industriousness has built and sustained prosperity in foreign lands, the ultimate challenge remains transforming domestic conditions so that workers are met with livable wages and dignity at home.
By merging archival memory with contemporary struggle, the Migrant Workers Film Festival made sure that the stories of those who cross borders are neither silenced nor forgotten, reminding audiences that the fight for migrant rights extends far beyond the final credits.
From Odyssey Flores’ lush black-and-white cinematography to Timi Dominguez’s gothic-like interpretation of its setting, The Fisher plays out like a dark fairy tale, a fable that gently finds its footing in the genre of a quiet, dreadful psychological horror. You’re not quite sure what is real and what is imagined; whether this unnamed island town, cut off from any semblance of modernity (be it cellphones or even government reach), is real or purely symbolic. Yet, it serves a central character in this dark tale, culminating in surprising political imagery at its finale.
Directed and co-written by Paul Soriano with Anton C. Santamaria, The Fisher follows Pedro (Mon Confiado), who has isolated his family – his wife Delma (Mercedes Cabral) and his adoptive daughter Simone (Heaven Paralejo) from the rest of the town as he opts not to use dynamite fishing. But the seas have gone barren and everyone is suffering. The town is held in thrall by its leader and healer, Manay (Eula Valdez), who not only permits dynamite fishing but also enforces the old beliefs and traditions, including the myth of the golden fish and the black demon, where the former grants a bountiful catch while the latter brings a plague upon the town.
The Fisher | Image Source: Black Cap Pictures Facebook Page
Amidst all of this, Pedro finds an unconscious man caught in his fishing net and brings him home. His wife and daughter call him Hai (Enchong Dee), whose strange ways have a bewitching effect on Pedro and his family.
The Fisher | Image Source: Black Cap Pictures Facebook Page
From the get-go, the film’s politics are already in full view: the stark poverty of the village and its detachment from the national government, the destructive use of illegal fishing methods, that is destroying the oceans, the adherence to old beliefs that resemble an almost cult-like spirituality, and the Chinese symbol and writing on the back of Hai’s neck. The film never dwells too heavily on these, choosing instead to focus more on Pedro’s descent into a sort of madness as Hai’s presence threatens his family’s security and resurfaces the grief over his dead son, Andro (Tommy Alejandrino).
The Fisher | Image Source: Black Cap Pictures Facebook Page
Confiado is captivating as the lone man carrying the burden of rationality in a town besieged by desperation and folklore. But he himself is breaking under the weight of his own loss. Hai’s presence threatens to take away his beautiful daughter and even turns his wife against him. Even the most rational man has a breaking point. And this is wonderfully conveyed by editor Mark Victor’s constant cutaways to the waves crashing against the shore. Wonderful job by Mark Victor.
The Fisher | Image Source: Black Cap Pictures Facebook Page
It is Enchong Dee, though, who proves to be a revelation. Because Hai is unable to speak, we aren’t even sure at times if he understands what Simone or Pedro is saying. He is alien and otherworldly, and his presence gives credence to the fairy-tale nature of the film’s tone. Unbothered by Pedro’s outbursts and fits of anger, he seems detached from the material world. He’s like an innocent, constantly smiling figure whose quiet demeanor adds to the dread of his presence. But when he suddenly reveals a keen knack for swimming the depths of the ocean and securing massive catches, his standing in Pedro’s family changes completely.
The Fisher | Image Source: Black Cap Pictures Facebook Page
The simplicity of the film works in its favour as the setting, striking visuals, and grounded performances elevate the story into something you can really sink your teeth into. It continually teeters on the edge of the strange, oftentimes crossing over before snapping back to a grounded reality, which makes it engaging to watch. You’re completely hooked until the film’s dramatic finale, where a sudden twist reveals the full extent of Soriano’s political message. It’s a vague one yet undeniably pointed, and Flores’ cinematography comes into full bloom. The Fisher is an unsettling, deeply disturbing film and I love it for it.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Will Hai bring a bountiful catch or a dark curse upon Pedro’s family? Experience powerful performances from Mon Confiado and Enchong Dee in this haunting fable! Click here to check The Fishershowtimes near you.
In celebration of UK-Philippines Friendship Day and 80 years of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the Philippines, Ayala Malls Cinemas and the British Embassy in Manila hosted a special screening of the Jane Austen classic Sense and Sensibility at Greenbelt on October 20, bringing together members of the media, guests, and film enthusiasts for an afternoon honoring British culture, storytelling, and friendship.
“A friendship that has lasted 80 years is not only something to celebrate, but something to build upon.” Paul Birkett, Ayala Malls Chief Operating Officer
Guests were welcomed with afternoon tea catered by Lusso ahead of the screening, creating an occasion that celebrated the richness of British literary heritage and the enduring connections forged through culture and the arts.
British Embassy Manila Chargé d’Affaires Mike Welch highlighted the power of literature and cinema to bring people together across cultures and generations. His remarks underscored the role of cultural exchange in strengthening ties between the United Kingdom and the Philippines.
Ayala Malls Chief Operating Officer Paul Birkett highlighted the enduring relationship between the United Kingdom and the Philippines, emphasizing the role of openness, mutual respect, and shared ambition in strengthening ties between the two nations.
Guests enjoying afternoon tea at the special screening of “Sense and Sensibility”
Based on Jane Austen’s celebrated novel, the film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility brings to life the story of sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood as they navigate love, loss, and social expectations.
Guests at the special screening of Sense and Sensibility
The exclusive theatrical run of Sense and Sensibility at Ayala Malls Cinemas invites both longtime admirers and new audiences to experience the classic story on the big screen. The screening reflects Ayala Malls Cinemas’ commitment to curating distinctive film experiences that celebrate culture, storytelling, and the shared experiences that bring communities together. It also aligns with Ayala Land’s commitment to creating opportunities for meaningful cultural engagement and connection.
Malupiton is trading viral videos for the big screen.
Joel Ravanera, better known to millions online as Malupiton, steps into a new chapter of his career with He’s Dating a Boldstar, his first feature film as a leading man. The romantic comedy opens in cinemas nationwide on October 28.
Known for turning everyday situations into wildly relatable comedy, Malupiton now brings his familiar humor and easygoing charm to a love story that places an ordinary man in a very unexpected situation.
This time, the laughs come with romance, awkward discoveries, and a relationship that forces his character to look beyond first impressions.
Watch the official trailer here.
An Ordinary Guy Meets Someone Completely Unexpected
In He’s Dating a Boldstar, Malupiton plays Jeboy, a cheerful and uncomplicated man who is perfectly comfortable with his ordinary routine.
Then Kit enters his life.
Played by Analyn Barro, Kit is warm, beautiful, and easy to be around. Her arrival adds excitement to Jeboy’s predictable days, and what begins as a casual friendship soon develops into a connection he cannot ignore.
For Jeboy, Kit seems to bring everything his life has been missing. She makes things brighter, more exciting, and perhaps even more meaningful.
There is just one part of her life he does not fully understand yet.
Love Gets Complicated
Kit works as a performer in adult-content films, something Jeboy initially knows very little about.
As he gets closer to her, Jeboy begins to see that their growing relationship comes with questions he never expected to face. Suddenly, he must deal with other people’s assumptions, his own insecurities, and the challenges of falling for someone whose work attracts attention and judgment.
It is a situation far removed from the simple world he knows.
Still, beneath the comedy and uncomfortable moments is a familiar question: how much should someone’s past, profession, or public image matter when genuine feelings are involved?
That question gives He’s Dating a Boldstar more to work with than a typical opposites-attract romance.
Malupiton Brings His Everyman Charm to the Movies
Malupiton’s casting as Jeboy feels closely connected to the personality that made him popular online.
His comedy has long been built around characters and situations that feel familiar to Filipino audiences. Whether he is playing someone confused, frustrated, confident, or completely caught off guard, much of his appeal comes from making ordinary experiences funny.
Jeboy gives him a chance to bring that same energy to a full-length film.
Instead of transforming him into an overly polished romantic lead, He’s Dating a Boldstar leans into the qualities audiences already recognize. Jeboy is awkward, sincere, humorous, and unmistakably human.
That familiarity could be one of the film’s biggest strengths.
For longtime followers, seeing Malupiton move from short-form comedy to a major movie role also makes the project a notable milestone. It is a significant jump for the content creator, placing him in a different kind of spotlight while allowing him to stay close to the comedic style that built his audience.
Analyn Barro Plays the Woman Who Changes Jeboy’s World
Opposite Malupiton is Analyn Barro as Kit, the woman at the center of Jeboy’s unexpected romance.
Rather than simply serving as the mysterious woman who disrupts his routine, Kit brings her own complications to the story. Her profession, public image, and personal life create challenges that test whether Jeboy can accept her beyond what other people see.
Their unlikely pairing sets up the film’s central tension.
Can two people from completely different worlds build something real when outside opinions, assumptions, and personal doubts begin getting in the way?
The answer, of course, is where much of the comedy and romance comes in.
The project also brings Malupiton together with friends and longtime collaborators who have been part of his journey as an online entertainer.
Moving from digital sketches to a feature-length movie is no small transition, but the film appears to embrace rather than abandon the qualities that made Malupiton a viral favorite.
His humor remains front and center. The difference is that Jeboy now has more room to grow, fall in love, make mistakes, and discover just how complicated relationships can become.
A Rom-Com With an Unconventional Setup
At its heart, He’s Dating a Bold Star is about two people whose lives should not necessarily fit together, yet somehow do.
Jeboy is content with simplicity. Kit lives a life that comes with public attention and complicated perceptions.
Put them together, and things are bound to get messy.
With romance, friendship, humor, and plenty of uncomfortable surprises, the film asks whether an ordinary man is ready to accept a love story that is anything but ordinary.
For fans who have watched Malupiton turn everyday comedy into viral entertainment, He’s Dating a Boldstar offers a chance to see him take that relatable persona somewhere new.
This time, he is not just chasing laughs.
He is falling in love.
Distributed by Go Asia Entertainment, He’s Dating a Boldstar opens in cinemas nationwide on October 28.
A recent wave of mainstream and indie hits like The Substance and Together has brought body horror into the cinematic mainstream. In an era where violence has become a regular part of the daily news cycle, audiences have somehow developed an appetite for visceral gore. In all of its marketing, Clayface promises to deliver just that brand of terror. Based on the iconic DC Comics and a regular opponent of Batman, the film is directed by James Watkins from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Yet despite Flanagan and Amini’s are major draws, the film never fully realises its terrifying potential for horror. Instead, it leans into a fast-paced, comic-book approach to its storytelling, ultimately foregoing the genuine horror for action.
Clayface follows Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), an actor reaching the pinnacle of his career with an Academy Award nomination. Framed as a rags to riches underdog who beat the odds, Hagen loses everything after a chance encounter in a nightclub with Theresa (Ruby Sear), the girlfriend of mob boss Markos Szabo (David Dencik). Szabo brutally mutilated Hagen, leaving him disfigured without a face and his reputation destroyed. Desperate, Hagen turns to Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), a scientist who has been betrayed by her partners and runs a rogue lab that is working on broken tissue-repair nanotechnology. Hagen insists to be her human test subject, and while the experimental procedure restores his face, the side effects drive him to take more than Caitlyn prescribes, and he discovers his body has mutated and he can now change his shape at will.
Clayface | Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
There are so many interesting avenues the film could choose to take with this premise. As an actor, it would be interesting to see Hagen use his skills to learn how to properly mimic his targets whose shapes he copies and the slow descent of his mind as the potential to be anyone could fracture his own sanity. In the film, Hagen develops a growing attachment to Caitlyn, the story naturally teeters on The Invisible Man territory, with her only good cop in Gotham boyfriend, John (Max Minghella) as the man in the way.
Clayface | Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
The film could have also pushed Hagen to extreme lengths to revive his acting career, and the twists and turns it could take for him to secure that would lead him to frightening games of manipulation that would eventually lead to murder when the stakes get sky-high.
Clayface | Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Instead, the film takes a straightforward revenge route. Hagen gets a hero’s underdog story, only to discover he has been lied to and betrayed by everyone around him. As he demands accountability, he loses control, triggering an accidental murderous streak that paints a target on both his back and Caitlyn’s. It is this chain of events that his descent into villainy is predicated.
Clayface | Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Depicting Hagen as a victim turned perpetrator undercuts the core horror of his transformation. The film makes you want to root for him until the final act of the film, diluting the darkness and sense of danger necessary for film’s genre to fully take hold. It does not help that the dialogue is painfully weak, with characters constantly over-explaining every thought and emotion. There is zero subtlety here. It’s unabashedly watered-down mainstream storytelling.
Clayface | Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Despite the flawed script, the film is still entertaining to watch with its clean and seamless visual effects. These are some of the cleanest special effects I’ve seen and they are quite enjoyable to watch. The moment I dropped my genre expectations and accepted the movie for what it is, a popcorn supervillain origin story, there are some fun to be had. I particularly enjoyed a whimsical, out-of-the-box moment in a dance floor that came out of nowhere, proving it could have a bit of fun.
There’s a huge expectation that has been placed on this film by its marketing, trailers, and the high-profile screenwriters involved. But once you let go of that hype, however, there is fun to be had – especially if you like gruesome, bloody body horror. On that front, it has that in droves at the beginning.
My Rating: 2.5 Stars
High-stakes body horror meets classic popcorn cinema. Experience the shape-shifting spectacle of Clayface on the big screen, click here for showtimes and theater listings!
Ready for your weekly big screen fix? Opening in cinemas today are eight new movies that run the gamut from Gotham horror and Filipino drama to supernatural romance and an Oscar-winning favorite returning to the big screen. Clayface unleashes a darker side of DC, The Cycle digs into a decades-old mystery, and The Fisher puts Mon Confiado and Enchong Dee at the center of a tense seaside drama. There’s also the La La Land 10th Anniversary rerelease, the heartfelt Multwoh, wartime drama Once Upon a Time in the Middle East, Thai rom-com Henry’s First Dates, and anime romance You, Fireworks, and Our Promise.
Need help choosing what to watch? Here are all eight new movies showing this week.
What happens when a second chance at fame comes at a terrible price?
Gotham City’s darker side takes center stage in this tragic, terrifying origin story. Matt Hagen, a rising Hollywood star from humble beginnings, sees his career shattered when a brutal crime boss leaves him horribly disfigured. Desperate to reclaim his former appearance, Hagen seeks out a radical, experimental treatment. The procedure miraculously restores his face, but it triggers a horrific psychological decline that sends him on an all-consuming path of vengeance.
Blending horror, science fiction, and psychological tension, Clayface explores the frightening cost of transformation and what happens when the desire to get even takes over.
Deborah Ann Woll and Jeffrey Donovan star in this tense supernatural thriller centered on long-buried secrets. When the body of a man missing for 36 years suddenly turns up at the site of a fresh, brutal crime, his estranged daughter Meg returns to her hometown to investigate. As she uncovers her father’s past, she realizes his disappearance is tied to an unsettling cycle of violence that threatens her own life.
For horror fans who enjoy mysteries with dark histories and unsettling revelations, The Cycle offers a chilling story where the past is far from finished.
A mysterious stranger, a family in turmoil, and a fishing community facing an unsettling crisis take center stage in The Fisher, a local drama that raises difficult questions about trust and responsibility.
Mon Confiado, Enchong Dee, and Eula Valdez star in this gripping coastal drama exploring superstition and morality in a tight-knit island community. When Pedro, an ordinary fisherman, rescues a lost stranger stranded out at sea, his act of mercy turns into a community trial. Accused of both causing a devastating fish-rotting plague and impregnating Pedro’s teenage daughter, the mysterious outsider leaves Pedro facing a terrible choice about justice and survival.
The Fisher brings a morally complicated story to the big screen, exploring how fear, suspicion, and family ties can collide.
What if you finally found the courage to say “I love you,” but only after you were gone?
In Multwoh, a queer college student suddenly dies in their dorm and returns as a ghost. But instead of coming back to seek revenge, they have one unfinished piece of business: confessing their feelings to the person they love. The problem is that the words they struggled to say in life are no easier to express in death. As the ghost attempts to make that long-overdue confession, the story finds humor and tenderness in the awkwardness of love, the pain of loss, and all the things we wish we had said sooner.
Starring Sassa Gurl, Joao Constancia, and John Lapus, Multwoh brings together comedy, horror, and romance in a heartfelt story about missed chances and feelings that refuse to disappear.
Imagine going on a first date that never really ends. Sounds romantic at first, right? Until you realize your date forgets everything the moment he wakes up.
Nadech Kugimiya and Minnie star in this charming romantic comedy about starting fresh every single day. The story follows Lucy as she repeatedly goes on a first date with Henry, a warm-hearted guy who suffers from a rare medical condition that wipes his memory every time he falls asleep. Determined to win his heart over and over again, Lucy learns that true connection goes far beyond memory.
Henry’s First Dates brings a playful twist to the familiar question of what it takes to make love work. When someone can’t remember yesterday, can the heart still find its way forward?
Here’s to the fools who dream! Damien Chazelle’s Oscar-winning musical romance returns to theaters for a special decade celebration.
Emma Stone plays Mia, an aspiring actress trying to make her mark in Los Angeles, while Ryan Gosling stars as Sebastian, a jazz pianist determined to keep his musical dreams alive. As the two fall in love, they encourage each other to pursue their ambitions. But balancing a relationship with their individual dreams proves more complicated than either expects.
La La Land 10th Anniversary is a welcome return for anyone who fell for the film the first time around. And if you missed it in cinemas, this is a lovely opportunity to experience its music and romance on the big screen.
Sometimes, the most important thing you can build is a place where people can feel safe.
This sweeping historical drama centers on perseverance, friendship, and unexpected sanctuary. Chef Xu Fu moves to the Middle East seeking a fresh start to support his family, partnering with manager Ma Junsheng to turn a struggling restaurant into a beloved local success. When war erupts across the city, their eatery becomes a critical safe haven for civilians caught in the crossfire, forcing Xu Fu to risk everything to keep hope alive.
Blending drama with the realities of war, the film explores friendship, resilience, and the importance of holding on to hope even when everything around you seems to be falling apart.
Some love stories are tied to a place, a moment, or a memory you never quite forget. You, Fireworks, and Our Promise brings all three together in an animated coming-of-age romance set during Japan’s famous Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Show.
Makoto is a Tokyo high school student who struggles with confidence and social interactions. Aki, on the other hand, is a popular class president admired for her beauty and talent. Their paths become connected through a drawing of a fireworks display, setting off a mysterious chain of events that neither can easily explain.
As the mystery unfolds, Makoto and Aki find themselves caught between fate and the choices they must make. With time running out, they have to decide what their connection means and what they are willing to do for each other.
What’s On Your Movie List This Week?
No matter what big screen vibe you are looking for this week, the theater is ready to deliver an unforgettable escape. From dark Gotham revenge tales and 10th-anniversary musical returns to coastal mysteries, queer ghost comedies, and sweeping anime romances, there is a seat waiting for you.
Whatever you’re in the mood for, there’s a new movie ready for your next cinema run. Grab your favorite snacks, round up your barkada, and secure your tickets for your next big-screen fix.
Stay tuned for next week’s fresh batch of releases and updates. Keep ClickTheCity bookmarked for the latest showtimes, your next movie is a click away!
For Clayface director James Watkins, an action sequence only works when it says something meaningful about the character at its center.
Rather than relying on spectacle for spectacle’s sake, Watkins wanted the action in Clayface to feel deeply connected to Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries, and his unusual journey from ambitious actor to dangerous shapeshifter.
It’s like love scenes; they’re boring when they’re two people naked in bed. They’re interesting when they inform character and who these people are,” says the filmmaker. It’s the same with action sequences. They have to be imbued with character.
According to the filmmaker, generic action can quickly lead to what he calls “stunt fatigue.”
Otherwise, anyone can do anything with enough resources and enough stunts. It becomes about people punching each other and I get ‘stunt fatigue.’ I can’t bear it when heroes in movies suddenly become Navy SEALs when they’re really ordinary people.
Watch the trailer:
Matt Hagen’s Greatest Weapon Is Being an Actor
When developing Matt’s fighting style, Watkins and the stunt team kept returning to one essential fact: Matt is an actor.
It’s not that he suddenly has this incredible ability to fight – but what he does have is this ability to shift, so he can ambush people. And as a brilliant actor, his superpower has a superpower. So, it becomes about the evolution or discovery of his powers throughout the sequence.
That concept allowed the filmmakers to build action around Matt discovering his abilities in real time.
Stealth, deception, surprise. If someone punches him, and that punch happens to go through his face and the guy hits a wall, then he’s like, ‘Oh, wow!’
Instead of immediately understanding everything he can do, Matt learns alongside the audience. And, crucially, he begins having fun with it.
He’s learning as we’re learning, and there’s this dark glee when he’s learning it. That ‘dark glee’ was important to me. The playful tone. The ‘permission to enjoy.’
That enjoyment, however, also makes Matt’s eventual choices more unsettling.
When you are enjoying the ride with Matt, laughing with him, it makes it much more complicated when he crosses a line!
Matt Reeves Calls Clayface an Anti-Hero Horror Story
Producer Matt Reeves, director of 2022’s The Batman, sees Clayface as more than a traditional comic book origin film.
I think what’s exciting about this kind of origin story is this idea of doing an anti-hero horror story, Reeves says.
The film mixes several genres, including romance, horror, thriller, and revenge.
where you’re going through a journey with someone and you’re seeing them go into areas that are very… I mean, on top of being a combination of a romance and a sort of horror thriller, it’s also really a revenge story, says Reeves.
For Reeves, the tension comes from following a protagonist whose actions become increasingly difficult to defend.
So, to go on that journey where you’re on that razor’s edge – you know this person’s doing the wrong things but you’re digging into the psychology of it, along with the horror of his actions
He also praises Watkins for bringing that complicated emotional balance to the screen.
that’s a very exciting way to get into the Clayface story. And I think James Watkins did an incredible job with that.
How Clayface Became Part of the DCU
The idea for the film began taking shape after Reeves completed The Batman.
Although that film was not a Batman origin story, Reeves realized its early-career setting offered opportunities to explore the beginnings of Gotham City’s famous villains.
We began thinking it’d be really exciting to develop a bunch of stories that could be genre stories that related to the Rogues’ Gallery characters and explore their origins. And one of the things I got very excited about was the idea of looking for ways to do really cool, smaller horror films.
One direction immediately appealed to him: smaller-scale horror films centered on familiar DC characters.
Screenwriter Mike Flanagan then approached Reeves with a particular passion for Clayface, especially the version featured in the animated Batman series.
As development continued, the film evolved into what Reeves describes as a tragic love story with echoes of The Fly and a horror thriller.
After James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, Reeves and the team pitched them the project.
They loved it so much, they wanted to make it one of the DCU movies.
Naomie Ackie on Caitlyn Corr’s Dangerous Ambition
Naomie Ackie, who plays Dr. Caitlyn Corr, describes joining Clayface as a longtime dream fulfilled.
It’s genuinely a dream come true. I have wanted to be in a comic book film since I was like 11!
For Ackie, one of the most compelling elements is the connection between Caitlyn and Matt. Though one is a scientist and the other an actor, both crave recognition and accomplishment.
They are really hungry for acclaim, for being noticed for doing something that makes a difference, especially for Caitlyn.
That shared ambition ultimately creates a dangerous combination.
There’s a bit of a mad scientist about Caitlyn. It’s the similarity in their characters and their desperation to be seen and acknowledged that leads to ambition really getting the better of her.
Tom Rhys Harries Gets Under the Skin of a Shapeshifter
For Tom Rhys Harries, playing a character capable of becoming virtually anyone or anything presented an unusual acting challenge.
I was aware of Clayface as a character from watching the Batman cartoon series when I was younger, Harries says.
The question became how to find the human being underneath such extraordinary abilities.
When we meet Matt in this movie, he has no concept of Clayface. He’s just trying to maintain his life.
At the beginning of the story, Matt appears to have everything he wants, including an ideal career and lifestyle. Harries became interested in what drives that ambition and what might be hiding beneath it.
What I ended up thinking a lot about is the concept of running towards something or running away from something, he explains.
As Matt’s circumstances change, so do his priorities.
I think Matt realizes throughout the film what his priorities are, and what happens to him sort of clarifies certain things for him, which in turn drives him to do the things he does.
With horror, romance, revenge, dark comedy, and character-driven action all colliding, Clayface offers a twisted new look at one of Gotham City’s most distinctive villains.
Some stories endure because they continue to find new ways to be told. This November, one of India’s most revered epics makes its way to the big screen in a lavish new cinematic adaptation.
“Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” opens exclusively at SM Cinemas on November 5, bringing together an acclaimed creative team, a formidable ensemble cast, and the kind of large-scale visual spectacle built for theaters.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama and Yash as Ravana, two figures whose destinies are bound by prophecy, conflict, and forces greater than themselves.
Joining them are Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, and Sunny Deol, rounding out an ensemble that brings some of Indian cinema’s most recognizable names into one ambitious production.
The film follows Rama, a prince whose path is shaped by honor and sacrifice, and Ravana, an immortal king driven by vengeance. As their stories converge, an age-old conflict begins to unfold, one that has been told and retold across generations.
For this new adaptation, the scale is unmistakably cinematic.
The film’s visual effects come from DNEG, the Academy Award-winning studio known for its work on films including “Dune,” “Interstellar,” “Inception,” and “The Odyssey.”
That pedigree adds considerable weight to a story already known for its larger-than-life characters, mythical worlds, and monumental battles.
With DNEG helping shape its visual identity, “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” aims to transform a familiar epic into a richly detailed theatrical experience.
Ranbir Kapoor and Yash Take on Iconic Roles
Bringing Rama and Ravana to life comes with no shortage of expectations.
Ranbir Kapoor steps into the role of Rama, a figure associated with duty, courage, and sacrifice, while Yash takes on Ravana, one of the epic’s most commanding and complex characters.
Their opposing journeys form the dramatic core of the film, setting the stage for a powerful clash shaped not simply by battle, but by belief, destiny, and consequence.
The cast also includes Sai Pallavi, Ravie Dubey, and Sunny Deol, adding further star power to the production.
Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman Join Forces
The film’s sense of scale extends well beyond its visuals.
Its musical score brings together Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, two Academy Award-winning composers whose work has helped define countless memorable cinematic moments.
Zimmer is known for expansive, immersive scores that have powered some of Hollywood’s biggest films, while Rahman has created some of the most celebrated music in Indian and international cinema.
Together, their collaboration adds another compelling layer to a film already designed as a major theatrical event.
Behind the camera is director Nitesh Tiwari, whose “Dangal” became the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide.
With an acclaimed director, an award-winning VFX studio, a high-profile cast, and two legendary composers on board, the production brings together talent from across the global film industry.
The result is shaping up to be a bold new interpretation of a story known to billions.
See “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” at SM Cinemas
From its iconic characters to its sweeping visuals and music, “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” is built as a true big-screen experience.
Moviegoers can catch the film exclusively at SM Cinemas starting November 5, including screenings in IMAX and premium formats. Distributed locally by Columbia Pictures PH.
For audiences familiar with the epic, it offers the chance to see a timeless story reimagined through contemporary filmmaking. For newcomers, it presents an entry point into one of the most influential legends ever told.
Watch the trailer here:
About “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend”
Based on the celebrated ancient epic known to billions, “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” follows Rama, a prince bound by sacrifice; Ravana, an immortal king driven by vengeance; and the prophecy that binds their fates together.
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Ravie Dubey, and Sunny Deol.
When I went to see Pee Mak at the cinema, I was not aware that it is based on Thailand’s highest-grossing film of all time. The Filipino adaptation, directed by Victor Villanueva, follows the original film’s story structure but translates the humor into a style of Filipino slapstick reminiscent of the ’80s comedy of Dolphy comedies, while infusing cultural folklore and making full use of its setting.
Pee Mak follows the story of Mak (Wilbert Ross), a soldier in the heat of battle who returns home with his four friends – Pok (TJ Valderrama), Ayong (Jairus Aquino), Bunak (Gian Bernardino), and their commanding officer Teryo (Vandolph) – only to find something eerie with his wife and newborn child. What he doesn’t know, though shown as the film begins, is that his wife, Pee Nang (Bea Binene), perished during childbirth. While Mak is overjoyed to reunited with his family, his four friends quickly grow suspicious of Pee Nang’s true intentions.
For a film that places Wilbert Ross as one of its lead stars, Pee Mak focuses far more on the four friends and their comical hijinks as they try to determine whether Pee Nang is alive or a ghost. The movie feels more gag-centered than it does as a cohesive story, taking narrative shortcuts to reach its emotional core. Having not seen the original, I wonder if this structure stayed true to the Thai version, but it leaves film feeling very unserious, especially considering it actually has quite a lot to say about family, friendship, and moving on.
With the script’s focus on the funny moments of the friends dealing with the hauntings of Pee Nang, Valderrama, Aquino, Bernardino, and Vandolph seem to be doing most of the heavy lifting. Ross, for three-quarters of the movie, plays a fool who is hopelessly in love with his wife, regardless of how strangely she behaves. It’s mined for its comic potential, but it quickly loses its effect. It doesn’t give him much to do for most of the film, leaving the final act as the only section that allows him to show any real range.
On the flip-side, while Valderrama and Aquino get to have fun, it is Vandolph, showing off his deep experience with this genre who truly stands out. Bernardino’s commitment to the role is also a breath of fresh air; he has a natural comedic timing that works so well on screen, making this a great debut for his first full-length feature. There is an organic, very natural sense of performance from both Vandolph and Bernardino that grounds their comedy amidst the over-the-top, absurd tone the film takes.
In fact, Villanueva leans into the slapstick and punchy joke delivery Pee Mak that it really feels like a tribute or homage to classic comedies. Unfortunately, some of the jokes don’t quite hit as hard as they should, if not due to the performances, then through the sheer relentlessness of it all. The characters aren’t fully fleshed out and tend to become caricatures, so the comedy has a tendency to become impersonal.
The film then twists in the final act to reveal a plot point explored through a montage and a long exposition that kills the film’s momentum. Fortunately, it gives Ross and Binene a chance to show more of their range and humanize their characters, but it comes a little too late in the story. Perhaps if this last-act twist had been the central conflict from the start, the film might have felt more grounded.
My Rating: 2.5 Stars
Is Pee Nang really a ghost, or are four frantic friends just losing their minds? If you’re ready for non-stop ’80s-style slapstick, ghostly hauntings, and laugh-out-loud hijinks in this local version of the hit Thai comedy, gather your barkada, check Pee Makshowtimes near you and buy your ticket now!
The moment Street Fighter begins, it tells you what kind of movie it is and how to receive it. It opens with a flashback sequence fully animated in anime style, packed with all the drama and a brutal fight scene that pits Ryu against Sagat while Ryu’s training partner and best friend, Ken (Noah Centineo), and their master Gouken (Don Lee), watch. Ryu is getting his butt served to him, but he activates a Hadouken that awakens the demon Akuma (Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i). It’s overly dramatic, amplified by the anime styling, and tells us right away that this film will lean into these elements.
As the film moves to its present timeline, it is 1993 and Ryu and Ken have parted ways. Ken has become a flashy fighter, getting endorsement deals through his manager Dan (Andrew Schulz) and becoming a joke to the fighting community. Ryu, meanwhiles, has gone off grid, unseen after winning the first World Warrior Tournament. Ryu and Ken are now estranged, there’s bad blood and a history that is not revealed until much later.
Noah Centineo stars in PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES In Association with CAPCOM. A LEGENDARY PICTURES Production “STREET FIGHTER”
Meanwhile, in the nation of Shadaloo, the dictator M. Bison (David Dastmalchian) is conducting human experiments to extract chi, or power, from humans to boost his own psychopower. But it’s not enough.
David Dastmalchian stars in PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES In Association with CAPCOM. A LEGENDARY PICTURES Production “STREET FIGHTER”
He decides to host the second World Warrior Tournament in order to lure the world’s best fighters, including Ryu, so that he can extract their power to increase his own. He employs Chun-Li (Callina Liang) to recruit the competition’s participants, but M. Bison doesn’t know that Chun-Li has an agenda of her own.
Director Kitao Sakurai on the set of PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES In Association with CAPCOM. A LEGENDARY PICTURES Production “STREET FIGHTER”
Director Kitao Sakurai and screenwriters T. J. Fixman and Sakurai lean into the campy elements of the video game the film is based on, doubling down on the ’90s setting with its use of music and lighthearted tone that integrates so easily that the cast and creative team can have a lot of fun with the material.
Eric André stars in PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES In Association with CAPCOM. A LEGENDARY PICTURES Production “STREET FIGHTER”
The plot follows three main characters – Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li – and no matter where their stories go, the overall aesthetic and tone allow for easy comprehension of the film’s narrative. The plot goes everywhere, but you don’t care because it’s just a lot of fun.
Andrew Koji, left, and Noah Centineo star in PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES In Association with CAPCOM. A LEGENDARY PICTURES Production “STREET FIGHTER”
Street Fighter is not afraid to make fun of itself and to have fun by being whimsical and left-of-center. But when the fight scenes begin, it goes full throttle, delivering geniunely enjoyable fight sequences with sharp choreography and camera coverage that feels as brutal and relentless as the anime flashback that prologues the film.
Callina Liang, left, and Rayna Vallandingham star in PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES In Association with CAPCOM. A LEGENDARY PICTURES Production “STREET FIGHTER”
The editing is quick and fast-paced, yet leaves enough space for you to see that the actors are doing a lot of their own stunts. What makes it equally enjoyable is how it blends live stunts, wirework, and CGI effects to bring game-accurate moves to life, like Chun-Li’s kicks, Ken’s Shoryuken uppercut, Ryu’s Hadouken, and so on.
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, left, and Noah Centineo star in PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES In Association with CAPCOM. A LEGENDARY PICTURES Production “STREET FIGHTER”
And surprisingly, despite all the fun they are having, they still manage to push for a really strong brotherhood storyline between Ken and Ryu. Their estrangement and complicated relationship have a full arc that takes its time before reaching its conclusion. It’s not rushed; it’s given its due, and it allows Koji and Centineo to get some acting work in, aside from showing their moves and their insane physiques.
Vidyut Jammwal, left, and Cody Rhodes star in PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES In Association with CAPCOM. A LEGENDARY PICTURES Production “STREET FIGHTER”
They seem to have a lot of fun playing to the audience’s expectations when it comes to the characters and the fight scenes – with Centineo going full comedy in most parts of the film – but when it comes to the scenes depicting Ryu and Ken’s relationship, they take it seriously enough to give the film its beating heart.
Andrew Shulz, Callina Liang, Andrew Koji and Noah Centineo star in PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES In Association with CAPCOM. A LEGENDARY PICTURES Production “STREET FIGHTER”
The cast is enjoyable to watch, with Centineo, Dastmalchian, and Schulz really hamming it up for full effect. Meanwhile, Koji and Liang possess powerful screen presences, operating on the exact right frequency to act in that they make the film’s tone work seamlessly.
Noah Centineo, left, and Andrew Koji star in PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND LEGENDARY PICTURES In Association with CAPCOM. A LEGENDARY PICTURES Production “STREET FIGHTER”
Street Fighter is an absolute blast and a total joy to watch on the big screen with friends who know the lore and can spot all the Easter Eggs. It’s a solid martial arts film that doesn’t demand much, yet offers so much in return. And out of the many times “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes has been used across any form of media, the film delivers yet another good use of that timeless song.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Hadouken your way to the nearest theater! Don’t miss out on all the action, camp, and ’90s nostalgia. Gather your player twos and click here for Street Fighter showtimes.
