Expressway (film)

Expressway
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAto Bautista
Screenplay byShugo Praico
Story by
  • Ato Bautista
  • Shugo Praico
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyGian Vargas Caluag
Edited byBenjamin Tolentino
Music byFrancis de Veyra
Production
companies
  • Centerstage Productions
  • Strawdogs Studio Production
  • Waveslicer Productions
Distributed by
Release dates
  • April 22, 2016 (2016-04-22) (Sinag Maynila)[1]
  • October 6, 2016 (2016-10-06) (Busan)
Running time
94 minutes[2]
CountryPhilippines
Languages
  • Filipino
  • English

Expressway is a 2016 Filipino independent action thriller film co-produced and directed by Ato Bautista and co-written by Shugo Praico. Starring Alvin Anson and Aljur Abrenica, the story follows Ben, a hitman on his last job, who is forced to partner with the young and psychotic Morris on the road to his three targets.

The film was first released as an entry to the 2nd Sinag Maynila Film Festival on April 22, 2016, where it won three awards, including Best Actor (Anson). It was later screened at the 21st Busan International Film Festival.

Plot

A hitman named Ben and his young and psychotic partner Morris are sent on a mission to go to the house of Budoy and Kato. When Ben and Morris arrive, they quietly invade Budoy and Kato's house and silently kill the sleeping mother, thinking this is the best way to die. Afterwards, they look at the sleeping children and decide to spare them. As they return to their car, a stubborn Morris returns to the house, alerting the children to wake up, and forces the former and Ben to kill the children. Ben regrets killing the children because of Morris' stubbornness.

The next day, Ben is haunted by his son’s death as he finds out who was responsible for killing his son. Meanwhile, Colonel gives Ben one last job to kill Tatang before he can escape. While on the job, Morris recounts his flashback story of his father teaching him how to use a .38 Caliber revolver. Morris sees two people staring at him, so he attempts to kill them, but Ben stops Morris. Ben arrives at Tatang's place and reluctantly attempts to kill him, but fails and decides to spare him.

Ben retires as a hitman by leaving his gun in the church. However, Tatang orders Botod and his gang to kill Ben and Morris, forcing them to fight back. Morris manages to kill Botod and save Ben, but blames him for almost getting themselves killed. A stubborn and psychotic Morris steals Ben's car and kills the two people that he crashed into.

At the end of the movie, Morris tells another flashback story of how a kid killed a clueless child with his father's gun, revealing that he was the one who killed Ben's son in revenge after Ben killed Morris’s father. This forces Ben to kill Morris to avenge his son, however, Morris shoots Ben first. Another gunshot was heard and a car was driven at sunrise. It is unknown who was killed and who was driving.

Cast

  • Alvin Anson as Ben[3]
  • Aljur Abrenica as Morris[3]
    • Jahren Estordue as young Morris
  • Erick Samonte as Tatang
  • Japo Parcero as Princess Red
  • Jim Libiran as Botod
  • Allan Equalan as Budoy
  • Rose Atienza as Budoy's wife
  • Kim Atienza as Budoy's son
  • Danica Siner as Budoy's daughter
  • Inez Bernardo Young Ben’s wife
  • Arpee Bautista as Morris’ father
  • Kiko Matos as Kato
  • Nica Naval as Kato’s Girlfriend
  • Nathaniel Rocca as Ben’s son
  • Ato Bautista as the voice of Colonel

Production

Actor Alvin Anson first revealed plans for a thriller film called Expressway on September 26, 2015, stating that shooting will start in October.[4]

In January 2016, filmmaker Brillante Mendoza stated that the film was included as an entry to the 2nd Sinag Maynila Film Festival, of which he co-founded with Solar Entertainment Corporation head Wilson Tieng.[5][6]

Release

Expressway was released on April 22, 2016, in select SM Cinemas as an entry to the 2nd Sinag Maynila Film Festival organized by Solar Entertainment Corporation.[3][1] Later in October, the film was screened at the 21st Busan International Film Festival.[1]

Critical response

Elizabeth Kerr of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a mixed review, stating that the film is "a by-the-numbers noir thriller.... [T]he film could have used a more vivid sense of place. When the inevitable conclusion rolls around, it doesn't pack a wallop so much as a knowing shrug."[2]

Accolades

Group Category Name Result
Sinag Maynila[7] Best Actor Alvin Anson Won
Best Musical Score Francis de Veyra Won
Best Editing Benjamin Tolentino Won

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sinag Maynila (April 20, 2016). "SCREENING SCHEDULE". Facebook. Meta Platforms, Inc. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Kerr, Elizabeth (October 18, 2016). "'Expressway': Film Review | Busan 2016". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Sinag Maynila 2016 at SM Cinemas". Philstar.com. Manila, Philippines: Philstar Global Corp. April 14, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  4. ↑ TechKuya (September 26, 2015). "Heneral Luna behind-the-scenes: Alvin Anson reveals most memorable moments during shooting [video]". Astig.ph. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  5. ↑ Llanera, Melba R. (January 26, 2016). "Brillante Mendoza spearheads 2nd Sinag Maynila Film Fest that will run from April 21–26". PEP.ph (in English and Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  6. ↑ San Diego, Bayani Jr. (February 14, 2016). "Sinag Maynila goes pop". Inquirer Entertainment. INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  7. ↑ Cahiles, Gerg (April 24, 2016). "'Mrs.' wins big in the 2nd Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival". CNN Philippines. Nine Media Corp. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.