Picture a serene drive through the countryside, accompanied by the beautiful yet haunting voice of '70s singer Yolly Samson, as you hum along, completely undisturbed — except for the unsettling presence of a lifeless body slouched in the backseat.
No, you're not watching a horror film.
Nadine Lustre's action-thriller Roadkillers went for the kill right away to jumpstart its plot written and directed by Rae Red (Birdshot, Eerie).
Roadkillers will premiere on the streaming site Viva One starting on March 1, 2024.
Previously, Roadkillers was seen on Amazon Prime Video from November to December 2023.
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ROADKILLERS: SYNOPSIS
Stacey (Nadine) is a young, headstrong woman embroiled in a series of dilemmas with life-altering consequences.
First, a desperate Stacey sneaks inside a hospital and pulls off a horrific act for the sake of her ailing father, Renato (Bodjie Pascua).
Things take a turn for the worse after Stacey loses her father's corpse placed in the trunk of her car.
All bets are off from here on.
Who steals Stacey's dead dad? Why would someone take an interest in a cadaver of a poor car mechanic from a sleepy town?
Layer after layer, Stacey discovers her father's many secrets such as his involvement with a corrupt and ruthless public official and its connection to her own life growing up.
The entry of Marco (Jerome Ponce) tilts the narrative in another direction, uncovering more dirt and the extent of Renato's duplicity.
As it turns out, Stacey and Marco couldn't have been more different from each other.
Yet, the circumstances that lead them to the dark path also diverge, with Marco arguing that Stacey shares unwittingly her father's morals or lack thereof.
Their experiences lead them both to the path of vengeance and it's just a matter of time before they unleash their wrath against each other.
The story finishes almost the same way as it started: Stacey driving on an open road outside the city.
Feeling exhausted and nursing a fresh wound on her stomach, Stacey collapses in a ditch that she herself made to accomplish her mission.
It is a disturbing yet oddly comforting scene, made poignant by the nostalgic voice of Yolly Samson from the iconic band Cinderella singing in the background, "If you could only hear me say, mahal kita," says the lyrics.
Under the bright day sky, Stacey lies on the ground motionless in a fetal position with her eyes closed.
The sight leaves more questions than answers and you ponder about the fate that awaits Stacey.
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THE VERDICT
The idea for Roadkillers came to Rae at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns that came after.
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There are many references to this period, none more pronounced than in the hospital scenes where patients, companions, and staff are required to don face masks and full hazmat suits while inside the premises of the facility.
One of the scenes referenced the protocols prevalent during the time: patients who died because of the coronavirus were subject to cremation immediately.
True to form, the film emits this feeling of gloom and uncertainty, lending the storytelling extra roughness.
The many flashback scenes allow the narrative to establish the backstories of the characters involved and the events that ultimately led them to their fates.
Nadine shines as Stacey and you can tell that she delved deep into her character to give it justice, both flaws and strengths.
As a viewer, it's hard at times to develop sympathy for Stacey — this despite her admirable love for her father — given her questionable decisions.
Not that she's asking for empathy either, and that's what you have to love about Stacey — she's tough, audacious, and doesn't give a damn about what people think about her. Isn't that how an action heroine should be?
Nadine said that she wanted to do action movies to show off her range as an actress, and she didn't disappoint. This is Nadine at her rawest and grittiest.
It's easy to see that Roadkillers is a social and political commentary, which makes sense considering its pandemic period backdrop.
To some extent, It succeeds in delivering its message, which easily resonates given the growing discontent in the government over the past few years.
On the other hand, there are moments when it falls victim to cliche representations common in Filipino action flicks. But this is too little of a concern and viewers can let this slide.
Roadkillers doesn't reinvent the wheel of local action films but boasts a compelling blend of suspense, unexpected turns, violence, and imagination to keep viewers invested from start to finish.
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