The Heiress Employs a Bland Narrative

In The Heiress (a 2019 Filipino horror film which just started streaming in Netflix last week), Maricel Soriano plays Aunt Luna, a mambabarang (a sorcerer in local folklore) who would do everything in her power to keep her niece, the titular character Guia (Janella Salvador), for the coven, even if it means sacrificing her own sister and Guia’s mother, Carmen (Sunshine Cruz).

The movie offers nothing new to the genre. The story is not something we have not seen yet. In fact, almost everything in the film is a rehash of past movies. The tension build-up falters early on, with the hideous supernatural being revealed from the start. I don’t understand why even the supposedly jump scares (and there are not many of them) are executed in a slow fashion defeating their purpose. And Aunt Luna’s character, supposed to provide the foundation for horror, is made to act and look like a piece of wood, always dressed in black, with a stern face displaying only one expression.

Good thing the scenes showing gore and breaking bones are painstakingly done and quite enjoyable (I know, I’m weird).  And Salvador’s charm shines through. Whether she’s the vulnerable girl slowly allowing herself to be pursued by a suitor (McCoy de Leon), or the confused niece feeling imprisoned by her Aunt’s tough care, or the daughter yearning for her mom’s return but unable to express it, or the heiress who has mustered enough strength and courage to fight the evil about to consume her, Salvador is on top of her game. Meanwhile, Cruz and de Leon provide good support.

Soriano, on the other hand, delivers a somewhat calculated performance, seemingly following the director’s instructions.  It may have worked better if she is given some space to play around Luna’s motivation. Benevolent gestures at the start may have provided a much needed buttress to what could have been a rousing switch toward malevolent intentions. Alas, Luna’s attempt at playing with Guia’s guilt during their final confrontation has zero impact.

As it is, the film offers a straightforward bland narrative without any interesting twists.