Alapaap (2022) Movie Review – Where to Watch Online
Alapaap (2022), directed by Freidric Macapagal Cortez and created by the renowned Brillante Mendoza, is a film that takes its audience on a hallucinatory journey through the lives of a group of film students who bite off more than they can chew. What begins as a simple documentary project in a secluded town quickly spirals into a dark exploration of addiction, moral decay, and cultural exploitation.
Plot Overview
The movie centers around a group of film students who travel to a remote town to create a short film. Their creative endeavor, however, takes a dark turn when they experiment with a powerful, addictive substance that promises to lift them to “cloud nine.” Instead of enlightenment or inspiration, they find themselves plunged into a nightmarish experience that blurs the lines between reality and hallucination.
Alapaap tackles multiple themes simultaneously, including drug addiction, social injustice, and the ethics of filmmaking. The narrative is split into two distinct halves: the first hour focuses on the hedonistic and chaotic effects of drug use, while the second hour delves into the students’ interactions with the local Banyan tribe and their attempts to document the tribe’s way of life. The film’s structure reflects its chaotic subject matter, with each theme vying for attention, resulting in a dense, albeit somewhat disjointed, viewing experience.
Character Development and Performances
The cast of Alapaap delivers strong performances, bringing their flawed and often unlikeable characters to life with authenticity. Josef Elizalde, Kat Dovey, Ali Asistio, Andrea Garcia, Chesca Paredes, Jaggy Lejano, and Luke Selby each embody their roles convincingly, making the audience believe in their descent into madness. The characters range from a comically pretentious “conyo” type to a spoiled brat who effortlessly elicits both irritation and pity. Their interactions are fraught with tension, highlighting the darker sides of human nature under pressure.
However, the film’s reliance on lengthy narrations to introduce and describe the characters can feel heavy-handed. These narrations, while visually appealing, detract from the natural unfolding of the characters’ stories and preempt the audience’s opportunity to form their own impressions.
Themes and Analysis
Alapaap is ambitious in its thematic scope, attempting to tackle issues such as drug-induced escapism, the moral responsibilities of filmmakers, and the exploitation of indigenous cultures. However, the film’s attempt to juggle these multiple messages results in a narrative that can feel cluttered and overwhelming. Each theme is presented with weight, but none is fully explored to its potential, leaving the audience with a sense of thematic overabundance rather than clarity.
The film’s visual style oscillates between a gritty, documentary-like realism and surreal, gore-filled symbolism. This juxtaposition can be jarring at times, making it difficult for the viewer to fully engage with the narrative. Despite this, Alapaap manages to capture some striking visuals, particularly in its depiction of the students’ drug-induced hallucinations and their interactions with the Banyan tribe.
The film’s critique of the ethical dilemmas faced by filmmakers, particularly in the context of documenting marginalized communities, is one of its more compelling aspects. The students’ exploitation of the Banyan tribe for their own gain serves as a pointed commentary on the often problematic relationship between filmmakers and their subjects.
Cinematography and Direction
Visually, Alapaap is a feast for the eyes, with its rich, vibrant cinematography that contrasts starkly with the dark themes it explores. The film makes effective use of its setting, with the secluded town and its surrounding natural beauty serving as both a picturesque backdrop and a symbol of the characters’ isolation and descent into chaos.
However, the film’s technical execution is not without its flaws. The overuse of fade-ins and fade-outs, along with some unnecessary establishing shots, can disrupt the flow of the narrative. Despite these issues, the film’s direction by Freidric Macapagal Cortez is commendable for its boldness and willingness to push boundaries.
Where to Watch Alapaap (2022) Online
Alapaap (2022) is available for streaming on Vivamax, a popular platform known for its diverse range of Filipino films. Vivamax provides easy access to a wide variety of movies, making it an ideal option for viewers interested in exploring Filipino cinema.
Conclusion
Alapaap (2022) is a film that reaches for the sky in its thematic ambition but doesn’t always succeed in tying its many threads together. The film is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, both in terms of its narrative structure and its thematic content. Despite its flaws, Alapaap stands out among Vivamax’s offerings for its attempt to tackle serious and relevant issues with a level of depth that is often missing from the platform’s more sensationalist fare.
