06/06/2025
MOVIE REVIEW: UNINVITED (2024)
A gritty, emotion-driven revenge movie—flawed in some areas, but still gripping and absolutely worth the watch. The real stars here are the performances of Vilma Santos and Aga Mulach. And damn, Aga stole the show. He played an unhinged, power-drunk sexual predator with terrifying conviction. Of course, Vilma is Vilma—IMO the greatest actress in Philippine cinema, and this film reminds me why.
Some people criticize the lack of development for Aga’s character. But honestly, I don’t think the film needed to do more. He’s a wealthy, untouchable serial ra**st and murderer. That’s all we need to know—he’s evil, and he has to die. The simplicity works in this case.
The only emotionally fleshed-out characters were Vilma’s and Nadine Lustre’s (and to an extent, Aga’s). Vilma, naturally, is the emotional core of the film. The movie is really about a mother’s burning, grief-fueled obsession for justice. It does a fantastic job showing Vilma’s love, codependence, and longing for her murdered daughter.
Nadine’s character arc was developed hastily, but just enough to justify her motivations. It works, for me. I do not need to pity her or hate Aga further.
The rest of the characters are basically plot devices—the cheating wife, the traitorous right-hand man, the murdered daughter. They're necessary for the story, but don’t expect depth. The most notable among the supporting roles is Tirso Cruz’s character, the high-ranking police officer Red Zaldarriaga. His subtle involvement in Vilma’s revenge plot was a smart directorial choice. The film never spoon-feeds it, but if you pay attention, it's clear: he provided the information, the party invitation (and who to impersonate), and even the “training.”
But This is NOT an Action Movie
“Uninvited” isn’t trying to be Taken or Nobody. It’s not about showcasing Vilma’s character as an action hero. In fact, one of my biggest gripes is how implausible it was for a small, elderly woman to take down a large, dangerous man in close-quarters combat with a knife. That stretched believability. A more realistic approach—say, poisoning him with ricin, cyanide, or whatever—would’ve made more sense. She's not a trained melee fighter; she's a grieving mother.
Aside from that, most plot points felt grounded. The film remains committed to its tone: this is an emotionally charged revenge drama, not a badass-grandma action flick.
A Few Minor Flaws
Some dialogues felt awkward and unnatural, but not enough to ruin the experience. However, one scene really bugged me: the money shower party scene. That was tacky as hell. Was that party attended by tasteless and classless guests or what?
Final Thoughts
Despite its flaws, Uninvited is a strong entry in the Filipino crime drama genre. It made me hopeful about the future of Pinoy filmmaking. Vilma is magnetic, Aga is disturbing in the best way, and the story—while not perfect—is emotionally compelling.
Highly recommended if you like revenge films with soul and grit.
