Before I saw Segunda Mano, I had read a Facebook post on how we shouldn't judge films whether they're technlogically-advanced ripoffs of some other thing, but based on their own merits. This got me in a pretty good set mood for watching horror. After all, horror films- no matter what country they are from, are prone to comparisons with films in the same genre. So I watched Segunda Mano, taking note of its aspects and looking at them in such a way as how they contribute to the story and not how they were perhaps echoes of other films.
Pleasantly, Segunda Mano, to me at least, did not at all seem to channel other films. Sure, The Ring used a similar video flicker effect with the ghost, but that's like saying everything in bullet time is Matrix. So, no. The film rang original to me.
I still really like Kris Aquino as an actress and her portrayals in Feng Shui and Sukob, to me, have always been extraordinary. This was no different. Kris managed to pull off the role of a much-younger-than-she-is single wallflower. At first I was a little ill-at-ease with her quiet demeanor that seemed to scream 'death is coming!' but later having learned some things about her character's past, it all made sense.
Now on to the film itself- without giving too much away- I feel like the film is two separate films- a horror ghost story and a thriller. Unfortunately while it is a splendid thriller, it fails in its horror aspects. I normally don't subscribe to the idea that 'It's a bad horror if it's not scary.' but I feel as if this time it's accurate. The first ever scare in the film had confusing visuals and audio, which didn't make the scene scary, but muddled it.
The jump scares also don't warrant too much 'jump' because of the timing of the scares. The flickering ghost also felt too 'fake' to believe, and the car, while, creepy when it first appeared just standing there, felt less creepy when it started driving (something you'll have to see to believe. I won't spoil!). Some of the ghost's appearances also don't contribute sensibly to the film (such as the choice of how to appear).
However, while it failed in the aspects of trying to be a horror film, let us not forget, I did say it's a thriller- and it delivers! The 'culprit', who I'll not name, will be revealed mid-film, so don't expect plot twists that shock you before the climax. However, this was a case of "I know how it ends and I wanna see how we get there." and the 'culprit' delivers! The 'culprit's' acting singlehandedly darkens the film and creates a thick aura of danger for the entire climax. Definitely a good thriller.
So there, if you wanna watch Segunda Mano, expect a thriller and you may just enjoy yourself. Kris Aquino, Dingdong Dantes, Angelica Panganiban, Helen Gamboa and Bangs Garcia all made good with the material they were given. Enjoy Segunda Mano for their performances, not the scares.
