Aswang (2019) User Reviews

Horrifying. Sickening. Pitiful.

[micleofas · 9/10 · 14 July 2020]

The documentary makes the viewers experience the war on drugs on different perspectives and it's a grueling experience. The story of an Aswang was once a tale to scare children to not go out at night or sleep early. It is still today just that it became a metaphorical substitute for our crooked policemen, politicians, and president.

The documentary tackled a lot of aspects on how the war on drugs affects the lives of different people but what hit me the most is in how it affects children. Innocence is lost in a very early age. Instead of playing the usual piko, taguan, luksong baka or tumbang preso, they role play on how the police scares people in their neighborhood. Instead of hearing stories about the mythical creature Aswang showing up during the night, they hear stories on how the police hunts at night. They hear stories about people in their neighborhood being held behind a cabinet in a police station. They hear stories about funeral homes have overflowing hunted bodies. They see an Aswang in TV cursing and giving people a license to kill. I'm really worried for these children. They are too young to know or even experience these events in their lives.

Yes, probably the only way to end all of this mess is to face our fears of our childhood villain.

Same monsters, different skins

[dyangiron · 8/10 · 12 July 2020]

"Noong umuusbong pa lang itong lungsod, nanahan na sa lupain ito ang halimaw. Tinawag na aswang, nagbabalatkayo at pumapatay ng tao. Namamatay ang tumititig sa kanyang mga mata kaya't wag titingin. Ngunit ang mga kwento lang, mga dating panakot lang ng mga matatanda, nagkatotoo na yata."

Growing up, we were told to be afraid of monsters. We were taught fear. That fear was used to make us comply and act according to what they want.

We grew up and realized that all those winged demons, supernatural beasts, and fanged cryptids were all fiction...but were they really? Yes, monsters do slaughter people, and they sow fear into the hearts of many but they do not appear as what we thought they would. They exist but as wolves in sheep's clothing. They're those whom we've given our hope, trust, and security. We see them wear blue on the streets and inside their vehicles.

Aswang is a documentary film that provides perspective on the actual grounds of the common people, where EJK and abuse of power were more personal. The film's narration of an "aswang" was used as an allegory of these monstrosities. We are given the reality of the evils that are committed under the corrupt culture of fear and death created under the watch of the current administration. This is just not a story. This is our reality. The film repeatedly emphasizes that we are taught to be afraid but some stand up to these monsters and that is were change begins.

This film is relevant to watch today especially with the signing of the Anti Terrorism Act and the oppression of press freedom as it is an eye-opener with the vile and inhumane acts that are seemingly without consequences to the abusers.