One of the things I least expected from the Metro Manila Film Festival was an all-out action film. So imagine my surprise when Topakk was announced for MMFF 50. The film, jointly produced by Nathan Studios, Strawdogs Studio Production, FUSEE and Theo & Atlas Productions, follows the story of a soldier-turned-security-guard suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, as he helps a woman outrun a group of corrupt police involved in drug cartel and extrajudicial killings.
Directed by Richard Somes, Topakk was the lone action film in the official entries of 50th MMFF, starring Arjo Atayde as Miguel Vergara, Julia Montes as Weng Diwata, Kokoy De Santos as Bogs Diwata, and Sid Lucero as Romero. After it flew outside the country for various international film festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival in Italy, Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, and Fantastic Fest in Texas, it’s now in Philippine cinemas for Filipinos to appreciate. But does it live up to the hype and promise of its crazy title? Check out this High Five review to find out. Spoilers ahead.
Complementing Contrasts
Still from Nathan Studios Inc.
The film plays with contrasting conflicts—those of internal origins and those manifesting in external enemies. The opening scene of the film shows us Miguel Vergara (Atayde), a soldier willing to fight with his platoon against notorious bandits in the forest. Fast forward to the present and Miguel—now a security guard—is suffering PTSD from the fight, which affects all his decisions, especially with regards to helping Weng (Montes) and Bogs (De Santos)—siblings on the run from a corrupt police force out to hunt them down. Throughout the film, we see Miguel try to escape his internal demons, the constant occurrence of his past traumas in the present, while Weng tries to outrun the worldly devils that want to chase and kill them.
Miguel and Weng contrast each other as the former’s calm behavior and the latter’s distraught desperation amplifies the tension right before the fight scenes start. But as soon as the characters find their footing and the need to fight or flee arises, both characters end up on the same page to defend their survival. This makes for a perfect foil that increases the tension and hype surrounding each of the films set pieces—the fight scenes.
Explosive Fight Scenes
Still from Nathan Studios Inc.
To say that the fight scenes make this movie is an understatement. If you’re looking for intense action involving guns, knives, and everything in between, then this is for you. The fast-paced gun fu is impactful and complemented well by dynamic camera movements, beautiful lighting, explosive sound design and amazing practical effects. The choreography makes each fight seem deliberate and calculated for maximum bloodshed, while unique weapons like power saws and even flashlights were used to creative effect. Overall, the fight scenes really do make this film a spectacle for any self-respecting action movie connoisseur.
Cohesive Storytelling Elements
Still from Nathan Studios Inc.
To produce an action film is not an easy feat, since one must consider multiple factors to be in sync in every frame. At every turn of event, Topakk further proves that it has a handle on the action movie formula with a mixture of cinematography, choreography and sound design that lets viewers feel and hear the vivid brutality of each moment. The cohesiveness of each film element makes for tense moments of action and rest that tells the story of Topakk perfectly.
Motivations that Make Sense
Still from Nathan Studios Inc.
In a lot of films, characters seem to have their motivations based purely on stereotypes or cliches. Topakk takes care to show the audience that each character has their own story to tell: why Miguel chose to fight and help Weng and Bogs; why the siblings accepted the job given to them by a gangster; and why Romero insists on killing Weng and Bogs.
Through these portrayals, one could see who these characters are as people. This also presents a new perspective on women in action films, particularly Montes as Weng, who is not just a damsel in distress, but a loving sister willing to fight for her loved ones even if it could cost her life. While the film is heavily bolstered by the action scenes, it does not only rely on violence to make it a good movie, but also each characters’ intentions makes for a solid foundation to the story.
Acting Chops on Display
Still from Nathan Studios Inc.
While acting isn’t the first thing that people look for in an action movie, this film has it in spades with Sid Lucero, Julia Montes, Kokoy De Santos and Arjo Atayde. Sid as corrupt police officer Romero is surprisingly a family man who will go to any lengths to save his family. Julia and Kokoy are believable as siblings, with a standout performance by Julia as Weng, whose love and concern for her brother is felt throughout all her lines. Kokoy, on the other hand, plays the role of an obedient brother well. Arjo performs his role with a deep voice that takes some getting used to, but serves its purpose well—you know things will get messy once he loses his calm voice and cool facade. Miguel is portrayed as an unstoppable killing machine, but as such, loses some of his charm as a protagonist due to his lack of emotions—all understandable due to his past trauma.
Overall, Topakk offers a fresh take on Filipino action films, creating a chaotic and brutal world worthy of praise for its technical excellence and amazing performances. While the film does feel like it loses a bit of its momentum in the second act due to its straightforward storytelling approach, it sticks the landing in the third act with the last fight scene, making for a truly suspenseful finale. SEA Wave gives Topakk 7 out 10 waves.