Noting Lessons from 'Seklusyon'

On the theatrical release poster of the Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Seklusyon” is written the question: “Sapat na ba ang dasal mo laban sa pagsubok ng demonyo?” From then on I was intrigued about what was hidden inside this horror-thriller film until I was able to watch it and see for myself the horror that lies in it.

            Honestly, I decided to watch Seklusyon only because of a second thought. Horror films aren’t really my thing, much more the local ones. I just decided to because I was informed that it was a story about clerical affairs which I believe would uplift my interests since it would be catering me a story which is somehow in parallel with what I am familiar with – priestly and religious matters.

            The very first scene of the movie showed a man on a confession box and from then on I knew I would be having a really good time watching it. The main story frame shows that Seklusyon is a story about the preparation for an upcoming ordination to the priesthood. It was a seven-day seclusion of four deacons in order for them to be prepared spiritually against the temptations of the devil, making that daunting question in its poster very much suitable.

            Watching Seklusyon brought a bit of awkwardness in me, I guess. I have felt very much the relation of the story to that of mine and I believe that was the reason why I felt awkward somehow. Seeing many people watching the story felt like they were at the same time watching me. To have been able to witness the deacons’ negative side like that of Marcos’ when he portrayed his gluttonous attitude by bringing extra food in his room was fun because it was something I myself can attest to its trueness yet on the other hand it was embarrassing to realize that people who see seminarians and priests as nearly as perfect would see the naughty side we’ve got. Another is that of Fabian’s dilemma with his mother and that of Miguel and his relationship issues with Erina. All of these are the realities even we ourselves who are involved are having a hard time to accept.

These were the faces of the other side of seminarians and priests and moreover, this is the reality that everyone should face. To be optimistic, I think it’s a good thing that people was able to see that being involved in the clerical world doesn’t reduce even a bit of humanity. Despite the shame that it brings to us seminarians and priests, it’s the reality that should be faced dauntlessly.

Believe me when I say that Seklusyon is one of the films that left a mark in my mind. I’m saying this not to uplift the film too much that I want you to think it was perfect and flawless. I’m saying this because I want to share that out of all the movies that I was able to watch, this is one of those which portrayed a really good story. It was good in the sense that what it portrayed contains reality and that it left a message and a lesson that one should not forget to take note.

I wouldn’t consider Seklusyon as a horror film if the basis would be the movie’s creepiness. Seriously, Seklusyon wasn’t scary at all (as I have expected from a Filipino horror film). For me, it was a horror because of the story about reality that it brought. That was the thing that made the film able to send chills in the spines of those who watched it.

There were so many points that the story was sending us viewers. One of them was the message brought by the character of Anghela, which was played by the very cute and adorable Rhed Bustamante. The kid was the figure of the devil in the movie. She was a false-prophet and she was the one who made the temptations for the deacons worse. These things were the ones we’ve seen yet underneath these lies the reality of the problems all of us have. Anghela’s lines brought me to pondering about the problems of humanity.

Ang "bulaang propeta"... Anghela Sta. Ana

“Hindi mo naman kailangang tiisin ang gutom mo”. “Ayaw ng Diyos na nahihirapan ka.” “Wala namang mali sa ginagawa mo.”

They’re warm, Anghela’s words. They we’re comforting, consoling, yet they are the reason why problems of every people gets worse. These words make us people much worse.

You see, the deacons represent the face of humanity, struggling against the temptations brought by the devil in the face of Anghela. But then, we must see that in the very first place the conflict starts within our very selves. The negative side of the deacons represents ours as well. It’s in those conflicts that the devil lingers on. Those were our little devils. Another reality is that we know every single one of those conflicts and yet we do nothing about it, just like the deacons not being able to confess their grave sins and their impure intentions that the devils were able to sneak on them.

All of these conflicts were made worse by Anghela’s presence. We’ve heard her words and admit it or not her words sound totally right. But then, underneath it lies the very reality that makes our humanity so frail. It’s given now that the problems of humanity boil within us and that we are not doing anything about it. But here comes many Anghelas, who offer us consoling words and makes us think that our ignorance on problems are completely right, the Anghelas of our lives, who tries to make us see that we don’t need to suffer to achieve an end which would bring us good. Many like her make a point that we humans should only have as our option the things which are pleasurable and that we should avoid suffering even if it can bring us good in the long run. These are the things she offers, and these are the things we buy. We choose the apparent good over the actual good. We ignore our problems and then we believe that it’s good to do so. This makes Seklusyon scary. This is what makes our lives scary.

The ending of the film brought the biggest chill in my spine. The deacons with the exception of Miguel were ordained as priests while not being aware that they were under Anghela’s influence. They were ordained, thinking that they were prepared and that they have overcome the temptations of the devil. This is the scariest of all. They’ve become priests without being able to surpass temptations and being totally ignorant of the conflicts inside them. They’ve become priests while not being able to understand the value of suffering and sacrifices. Most of all, they’ve become priests while having the idea that every choice that they would make should would be for the apparent good and not for the actual one.

This is the real horror. This is Seklusyon. To you my readers, I have a question:

“Sapat na ba ang dasal mo laban sa pagsubok ng demonyo?”

(Written last January 15, 2017 as a feature article for the Rosary Sentinel.. a review of the movie Seklusyon)