HOOQ Presents the Celebrity Premier of “SEKLUSYON”

”Sapat na ba ang dasal mo?”

After the critically acclaimed “On The Job – OTJ” movie that gained a lot of praises and positive criticisms as well as it's subsequent partnership with HOOQ to produce a six-part series based on the film, Reality Entertainment once again partnered with the video-on-demand app in bringing another nerve-racking masterpiece by the Award Winning Director Erik Matti entitled - SEKLUSYON. The film is an official entry in the upcoming 42nd Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Likewise, It has garnered positive reviews from its international premier at the recent Macau International Film Festival.

HOOQ Team with the cast of Seklusyon and Direk Erik Matti

On its Philippine Premier held at the Cinema 10 of SM Mega Mall last December 22, 2016, Director Erik Matti and the rest of the cast took time to hold a press conference that was attended by various members of the media. In the conference, Direk Erik highlighted his idea of honing great talents in the newbies, which makes most of the film's cast members as rookies in the film industry who possess promising acting talents.

Director Erik Matti

SEKLUSYON stars Ronnie Alonte, Niel Ryan Sese, Lou Veloso, Rhed Bustamante, Phoebe Walker, Elora Espana, Dominique Roque, John Vic De Guzman, and JR Versales. These young talented actors were also in full-force at the press conference and each made their own take on how this movie affected their careers in show business and the life lessons they learned from an award-winning director like Erik Matti.

Producer Dondon Monteverde

The film's plot was set in the mid 1940’s and it was a story of four young deacons who were about to take their vows of priesthood. As part of the church ritual, a deacon must first undergo SEKLUSYON (Seclusion), wherein all four will be exposed to their own “past-demons” and hidden baggage of sins that continue to haunt them. These haunting and tempting will last for seven days inside a remote fortress before they are ordained as priests.

Ronnie Alonte as "Miguel"

The story revolves in the "humaness" and mortal realm of priesthood, that despite the protection of their divine cloaks, they are still human nonetheless and are susceptible to fall into sin. However, it also teaches the audience to be watchful and be diligent in engaging with so-called "divine entities" that are actually "False Prophets" or wolves hiding in sheep's clothing. It also prompts the viewers to reflect on the movie's tagline - "Sapat na ba ang dasal mo?" (Is your prayer enough?), because the movie demonstrated how prayers are deemed useless if not coupled with faith and action as mentioned in the Bible in the book of James.
 

Rhed Bustamante as "Anghela"

SEKLUSYON is the only horror-themed film entry in the MMFF. In the press meeting, Direk Erik was asked why did he make and release such a movie in December while many are in the mood of imbibing the spirit of Christmas. He expounded that the movie impresses a similar parallelism in the life of every Christian-Catholic who faces all sorts of tests and temptations every day. Much more to the festive attitude during Christmas, it’s also the season of “tests” on how strong our Christian faith is in relation to how each one relives the life of Christ to the people around us.

Phoebe Walker as "Sister Cecilia"

After the press conference, guests and media proceeded in the premier screening of the film at SM Megamall's Cinema 10. SEKLUSYON was well received by fans, celebrities, and members of the media. With these impressions, we can certainly hope for more from the creative mind of Director Erik Matti in the near future. He and the rest of the cast of SEKLUSYON invites everyone to watch not just their movie, but the rest of the entries in MMFF as well.

Lou Veloso as "Sandoval"

HOOQ on the other hand, will likewise continue to partner with high integrity outfits such as Reality Entertainment and high caliber film makers in bringing to its audience nothing but quality local films that uplift Filipino talents. Presently, HOOQ is the home of the largest collection of Pinoy movies and TV series spanning almost five decades including close to a hundred winners and finalists of the Metro Manila Film Festival such as “Baler”, “Tanging Yaman”, “Mulawin the Movie”, “Muro-Ami” and many more.