Violator (stylized as VIOLA†OR) is a 2014 Filipino psychological horror film written and directed by Eduardo "Dodo" Dayao.[1] It stars Victor Neri, Anthony Falcon, RK Bagatsing, Timothy Mabalot, Andy Bais, and Joel Lamangan. It premiered at the Cinema One Originals film festival, where it won Best Editing, Best Picture, Best Sound, and Best Supporting Actor for Bais. At the Gawad Urian Awards, it won Best Sound and was nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Supporting Actor for Lamangan.

Violator
Film poster
Directed byEduardo "Dodo" Dayao[1]
Written byEduardo "Dodo" Dayao
Produced by
  • Tonee Acejo
  • Lawrence S. Ang
  • Eduardo "Dodo" Dayao[1]
Starring
Cinematography
  • Gym Lumbera
  • Albert Banzon
  • Timmy Harn (VHS)
Edited byLawrence S. Ang
Music by
  • Ace Cada
  • Marcushiro Nada
Production
companies
  • Cinema One Originals
  • Quiapost
  • Is It Safe?
Release date
Running time
101 minutes
CountryPhilippines
Languages
  • Filipino
  • English

Premise

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At the height of a super-typhoon that could well be the first wave of an impending Apocalypse, five men take refuge in a flooded-in police station and spend the rest of the night with a prisoner who may or may not be the Devil.

Cast

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Production

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Writer-director Dayao is a film critic, and Violator is his directorial debut. He says the step was natural to him, though he accepts others find it less so. When casting the film, Dayao consciously cast the actors against type. All of the actors were his first choices, and they all took the roles that he desired.[2]

Release

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Violator premiered on November 10, 2014, at the Cinema One Originals film festival.[3]

Reception

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Derek Elley of Film Business Asia rated the film 6 out of 10 stars and, while calling it an impressive debut, wrote that it "is stronger on technique than actual content".[3] Richard Kuipers of Variety wrote, "This stylishly assembled Filipino chiller creates plenty of intrigue but can't quite deliver a knockout punch."[1] Michael Atkinson of The Village Voice called it "an apocalyptic creep-out as heavy with atmosphere and portent as a doomsday sermon".[4] Todd Brown of Twitch Film called it "a gorgeously executed and tightly controlled exercise in religious dread".[5]

Awards
Year Organization Award Awardee Result Ref
2014 Cinema One Originals Best Sound Corinne De San Jose Won [6]
Best Editing Lawrence Ang
Best Supporting Actor Andy Bais
Best Film Violator
2015 Gawad Urian Award Best Sound Corinne De San Jose [7]
Best Supporting Actor Joel Lamangan Nominated [8]
Best Cinematography Alber Banzon and Gym Lumbera
Best Editing Lawrence Ang

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Kuipers, Richard (November 29, 2015). "Film Review: 'Violator'". Variety. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  2. ^ Punongbayan, Stefan (November 15, 2014). "Supreme radar: The horror of Dodo Dayao: Watch out for this film critic-turned-filmmaker". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Elley, Derek (December 26, 2014). "Violator". Film Business Asia. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  4. ^ Atkinson, Michael (July 2, 2015). "This Year's Asian Film Festival Is Restrained, but Only by Its Standards". The Village Voice. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  5. ^ Brown, Todd (November 22, 2014). "Cinema One 2014 Review: Dodo Dayao's VIOLATOR Is A Masterful Exercise In Mounting Dread". Twitch Film. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "Angelica Panganiban wins Best Actress at Cinema One Originals 2014 film fest". Philippine Entertainment Portal. November 16, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  7. ^ Red, Isah V. (June 20, 2015). "Nora Aunor is Urian's lifetime achievement awardee". The Standard. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  8. ^ "2015 Gawad Urian nominees bared". The Philippine Star. May 22, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
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