After finding out Katrina is pregnant, her boyfriend Paul wants her to have an abortion, but that doesn’t sit well with Katrina. Cut: to a lawyer’s office where Katrina is sitting with a young couple interested in something a little odd. As Katrina sign’s all rights of her baby over to the couple, that’s not the only thing she must do. She must play out the role of her life, and for nothing either, there’s money involved, loads of it. Of course with the cash symbol dangling in her eyes, she can’t refuse the offer no matter how odd it may be. The offer, well Katrina must pretend to be Peter Null’s wife so he can inherit the family fortunes, see Peter can’t without a heir. Seven months later, the two of them are off to the family estate to visit Peter’s ailing mother who is under the care of a close longtime family friend and servant Cupid. As her stay stretches, the strange nightmares become ever so clearer. Piece by piece, the family secret unravel and with them a trail of mysterious deaths.

Now this is one of those uniquely filmed zero-budgeted gems that are often a diamond in the ruff when it comes to the masses in the US film industry. Two directors working their butts off and having a finished product to actually display all the sweat and blood they poured into it. It does pay off, at least in this situation, not only were both Wrye Martin and Barry Poltermann able to get this project done, but getting it to be the first horror film every to be shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 1994. The amazing part doesn’t stop there either, the unique aspect of this film is it’s strange content. Be able to bring a scary traditional folklore from the Philippines and ejecting into small town USA and still making it believable. The folklore being that of the Aswang, a Filipino creature that part human in appearance , the inside being the creature that craves the human heart and liver, especially that of a new born baby. Although pretty much true the nature of this myth Martin and Poltermann tweak with the little aesthetics of the creature’s human and unhuman appearances. Rightly so given that this is indeed a myth. Their verison of the Aswang is of course human, many because of budget and well they are supposed to look human. The difference is that the human shell if you will can be shed in do part to the fact it has wings and can fly. Also, it’s tongue can stretch or grow to great lengths, the use of it is primarily to feed on the human heart and liver. They capture their pray much like that of a spider, spinning it into a web of silky substance that pretty much breaks down the human skin. Ok, now this review seems more like history or folklore class in school onto the rest of the film!

Although Aswang didn’t have the impact of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it does however have the feel of true all-American cult classic. This film was virtually unknown to myself and I’m sure there are many like me in that situation. Heck, you’re probably reading this going "Man, I have to check this one out" or "I never heard of this film before". Well, no wonder, soon after it's brief theatre run, no video distrubutor would dare touch this film in fear of it's contents. Please, as far as I can see, that my friends is going a tad off the dead-end.  Sure, there are a few disturbing scenes, but nothing that would warrant this type of behaviour, there are several other films that touch base with several taboos and all that other "not for the general public to see" bullshit that I could name, that did get a video release! Whatever the situation maybe kudos once again to Mondo Macabro for releasing yet another rare gem.

The main element of this film that really struck me as a viewer was the amazing range and talent of actor Norman Moses, who at the times was pretty much a stage actor doing his first and only film gig, at least to my knowledge it was. It’s incredible that no one else bothered to give this guy more work, he was totally whacked out crazy in the role of Peter, but yet able to get quickly get back into that sane mode. He reminds me of Anthony Perkins in Hitchcock’s Psycho. Moses wasn’t the only one fresh to the screen, pretty much the whole cast was broken in with Aswang. I believe the only actor to continue working in film is Tina Ona Paukstelis (Katrina) who has starred in a few other b-horror flicks like Jason Paul Collum’s DARK SOUL (1996) and JULIA WEPT (2000), both were straight to video releases. Anyhow, the rest of the cast were equally as good in their respective roles.

Now for the DVD itself, Mondo Macabro’s special edition is just what it is. Digitally remastered and presented in anomorphic widescreen, pumping out in 5.1 surround sound. Beefed to the gills with extras as well. From the usual stills gallery, posters, trailers and making of. Aswang features two separate audio commentaries and the original audition reels. Also going indepth on the lost scene that was supposed to start the film off. Truly another great release from a company who really knows how the fans like their films, hats off to Pete, Andy and the rest of the great people over at Mondo!

STORY-3.5 BITCH SLAPS
PICTURE-3.5 BITCH SLAPS
AUDIO-4 BITCH SLAPS
EXTRAS-5 BITCH SLAPS
OVERALL DVD-4 BITCH SLAPS

For More Info on this DVD please visit Mondo Macabro US.