ANGELA MORENA just shone as the victim of sexual assault who learns how to fight the trauma she experienced through Brazilian Jujietsu in “Woman on Top”.
She now delivers another strong portrayal in “Ahasss” as the trophy wife of a retired American who treats her shabbily like a toy and a doormat.
At first, you’d think that in her role as Adelyn, Angela is a meek and timid woman who just endures all the humiliation she gets from her chauvinistic alpha male husband.
But there’s a very shocking twist in the end that makes you realize that this is another woman empowerment film where the lead female character turns the tables on all the abusive men who are just using her and triumphs over them.
Co-starring with Angela are American actor Ian Curtis as her mean husband, Sam; Gold Aceron as Jake, their helper with whom she has an illicit affair; Jao Mapa as Augusto, her husband’s chief henchman who also has a secret;
the comebacking Janelle Tee as Jenny, their maid who is sympathetic to Angela; and Salome Salve as the vampish assistant of Jao who has the hots not only for Gold but also Janelle.
“I like the movie kasi at first, hindi mo alam kung sino ang ahas that the title is referring to,” says Angela. “By the end, though, you’d realize all the characters are ahas.
"Ang ganda nung arc ng character ko kasi from being an obedient wife throughout the film, she turns into an assertive woman who realizes she has to love herself more than any other man in her life.”
The movie is written and directed by Ato Bautista, who did some pretty impressive films in the past like “Palitan”, “Pagkagising sa Kamulatan”, “Hindi Natatapos ang Gabi” and “Blackout” with Robin Padilla.
Then we suddenly didn’t hear from him anymore so we tell him we’re glad he’s back with “Ahasss”.
“Actually, at the time na wala ako sa eksena, I did several movies like 'Rematado’ with Zanjoe Marudo, “Mabalasik” with Aljur Abrenica, ‘Lumang Bakal’ with Sen. Lito Lapid,” he says.
“But for some reason, they were not released theatrically. So I’m glad that I get to direct ‘Ahasss’, my first movie with Viva and I want to thank Lucky Blanco of MAVX Productions who helped produce it.”
So how did he cast “Ahasss”?
“When we pitched it to Viva and Boss Vic approved it, he asked who do I have in mind sa cast. Si Angela Morena, I saw her sa film ng friend kong si Topel Lee at nagalingan ako sa kanya.
"Si Gold Aceron naman, matagal ko na siya gustong makatrabaho, and when I told Boss Vic kung sino ang main cast ko, he approved it right away.
"The other roles became easier to cast, including Ian Curtis as the American husband.”
We ask Ian if he didn’t have any second thoughts playing the role of a very ugly American that is truly a disgrace to his race.
“Direk Ato asked me after I read the script if I think that the movie is anti-American,” he says. “I said no. Ganun naman talaga, kahit anong country, merong taong mabait, at meron ding monster.”
The press people laughed when he switched to speaking in fluent Tagalog. It turns out he’s been staying in Manila for sometime and has appeared in other local films like “Mina Anud”, “Exes Baggage”, “The Day After Valentine’s” and the TV series “Victor Magtanggol”.
Ian is asked if he’s related to Ann. “I used to answer we’re cousins, but no, we’re not related.”
Maybe he’s more related to Tony and Jamie Lee.
“Ahasss”is quite well crafted, with beautiful locations in a hilly villa near the sea and a superb musical score by Francis de Veyra. It starts streaming on Vivamax this Friday, October 13.
