Sigaw (2004)

Director:

Yam Laranas

Writers:

Roy C. Iglesias (story) and
Yam Laranas (story)

Release Date:

19 May 2005 (Singapore)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

May kasama ka, 'di mo lang alam... (You have companion, you just don't know)

Plot:

Marvin savors his independence in a newly acquired unit of an old apartment building. He is frequently visited by his girlfriend Pinky...

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Haunting | Little Girl | Caretaker | Blood

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Jomari Yllana	...	Bert
Richard Gutierrez	...	Marvin
Iza Calzado	...	Anna
Angel Locsin	...	Pinky
James Blanco	...	Jude
Ella Guevara	...	Lara
Lui Manansala	...	Marvin's Mother
Tessie Villarama	...	Pinky's Mother
Pocholo Montes	...	Pinky's Father
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Geric Albero
Ronnie Lazaro	...	Caretaker

Also Known As:

The Echo (International: English title) (USA)
The Scream (USA) (informal literal title)

Runtime:

Philippines:102 min

Country:

Philippines

Language:

Filipino | Tagalog

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Manila, Metro Manila, Luzon, Philippines

Company:

MegaVision

Trivia:

Supported by Globe, Mercury, and imanila.

Quotes:

The Caretaker: Don't mind them and they will not mind you. Convince yourself that you are not hearing the noises.

Movie Connections:

Remade as The Echo (2008/I)

Wow!

I sat down and watched this movie at first not expecting much. I've seen a few Philippine films before and considered them about on par with American TV movies due to their low budget. "Sigaw" shows the viewer that an impressive movie can be made when a quality script, quality director and quality actors get together.

"Sigaw" is the story of about a young man who moves into an apartment building and can't find peace because of the constant noise create by the domestic problems of his neighbors down the hall. The neighbor wife and daughter are being routinely terrorized and victimized by her jealous husband. The husband and wife engage in the same argument word for word every evening--literally! The new tenant begins to hear strange noises and see strange sights in the dark hallway and eventually in his apartment. He tells his girlfriend, who at first doesn't believe him and insists that he just move out, but she later discovers, much to her dismay, that there's something very strange going on at her boyfriend's place and that they both have been swept into a terrifying situation in which there is no apparent escape.

Sigaw reminded me of two other Asian scary gems--"Ringu" (later remade as "The Ring") and "The Eye." It's an excellent film that shouldn't be missed. One note: It is a foreign film, so there are subtitles, but much of the movie best scenes are, in fact unspoken.

I highly recommend it.