Watching movies in the cinemas is a family event especially during Holiday season. The producers of TOPAKK recognize this. This is why they worked on having this Metro Manila Film Festival entry get two MTRCB ratings: an R-16 for SM Cinemas and an R-18 for other cinemas.
One of the show’s producers, actress Sylvia Sanchez, reveals this at the press conference of one of the ten entries of the MMFF 2024. “Sinigurado pa din namin na pareho lang ang istorya at hindi maapektohan ang film especially sa R-16 rating,” Sanchez shared further.
Directed by Richard Somes who is known for making it big when it comes to bringing full visuals of a narrative, Topakk’s gory plot featuring an ex-special forces operative with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) saving a woman who is being hunted by a corrupt police death squad, pushed the movie’s classification for more mature audiences.
Arjo Atayde and Julia Monte’s, two of the main cast, even shared how they created the stunts themselves. For Julia, being covered in blood all day is her regular thing while filming the movie. Enchong Dee and the rest of the cast also shared how physically-demanding the movie is.
The MMFF 2024 is not the first film festival for Topakk. With international title Triggered, Topakk has toured several international film festivals including a screening at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France, and in exhibition at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland and FrightFest in the United Kingdom.
Joining Arjo Atayde, Julia Monte’s and Enchong Dee in the cast are Sid Lucero, Kokoy De Santos, Vin Abrenica, Paolo Paraiso, Cholo Barretto, Jeffrey Tam, Bernard Palanca, Julio de Leon, and a bigger ensemble of action cast. It will be shown in cinemas nationwide starting December 25.
Watch the interviews from the press conference which was held at the actual movie set in Quezon City.