The slow burn and the anticipation of what will happen next make the suspense in ‘The Caretakers’. However, Iza Calzado and Dimples Romana’s performances seal the deal for this psychological thriller that centers on a mother’s love, along with some tidbits of taking care for the environment.
Audrey, portrayed by Iza Calzado, is a mother trying her best to move on from her past by selling her late husband’s ancestral property. This desire meets resistance from its long-time caretaker Lydia (Dimples Romana) and the hostile spirits ambushed within it.
Lydia goes against the disposal of the home to protect a secret, something supernatural that could threaten her very survival. As Audrey tries to assert her right to also protect her own children, the fierce battle between these two women highlights what women, particularly mothers, can do to safeguard their children.
The unnatural atmosphere of the ancestral house induce the scary feels for most parts of the film. While ‘The Caretakers’ took its time in unloading the horror, this eerie vibe holds the audience attention while slowly unraveling the story. Some effects can be tightened, but Dimples’ air-suspended scene could be the film’s banner sequence.
‘The Caretakers’ is not the jump scare-loaded flick most audiences would associate a typical horror movie with. It resists to be just a film about the supernatural. It’s a thriller wrapped in emotional depth and filled with convincing performances.
With Calzado and Romana in the film are Ashley Sarmiento, Marco Masa, Althea Ruedas and Erin Espiritu. It is directed by Shugo Praico, the same man behind the MMFF 2022 entry ‘Nanahimik Ang Gabi’. ‘The Caretakers’ is now showing in cinemas nationwide.