Chito S. Roño (The Healing) beckons the directing duties to all three segments of this year's Shake Rattle and Roll (aka The Invasion). But even his (talented) pair of hands would struggle to surmount the obstacles in a horror anthology. The result is a compound of ineptly executed mediocre-pitched horror tales which aren't exactly always dense and sharp in narrative.
In the first segment titled "Pamana," cousins gather around to receive inheritance from their forgotten writer uncle. Set in the 80's, the episode well-nigh effortlessly dissipates nostalgia and lets the air seep through. An easy throwback to the old-school horror movies, the segment is all campy fun, but the fact that the villains in here isn't a living Christmas tree is a positive. Unpretentious and downright entertaining, "Pamana" is a good meta-horror featuring an enthusiastic narrative by Himala scribe Ricky Lee and meritorious performances from the leads.
Filipino soldiers have very tad knowledge of what menace is impendent as they journey to the deeper woods where a new kind (breed) of arm force is being formed. "Lost Command" is an interesting plot, written by Rody Vera (REquieme!), but falls flat with patchy direction and how the ideas in the episode is handled. Dennis Trillo (Ang Katiwala), Paulo Avelino (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa) and Martin Escudero (Zombadings: Patayin sa Syokot si Remington) are easy standouts, Ronnie Lazaro (Captive) provides a pinch of humanity; but the rest of the characters were easily forgettable, just as the entirety of the segment is.
"Unwanted" is set in an alternate post-apocalyptic Philippines. December 21st, 2012, a shopping mall is corroded along with its costumers and staff buried alive inside. Vhong Navarro (Bulong) and Lovi Poe (Guni-Guni) plays an expectant couple. The material is mundane in narrative. The segment took some effort to contrive a decent production design and visual effect frenzy, but this didn't end too well. With the narrative remaining as dull and the visuals being as cheap at best.
Ineptly executed and bereft of inspiration in direction, Shake Rattle and Roll 14, while holds on to some interesting pieces, is one thing to watch. To absorb it and remember it for its wholeness without a pluck of dislike is a rather outlandish task.
VERDICT: C-
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