Director: Erik Matti
Notable Cast: Anne
Curtis, Brandon Vera, Victor Neri, Arjo Atayde, Nonie Buencamino, Lao
Rodriguez, Alex Calleja, Levi Ignacio, Ricky Pascua, Joross Gamboa, Sheenly
Gener, Mara Lopez, AJ Muhlach
Filipino director Erik Matti has been around for much longer
than most people know and his career has covered a ton of various genres and
styles throughout the years. It wasn’t until the release of his dark and gritty
thriller, On the Job, in 2013 that his
name truly broke through into other currents of cinema. Although he has
followed up On the Job with some diverse films, including a segment in the very
entertaining ABCs of Death 2, it’s not
until his latest film and the subject of this review, Buybust, that he has seen the same kind of hype. Sporting some
fantastic marketing, including a brutal and intense trailer along with some
strong word of mouth after it’s premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival, Buybust has created some lofty
expectations going into the film.
The film meets those expectations with a hammerfist to the face.
The film meets those expectations with a hammerfist to the face.