A creative take on a known myth, combined with strong performances and a gripping story.
First off, Green Bones is a solid film that caught my attention dahil kakaiba ang concept niya. The story revolves around a myth about turning into green bones after death, which I found really creative. The idea itself sets the film apart from other local MMFF movies. It’s rare to see a Filipino film working around a folklore like this, kaya refreshing siya panoorin.
The character backstories were well-crafted, especially the main characters. Isa sa mga nagustuhan ko is how the film slowly reveals their pasts — bakit sila naging ganun, anong pinagdadaanan nila. These backstories helped me connect more with the characters. The character development, for the the lead roles at least, was also solid, kaya talagang nadala ako sa takbo ng kwento.
Cast’s Strong Performance
The acting in this film is one of its strongest points. Dennis Trillo stood out the most. His performance was very effective, especially his portrayal of a tough, street-smart character (legit sanggano) who’s been through a lot. Even without dialogue, his eyes and expressions told the story. You could feel his pain, his anger, and his regrets. Perfect fit siya for the role — parang ginawa talaga ‘yung character na ‘yon para sa kanya.
Alessandra de Rossi, as expected, delivered a nuanced performance. Her character played a crucial role in the story’s mystery, at naging malaking bahagi siya ng puzzle na unti-unting nabuo sa pelikula. Even the niece’s character (na akala ko patay na) surprised me — her story arc made a huge emotional impact.
Ruru Madrid showed growth as an actor in this movie. He delivered his lines well, although may mga moments na parang may kulang sa intensity or emotion o baka ako lang (lol). Siguro it’s more on how some scenes were written, parang abrupt lang ‘yung character transition for me after malaman yung about the niece. But still, he did a good job overall.
Victor Neri’s role as the antagonist was interesting, pero I feel na his character could have been explored more. Sana mas nakita pa natin ‘yung background niya to make him feel more threatening or menacing.
Even the supporting cast (especially the prisoners) contributed to the emotional weight of the film. I was really touched in some scenes — lalo na when Dennis Trillo’s character died and the entire prison mourned for him. That scene was powerful kasi it shows how much respect he earned inside the prison despite everything.
Storytelling and Direction
One storytelling technique na ginamit ng film is the character’s inner monologue — where we hear the character’s thoughts habang may nangyayari sa paligid. Parang siyang YOU on Netflix (sino nakakaalam?), pero Filipino version. Personally, I think it worked well in this film, kasi it helped me understand the motivations behind the character’s actions. It was a good peg and matched the pacing of the story.
Another thing I appreciated is how questions raised at the beginning of the film were answered as the story unfolded. For example, the mystery behind the sister’s death was explained well, and hindi siya bitin or confusing. As a viewer, I appreciate na konti lang ang loose ends sa kwento. The entire plot was presented properly, with a good balance of suspense, action, and drama.
Emotional Highlights
The film had several emotional scenes na tumatak sa akin. Aside from the prison mourning scene, I also found the flashback of Dennis Trillo’s character’s life outside very touching. It showed his regrets and his longing for redemption. Those scenes made me empathize with his character more, kahit na morally flawed siya.
Some Misses (for me)
While I really enjoyed Green Bones, there were a few things that I found a bit off or confusing.
The scene where the prisoners wrote messages and hanged them in a tree is a bit unrealistic. Even though the story clearly states that they’re in a low-tolerance facility, I still think that handling pointy objects like pens wouldn’t be allowed. Prison protocols, no matter how relaxed, wouldn’t permit that. The idea of putting notes in a tree felt a bit far-fetched. It’s a symbolic gesture, yes, pero I just don’t appreciate it.
Another thing I noticed was the lack of character development for some support characters.
For example, Micoy Morales and Royce Cabrera’s characters had potential, but their relationship wasn’t fully explored. Are they lovers? Or just best friends? There was one scene where they were holding hands — which made me wonder if they were romantically involved or if it was just a gesture of support. Honestly, baka ako lang ‘yung tanga at hindi ko na-gets agad, but it would’ve been better if the film made their dynamic clearer.
The same goes for Victor Neri’s antagonist character. He had a solid presence, pero kulang sa backstory. I wanted to know more about his motivations. What made him so dangerous and evil? Why is he running things inside the prison? This would have added more depth to his role and made him a more memorable villain.
May mga sudden transitions din in the story that felt a bit rushed. For instance, the niece’s return was a major twist, pero it wasn’t given enough buildup. Biglang nagpakita na lang siya, and I think it would’ve been better if there were hints leading up to that moment. Another example is the reveal of who killed the main character’s sister. The explanation was there, but it could’ve been more impactful if the scene had more emotional weight and wasn’t too straightforward.
Some Pacing Issues. While the overall storytelling was well done, the film’s highest point felt a bit rushed. The climax — where all the tensions and conflicts should have peaked — didn’t have enough time to fully simmer. It felt like the film was in a hurry to wrap things up, which made some emotional beats less impactful. If they had stretched this part out a bit more, the payoff would’ve been stronger and more satisfying.
Overall, these minor issues didn’t ruin the film for me, but they’re worth pointing out. Fixing these would have made the movie even stronger.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Green Bones is a film worth watching. The unique concept, combined with strong performances, made it stand out. Dennis Trillo’s portrayal alone is enough reason to see the movie. While there are some minor flaws, the film delivered a compelling story with a satisfying conclusion.
I’d rate it 8/10. It’s something I would recommend to my friends, especially those who enjoy mystery and drama films with a touch of folklore. It’s a fresh take on local cinema, and I hope we get more films like this in the future.
I’ve already seen four MMFF movies, and so far — based on what I’ve watched — dasurv na dasurv ng Green Bones ang best picture award this year! Kudos to the entire team!
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