‘Tis the season for spooks! But in true Netflix fashion, they would not just give you a basic jump scare film that one would expect. Instead, they are offering the film “OUTSIDE,” a succinct zombie flick delivered with Filipino drama tropes.
It is by Pinoy filmmaker Carlo Ledesma, known for his work in both feature films and short films, including “The Tunnel” (2011), an Australian found-footage horror film that gained recognition for its innovative distribution method through online platforms.
Carlo is also known for directing several award-winning short films, including “The Haircut” (2014), which won accolades at international film festivals.
His work often blends suspense with social commentary, showcasing his ability to create engaging narratives with limited resources.
In “Outside,” he weighs in on the idea if the skeletons in one’s closet are as scary as the horde of zombies dominating the outside world. He also maximized the cinematography and production with what he had got, which turned out nice.
If I had not ever seen a zombie flick in my life such as “The Walking Dead” and “Kingdom,” maybe I would have found some of the scary scenes overwhelmingly psychedelic. But good to note that the classic Pinoy audience fault finder in me was quite at bay given the great makeup of the zombies, how their behavior was, and their timing throughout the film. There was no cringe factor whatsoever. It was all good get.
The film is quite longer than the usual though for a full-length that makes some sequences appear to be a slow burn before the next scene unfolds. Good thing, the casting of the family which the story focuses on was stellar. It was led by actor Sid Lucero, widely regarded as one of today’s most talented actors as he brought his versatility and emotional depth into his unstable character as Francis, the family patriarch.
His performance here was consistently raw and compelling that transcended all throughout. His range made me forget that he also starred in mainstream television dramas such as “Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa,” making him a standout in “Outside.”
Joining the cast is the equally versatile Beauty Gonzales, who plays his wife Iris.
What I appreciated about Beauty was that she had zero inhibitions when executing a character. You feel that she was focused on delivering the scenes well with such emotional depth.
Moving along, joining the characters of Sid and Beauty in on the harsh adventure are sons Josh and Lucas, played by Marco Masa and Aiden Tyler Patdu, respectively.
The kids were also impalpable and it just shows how the talent of our Filipino actors is top notch. We should just keep going on like this in the local film industry with the casting that goes beyond the commercial notion of an actor and stick with who fits best for the role, and in this case, it is really Sid and Beauty.
Because of this, their onscreen family delivered intelligible and well-thought-out performances throughout the film that made the storytelling seamless.
More than anything as well, we love how streaming platforms nowadays give importance to churning out original local titles. It entices producers to keep on making films, and it plays an important role in preserving and promoting Filipino culture by bringing local stories, traditions, and values to a global platform.
Through diverse genres — ranging from historical epics to horror and romantic comedies — Filipino narratives gain international visibility, highlighting the richness of Philippine history, folklore, and everyday life. These stories foster cultural pride, while also allowing Filipino filmmakers to reach wider audiences.
I have already said so much but with so much pride, Netflix Philippines brings the Filipino title “Outside” to the global platform on Oct. 17.