Aside from finally marrying his longtime girlfriend Marian Rivera, another definitive milestone by Dingdong Dantes this year as well as Director Erik Matti and producer Dondon Monteverde is creating and having Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles, the second movie in the franchise.

Kubot is the on the dot continuation of Makoy's (Dingdong Dantes) battle against the aswangs, whose first clan, the Tiltiks, he defeated during the franchise's first installment. It started from when he left Pulupandan with his newborn son Macky and wife Sonia (Hannah Ledesma) to head to Manila for safety.

Little did Makoy know is that his encounter with the aswangs is far from over as he stumble upon a group of them while on the way to Manila and even in the metro itself. Without giving away too much about the much-lauded MMFF entry, here are five of the reasons why you should head on to the nearest theater and line up for Kubot.

Incomparable movie effects, production design and make up

Although they didn't employ the same textured and rust-like cinematography they employed on Tiktik, Erik Matti nevertheless made sure that they did not scrimp on the effects used for the Kubots, especially in giving life to their unbelievably voluminous and fatal hair.

Aside from that there's also the notable transformation of the other aswangs on the flick like the Dagits and the Moromogs, the dictatorial clan of the film's antagonist played by the returning KC Montero.

Set in Manila, Kubot’s background was dotted with aswang fight scenes and chases along marble-columned buildings, old family houses, filthy and busy streets as well as open rooftops, where Makoy’s house was also situated.

Matrix-like fight scenes

If you have enjoyed how Makoy and Nestor (Joey Marquez) slashed, beheaded and torched Tiktiks on the first movie, then we can assure you that they have more of that in Kubot. As a cherry to the cake, you won't only get to see the male characters wielding the weapons but even the female characters as well.

Such is what Lotlot de Leon and Isabelle Daza, much to the audiences’ shock did. If anything, this movie could very well launch Isabelle as the next action star with the way she has portrayed her mysterious and very aswang-ready character.

New tricks by the new and old members of the cast

While Joey's character was a little too stiff and subdued on Tiktik, you would see a far more candid and energetic Nestor on Kubot as supported by the well-loved meddling character of Lotlot, who plays the role of Makoy's older sister.

Together, Joey and Lotlot's dynamism and organic delivery of the punchlines made the entire film part comedy and part satirical. The two were also supported by the equally insane characters of Ramon Bautista, June Sabayton and Bogart The Explorer. (continued on next page)

Hannah for her part did well as the new and far silent Sonia, a role that was previously portrayed by Lovi Poe. But more than the revelation of Lotlot's comic nature, it was Isabelle who truly showed her actor's mettle on the film. It's as if her role on the flick was a mere culmination of her real-life mysterious aura paired with her active lifestyle. Last but not the least but definitely worth the mention was Elizabeth Oropesa who played the role of the leader of the Kubots named Veron, whose piercing eyes alone and vindictive facial expression very well made her for an utterly eerie nemesis.

The 'patriotic' side of the Aswang story

Adventure-cum-comedy flicks like Kubot are often written off as mere eye candies with no real value to contribute to their audiences' consciousness. But such wasn't the case in Kubot.

For starters there's the notable effort of Erik Matti and screenwriter Michiko Yamamoto to unearth and instill long-forgotten folklore to the modern moviegoers by dabbling on the concept of the local aswangs such as the Tiktiks and then the Kubots (or the Hubots, Aswangs in the Visayas region). Almost all the characters had their own moments wherein they shared a few common Filipino traits such that of concern, familial love, and ingenuity, among others.

The finale

As we all know, just last month Dingdong, as well as the other producers of the film, signed a contract that made The Aswang Chronicles a franchise which means Kubot is not the last film. Without spilling the beans, we urge all of you to see who will be the next aswang that Makoy would have to defeat.