Hot on the heels of its successful runat the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival where it ranked as theonly consistent blockbuster nationwide, Erik Matti’s acclaimed horror thriller,Seklusyon will re-open in limitedcinemas starting January 14 (Saturday) with its complete Director’s Cut, ratedR-16 by the MTRCB.

Also known as the film’s internationalrelease, the Director’s Cut of Seklusyonis the original version that drew rave reviews from various Hollywood publications, The Hollywood Reporter and VARIETY after itswell-received world premiere at the International Film Festival and AwardsMacau (IFFAM2016).

Calling the film “a grainy, goryparable about the triumph of evil,” TheHollywood Reporter’s ClarenceTsui wrote, “[‘Seklusyon’] drips with a ferocity about how falsemessiahs manipulate meek minds who, as the film's finale suggests, then propeleven more malicious pretenders onto the pedestals of power. The film is [Erik] Matti'scall for an awakening, and it certainly stirs with spine-tingling momentsaplenty.”

Meanwhile, Maggie Lee of VARIETY noted, “The film is veteranFilipino genre director Erik Matti’s skillful reworking of the Omen conceit, in the elegant, nostalgicstyle reminiscent of Spanish horror films like The Devil’s Backbone.”

Director Erik Matti said his version of Seklusyon delves further into the relationship between Anghela Sta. Ana, the mysteriouschild with miraculous healing powers played by MMFF Special Jury Prizewinner Rhed Bustamante andthe equally enigmatic MadreCecilia portrayed by MMFF Best Supporting Actress Phoebe Walker.

The Director’s Cut of the film alsofurther expands on the backstory of Madre Cecilia and her particular effect onone of the deacons Fabian playedby young actor Dominic Roque.

It also won the most number of awardsin the MMFF with a total of eight honors that also includes Best Screenplay (Anton Santamaria), Best Cinematography(Neil Bion), Best Sound Design (Lamberto Casas, Jr. and Albert Michael Idioma), BestProduction Design (Ericson Navarro)and Best Original Theme Song (“Dominus Miserere” By Francis de Veyra).

Produced by Reality Entertainment, Seklusyon also stars Johnvic de Guzman,JR Versales, Ronnie Alonte, NeilRyan Sese, Lou Veloso, Elora Españo, Jerry O’ Hara and Teroy Guzman. The R-16 version opensJanunary 14 in select cinemas.