Yanggaw (2008)

 Yanggaw (Affliction) is a 2008 pinoy horror movie that is set in local Ilonggo community that is about a young girl who was infected by the condition of becoming an Aswang or the “human blood thirsty creature” at night. At first Amor (Aleera Montalla) is just a normal girl living with her family with her parents (Tetchie Agbayani, Ronnie Lazaro), brothers, sister-in-law and a baby.

One day, Amor got home very sick and her parents cannot identify what made her sick of what sickness it is. She always chills at night and she even doesn’t understand the feeling. They consulted a local healer but he cannot determine the real cause and he just says that the girl was poisoned. From then on, Amor is still suffering the sickness mostly at night, again they consulted a doctor but he also says that the girl needs to have laboratory tests because her stomach is infected and prescribed antibiotics for Amor. Her parents are still wondering what have caused her sickness.

One night they found out that Amor is gone, later in the morning her father searched throughout the forest and finds Amor lying bloody in the bushes with a dead goat near her. To avoid neighbors’ criticism, they hide Amor inside the house but again in the next night there are two men killed in the forest and this time Amor again came home early in the morning with blood in her mouth. This time the family had been alerted to hide Amor and tie here up to as she also requested from her father Junior.

Many days passed but she only gets sicker like never before craving for human blood. They again consulted the local healer but he says that Amor in infected with the Aswang condition and they can't stop her because she will only crave for human blood as days go by. The family even quarreled because of this happenings and Junior explained it to them that as a father he can't let her daughter suffer like that so on the next night she freed Amor and asks that it's okay to quench her thirst but not with her family members.

After that incident, the next night there were few men killed by the group of Dulpo (Joel Torre) because they suspected that these men were responsible for the killings in the village. Amor had her chance and killed many as she can in their village that's why his father is very worried when he can hear gun shots nearby. Junior is acting desperately but her family members decided to get away from him but later returned home realizing that it's their responsibility to stay together for Amor.

The next night, they hear gun shots again so Amor's father and brother followed Dulpo's group that spotted screams in the forest, it was Amor chasing the two kids to kill them but was saved by the group of Dulpo as they also searched who was chasing the kids. Dulpo saw Amor but was not able to shoot her instead chasing her into the woods. Amor hid in the woods but Dulpo spotted her. He was about to shoot Amor but Junio rescued Amor and killed Dulpo. They take Amor back to the house and ask her to stay in her room but later Amor's gone and her youngest brother told Junior that Amor take the baby of her elder brother.

Later Junior found out that Amor ate her nephew; they fought and ended Amor begging her father to kill her because she can't handle it anymore. Junior shows mercy to her daughter but no other way to save also themselves from her but to kill her. Junior killed his daughter with his wedge and ended them in sorrow.

Movie Feedback

The movie indeed has a unique setting and also explained unusual legends of Aswang. The movie also has similarity with Corazon: An Unang Aswang. The creation of becoming an Aswang is either due to unknown infections or personal emotions that can made someone crave for blood. All in this entire movie has its story and no time to get bored watching.