Sa Aking mga Kamay
| Sa Aking Mga Kamay | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Rory B. Quintos |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Story by | Olivia M. Lamasan |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Romy Vitug |
| Edited by | Jesus "Jess" Navarro |
| Music by | Nonong Buencamino |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Star Cinema |
Release date |
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Running time | 115 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Languages | Filipino English |
Sa Aking Mga Kamay (English: In My Own Hands) is a 1996 Philippine psychological thriller drama film directed by Rory B. Quintos. The film stars Christopher de Leon, Aga Muhlach and Chin Chin Gutierrez.[1] The screenplay written by Ricky Lee, Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario, and Benjou Elgincolin was adapted from an original story by Olivia M. Lamasan.
Produced and originally released by Star Cinema on March 7, 1996, it was digitally restored and remastered by ABS-CBN Film Restoration and Central Digital Lab in 2017. A streaming series that serves as a follow-up to the film, Cattleya Killer, was released on June 1, 2023.
Plot[edit]
Gene Rivera, a handsome young man who works as a director for television commercials is also a serial killer known as "The Cattleya Killer", seducing and killing married women after having sexual intercourse with them and leaving a cattleya flower beside their corpses.
Joven dela Rosa, an agent from the National Bureau of Investigation, investigates the murders along with his partner Dino. His dedication towards the cases makes his wife Camille feel neglected, especially as their only son Benjie suffers from nyctophobia. Gene is often visited by his uncle Rolando, who took care of him after his father died. Upon investigating the killer, he found out that the killer would bring his victims to Tagaytay. Gene brings his new victim, Erlinda to their family's private resort. Rolando finds out about Gene's trip and decides to go. After having sexual advances with Erlinda, Gene presumably kills her with a baseball bat. Rolando finds out what happened, but is dissuaded after Gene begs not to because of his childhood. They carefully clean the house and hide Erlinda's body. As Joven and Dino arrive, Gene hides himself. After a shootout, Joven fatally shoots Rolando, who is cleared of the murders as his blood type is not the same as Gene's. Upon learning about his guardian's death, Gene vows revenge against Joven. A badly injured Erlinda manages to survive but is prevented from talking to Joven and Dino by her uncooperative husband.
At school while waiting for Benjie, Gene befriends Camille and the two develop mutual feelings with each other. Gene says that he has a deceased son named Jonathan. Gene would also does the same thing to Joven, this time under a different persona. When Gene invites Camille to his house, he narrates about his past. As a child, he was often locked up by his mother every time he makes mistakes, including when he accidentally broke a vase with a cattleya flower. Until, one night, he witnessed his father killing his mother for infidelity before killing himself. Gene confesses his love for Camille, who refuses to go any further but is violently overpowered and raped by Gene. Camille hide the truth from Joven, telling him that someone drugged her. Camille later receives a videotape by Gene recording his sexual advances to Camille. Gene then calls and says that he has her wedding ring before threatening her about her infidelity to Joven.
Joven and Gene talk to each other about Camille. Gene asks if what he will do if his wife is having an affair, but Joven asks the same question to Gene, who replies that he would kill her. Joven finds out about Camille having an affair with another man. Gene then threatens Camille and tells her to go to his house. Gene gives a gun to Joven, who sees an icon of a cattleya. He and Dino decide to go to the hospital where Erlinda is. Arriving at Gene's house to retrieve her wedding ring, Camille sees pictures of different women including her, as well as different wedding rings, revealing him as the "Cattleya Killer". Gene tries to kill Camille, who manages to escape, before recapturing her along with Benjie. At the hospital, Joven and Dino realized that Gene is the killer after Erlinda reacts violently to a picture of him. As Camille tried to escape with Benjie, Gene later catches Camille and Benjie them.
Joven and Dino go to Gene's house and see the wedding rings of his victims, along with that of Camille, to his shock. He then rushes to his house and sees the sex video of Gene and Camille. He is then told by Gene to go to his ancestral house, where his wife and son are being held. Dino asked Joven to call for back-up. At the house, Gene explains that the murders are his revenge on unfaithful married women and Rolando's death. Camille and Benjie tried to escape but they would be caught by Gene. Joven and Dino fight it out with Gene, who shoots Dino before holding Benjie hostage. Gene tells Joven to kill Camille, or he will kill his son. Joven pretends to fire a gun to Camille, which is actually a mirror, before fatally shooting a distracted Gene.
Joven assures Benjie that he should no longer fear everything. Joven announces plans to spend more time with his family. He then puts Camille's wedding to her finger and embrace each other.
Cast[edit]
Main cast[edit]
- Christopher de Leon as Joven dela Rosa: An agent of the NBI who was assigned to track the trail of the serial killer named Gene Rivera. He is married to Camille and they have a son, Benjie.
- Aga Muhlach as Gene Rivera: A psychopathic serial killer, known under the alias of the "Cattleya Killer". His motive is to make a relationship with young women by seducing them and then, kill them afterward. Because of his notoriety as a serial killer, Joven was assigned to kill him.
- Stefano Mori as young Gene
- Chin Chin Gutierrez as Camille dela Rosa: Joven's wife and mother to their son, Benjie. She is the latest victim of Gene, who preyed on beautiful and married women.
- Kier Legaspi as Dino: Joven's partner in the NBI.
- Amy Austria as Anne: One of Joven's workmates in the NBI office. She described Gene Rivera as a "psychopath".
- Robert Arevalo as Rolando Galvez: Gene's uncle who caught him in the aftermath of a killing.
- Karl Angelo Legaspi as Benjie dela Rosa: Joven and Camille's son.
- Teresa Loyzaga as Sally Vitan: Camille's best friend.
Other cast[edit]
- Tess Michelena as Carmen
- Mae-ann Adonis as Dang
- Rosemarie Gil as Camille's Mom
- Ramil Rodriguez as Camille's Dad
- Romeo Rivera as Boss of NBI
- Orestes Ojeda as Gene's Dad
- Tata Melendez as Gene's Mom
- Rachel Lobangco as Erlinda Sioson (Victim #2)
- Cris Michelena as Victim #2's husband
- Tracy B. Montelibano as Newscaster
- Manny Mendoza as Field Reporter
- Zaffy Alonzo, Shannen Torres, and Patricia Ann Bermudez as Victims
- Jon Santillan-Wong, Marcel Sagum, Albert Guia, Francis Danuelas, Arman Drigo, Stan Sambrano, Alzie Mascenon, Eric Laygo, and Wilson Santiago as NBI Agents
- Archie Adamos, Jhop Bahian, Manolo Quequing, Edgar Buenavides, Robert Camisik, Lito Paraiso, and Abel Lagmay as Goons
- Eddie Albert Ramos and Princess Ann Schuck as Hostaged Children
- Arnold Montes and Bobet Aniversario as Waiters
- Jaime Hizon and Raffy Garcia as Joven's Brothers-in-Law
- Imelda Trinidad and Jeanette Tan as Joven's Sisters-in-Law
- Vic Gabion and Noel Lazaro as Security Guards
- The Powerdance Group as Commercial Dancers
- Noel Sandoval, Jojo Lopez, Benny Bautista as Policeman, Nido De Jesus, and Jun Dada as Policemen
- Raul Agravante as Reportermille's son
Production[edit]
The film was given acknowledgment by the National Bureau of Investigation and Makati Medical Center.
Casting and shooting[edit]
Aga Muhlach, playing the role of Gene Rivera, stated that his role was a challenge for him because it was different playing a serial killer, rather than his usual role as a leading man in romantic drama films. While the film was shooting, he admitted that he was not prepared to face Christopher de Leon, who played the role of Joven dela Rosa, an agent from the NBI who was assigned to find Gene and kill him.[1]
Christopher de Leon also admitted that even though he said that it was a very interesting role, the references to the NBI made him feel anxious and worried, but the experience in the criminal investigation field during the shoot allowed him to shape his character better.[2]
Reception[edit]
Critical reception[edit]
Jay Cruz of Sinegang PH gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and praises Ricky Lee's writing, Rory Quintos' direction, and the respective acting performances of Aga Muhlach and Christopher de Leon.[3] DJ Ramones of Reverse Delay gave a positive review, praising the film's written story by Olivia Lamasan and screenplay by Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario, Ricky Lee, and Benjou Elgincolin; Romeo Vitug's photography that has similarity to the 1991 film Hihintayin Kita sa Langit; and the characters portrayed in the film.[4]
Accolades[edit]
| Year | Award-Giving Body | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | FAMAS Awards | Best Actress | Chin Chin Gutierrez | Nominated |
Television sequel[edit]
In 2022, ABS-CBN announced a follow-up to the film, a television series for international audiences titled Cattleya Killer. The series premiered on June 1, 2023 on Prime Video, directed by Dan Villegas, written by Dodo Dayao, and produced by its executive producer Ruel S. Bayani. Arjo Atayde plays the role of Anton dela Rosa and Christopher de Leon, reprises the role of Joven dela Rosa.[5] It would also star Jake Cuenca, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Ricky Davao, Nonie Buencamino, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Ketchup Eusebio, Jojit Lorenzo, Rafa Siguion-Reyna and Jane Oineza in the project.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Red, Isah V. (March 10, 1996). "Are you ready for mad dog Aga?". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 28. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ Red, Isah V. (March 17, 1996). "At 39, Christopher de Leon comes to terms with his craft, life, and Christopher de Leon". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 32. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ Cruz, Jay (March 23, 2021). ""Sa Aking Mga Kamay" REVIEW: A Killer Heartthrob Meets A Broken Family". Sinegang. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ Montero, DJ (April 13, 2017). ""Sa Aking Mga Kamay" (1996): The dual faces of crime and passion". Reverse Delay. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ "All-Star cast of ABS-CBN's int'l project "Cattleya Killer" revealed". Manila Bulletin. February 3, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ Anarcon, James Patrick (February 3, 2022). "Arjo Atayde's co-stars in Cattleya Killer revealed; GMA-7 actor is joining cast". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
