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Halik Ng Sirena is the story of what happens in a fishing village. Fisherman David (Carlos Morales) engages in numerous flings with the barrio lasses who run after him, in spite of his Lola's (Anita Linda) reprimands and advice and the ire of another fisherman, Brando (Richard Quan). Things change for David when Samantha (Pinky Amador) comes to take over the beach resort of her late father. Obsessed, she seduces him every opportunity she gets. However, he meets Mina (Isabel Granada), a restless mermaid from an offshore island. They fall in love and disasters begin to occur in the village. With the help of the village fool Daniel (Gerald Madrid) to whom the villagers go for the latest "news," the townfolk act together to stop the series of misfortune.
This is a story with very limited imagination. Seen simply in its outlines, the plot is very
shallow and almost uneventful, but at least it doesn't drift off into some kind of romantic reverie where the mermaid becomes completely human in the end and hero and woman
live happily ever after. In fact, the story does not attempt to repeat the formula of earlier mermaid films but it is too long. The use of a lunatic character whose function
in the story is to lunge about at the most unlikely places mumbling vague utterances is not, however, new. Also there is no fancy choreography in sex scenes and the script is
but an excuse to get the characters to where the plot should lead. The costumes are ill fitting and the cinematography, below average. Although her acting cannot be considered
exceptional, Granada manages to convey her emotions, especially hurt and fear, effectively through her expressive eyes.
Halik Ng Sirena attempts to demonstrate that one's sacrifice in giving up one's needs for the good of others is something noble. Scenes of seduction, rape, lovemaking, voyeurism and murder, though not frequent, may not help in the value formation of younger viewers, hence CINEMA rates this film suitable for viewers 14 and above.
(Date reviewed: May 4, 2001)
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