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AFP Col. Baltazar Soriano (Philip Salvador) cannot understand why, his close buddy and
classmate at the PMA Carlos Ricarte (Edu Manzano) should turn to become his bitter enemy, seeking to destroy him.
After facing ambush attempts and confrontational gun fights with him, Bal visits retired army
general Ricarte (Bob Soler) to help him understand his buddy's behavior. What he learns from Carlos's father and what transpires after that complicates the story. Baltazar is
called by Lt. Col. George Montoya (Robert Arevalo) for two assignments: to neutralize Carlos who has become a top assassin for hire; and to take charge, with his partner Lt.
Barbara Veloso (Ina Raymundo) of the security for the visiting prime minister from Singapore. Unknown to Baltazar however, Col. Montoya and his politician brother also
commission Carlos to carry out certain orders, following their own agenda.
The dramatic elements are sacrificed for the spectacle. The action begins with the movie. What
happens to the friendship between Baltazar and Carlos is implied and brought out in only one visit to old man Ricarte who blames himself for having produced a "monster" of a
son. Spectacular fights between the former buddies occupy the screen. In 95 minutes there are about six long drawn-out scenes of exchanges of gunfire, countless number of the
dead and dying, and destructive explosions. Philip Salvador is himself in his role, although he tries to break out of himself to suit his character. Edu Manzano is given more
room to act, as the psychologically and mentally deteriorating Carlos, obsessed with being better than Baltazar, even in the negative sense.
The movie does not involve the audience because it fails to make them feel sympathy, anger or
horror for what they see before them. Such instances are, Carlos slowly losing his sanity, Carlos killing his friend's mother and brother, even murdering his very own father.
Except for a scene showing family love and unity and another of a father's regret for having
been very demanding of his son, Kaaway Hanggang Hukay is dominated by all-out violence, vulgar language and suggestive lovemaking. CINEMA rates this movie for the adult
audience 18 and above.
(Date reviewed: March 9, 2001)
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