The making of Moro Witch Doctor would make great novel. First off, you've got two people who really hate each other, namely Jock Mahoney and Margia Dean. You don't believe me? Go to Margia's web site and she'll fill you in. Then you've got a writer/director, Eddie Romero, who is undoubtedly the Mr. Big of the Filipino movie industry, despite the fact that although he lives and works in the Philippines, he neither speaks nor understands Filipino. Eddie has won so many awards, I pray that Moro Witch Doctor is an aberration rather than typical of his work. Actually the title itself seems to be a misnomer. The word, "moro", is mentioned once or twice, but there is not even a hint, let alone a manifestation, of any witch doctor! It's all about a CIA agent in the Philippines who is investigating the murders of two plantation owners. Actually, the plot isn't too bad and at times it's even moderately suspenseful. What is rotten, however, is the acting. Mahoney looks far too dumb, even for a CIA man, Margia Dean is pretty wooden (sorry, Margia, but that's a fact), Reed Hadley, ridiculous, and even some of the Filipino actors just plain amateurish. Dale Ishimoto, however, makes an effective villain, and Michael Parsons is convincing as a seedy plantation manager.
2 Reviews
Phillippino exploiter is compromised entertainment.
Mozjoukine1 October 2002
Romero's other Philippino trash monster pictures are so lively and enjoyable that we can't help wonder what happened to this one. The (obviously second thought) framing story with Reed Hadley explaining the plot suggests Stateside interference.
There are still a few interesting scenes - notably the opening with the drugged up assassin advancing with machete, acting out the Amok ritual that is the subject of a Stephan Zweig story and the Gary Cooper movie REAL GLORY.
The body of the film, with American white shirt hero Mahoney sorting out the bad guys, is tedious and hard to follow though there are glimpses of something more substantial as when we cut from the Moslem village to the Catholic funeral passing in urban Manila.
The film does have curiosity value as an attempt to add a new frame of reference to the monster movie.
There are still a few interesting scenes - notably the opening with the drugged up assassin advancing with machete, acting out the Amok ritual that is the subject of a Stephan Zweig story and the Gary Cooper movie REAL GLORY.
The body of the film, with American white shirt hero Mahoney sorting out the bad guys, is tedious and hard to follow though there are glimpses of something more substantial as when we cut from the Moslem village to the Catholic funeral passing in urban Manila.
The film does have curiosity value as an attempt to add a new frame of reference to the monster movie.
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