Filipino director Brillante Mendoza is making his name known worldwide and bringing about a new golden age of film in the Philippines. His new crime thriller, as if a reflection of President Duterte’s recent declaration of war on drugs, pictures the bloody struggle between the police and organized crime syndicates. Police detective Espino leads a covert operation to capture the drug lord Abel. Working for him as an informant is Elijah, one of the gang members. It’s not clear whether Espino and Elijah trust each other – they are cooperating now, but betrayal is always possible, and the dynamic cross editing of their activities raises the dramatic tension. As the father of independent film, the director perfectly captures the crime scenes and follows the movements of the characters in fluid shots. This, plus the realistic, expressive lines bring fresh life to the film. It is all the more entertaining for the scenes depicting various crime methods, and the delicate relationship between the characters that can turn at any moment. (Jeong Minah)