Fresh from his successful indie flick, Kambyo, Johnron Tañada makes a comeback in the independent cinema via the film, “Lukaret” – a black comedy.

Here is the synopsis of the film: The story is set in the remote town of Sta. Lucia. Marlina, a 40ish yet still alluring spinster, runs a small carinderia that sells various dishes made of “lamang loob.” She keeps herself well dressed all the time for she expects her boyfriend to appear any day to take her hand in marriage. But that day never materializes. And so she waits?

Until she meets Daniel, an 18 year old orphan who recently moved into town to live with his uncle Peding, an aging funeral shop owner. His uncle passes on his skills in building cheap coffins which he learns very quickly. In the meantime, Marlina and Daniel become good friends. She has developed a strong liking for him.

Soon his uncle dies and Daniel inherits his funeral shop. Unfortunately, the town is so small that there’s hardly any need for his newly acquired funeral business. When Daniel tells Marlina of his plans to move his business somewhere else, she convinces him to be a little bit more patient. She says the need for his coffins will pick up soon.

And as she has predicted, deaths in the town has grown, albeit gruesome. Daniel’s funeral business jumps back on its feet. But the local townsfolk are afraid a serial killer or an “aswang” is on the loose as the cause of deaths are strikingly similar. What makes the murders scary is the way the victims had been left to die, with their inner organs missing. The town lands on the national tabloids
as local fumbling cops try to solve the murders.

Unbeknownst to them, it is Marlina who’s been committing these murders and cooking their innards to feed to her hungry customers. For she has gone completely mad. Marlina admits to Daniel her devious deeds just to make him stay and not leave her. She confesses her love for him but the boy wants none of her affections. With a rejected Marlina, an angry and bloody confrontation ensues, leaving Daniel wounded and Marlina dying in a pool of blood, staining her white wedding dress.

“Lukaret” stars Glydel Mercado, Johnron Tañada and Ralph Darrel Mateo. The film was written and directed by Felino Tañada. It had a special screening at the Cinemalaya 2008 on July 18, 2008. The movie will have a regular run in theaters very soon.

Photo credit: the amazing photographer Bubum Melgar for some pics in this post