Kampon, stylized as (K)ampon[a], is a 2023 Philippine horror film by Quantum Films starring Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay.

Kampon
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKing Palisoc
Written byDodo Dayao
Story byKing Palisoc
Produced byPatricia Sumagui
Josabeth Alonso
Starring
CinematographyKara Moreno
Edited byBenjamin Tolentino
Music byJazz Nicolas
Mikey Amistoso
Production
companies
Distributed byQuantum Films
Release date
  • December 25, 2023 (2023-12-25)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Premise edit

Clark (Derek Ramsay) and Eileen (Beauty Gonzalez), a childless married couple of eight years, meets a girl (Erin Espiritu) who knocks on their home's door. The girl who would be known as Jade claims to be Clark's child. The girl would be accepted temporarily to their home as the couple try to decide next what to make of the situation. Soonafter strange incidents began to occur in the couple's life.

Cast edit

 
Derek Ramsay (left), Beauty Gonzalez (center-left), and Erin Espiritu (carried by Gonzalez)
  • Derek Ramsay as Clark Martinez, the male protagonist of the film and Eileen's husband of eight years. The couple has no children of their own. Clark is a police officer who has a secret past.[1] The role was specifically written for Ramsay. In 2019, Ramsay was unavailable at the time which made the producers consider Gabby Concepcion to portray the character instead. Ramsay came broke his hiatus for he film upon the request of producer Joji Alonso.[2] Ramsay expressed being challenged in the portrayal given that horror is a not a typical genre for him.[3]
  • Beauty Gonzalez as Eileen Martinez, the female protagonist of the film and Clark's wife of eight years. The couple has no children of their own. Kris Aquino was to fill this role, but Gonzalez would ultimately play as Eileen.[2]
  • Erin Espiritu as Jade Bitangcol, a girl who claims to be Clark's child who Clark and Eileen welcomed to their home. Supernatural incidents occur shortly after. The role for Jade was filled through auditioning.[4] Espiritu was a contestant in the child pageant segment "Mini Miss U" of It's Showtime.[5] An acting coach and psychologist was hired for Espiritu to help her fulfill her role.[2]
  • Zeinab Harake as Loretta Bitangcol, a woman Clark had a one night stand with.[6] Despite Clark being infertile, she claims him to be the father of her child.[1] Kampon is the first ever acting project, for Harake who is better known for being a vlogger.[6] Her appearance is billed as an introductory role.[3]
  • Nico Antonio as Ranulfo
  • Lui Manansala as Na Almera
  • Al Tantay as Luis
  • Cai Cortez as Rhona
  • Nor Domingo as Jake Manabat
  • Kean Cipriano as Manuel Perez

Other cast members for Kampon include Nico Antonio, Nor Domingo, Lui Manansala Cai Cortez, Al Tantay, and Kean Cipriano.[3]

Production edit

Kampon was produced under Quantum Films with King Palisoc as the director.[7]

Planned 2019 film edit

Kampon was a submission for the Metro Manila Film Festival as early as for the 2019 edition. The original lead actors were Kris Aquino and Derek Ramsay. However Ramsay was unavailable due to prior commitments with a television series with GMA Network. Ramsay was replaced by Gabby Concepcion as the male lead but production was not able to be completed in time. Consequentially Kampon was disqualified as an entry for the 2019 festival.[8][9]

Continued production edit

Kampon was re-submitted as a script entry for the 2023 edition. Ramsay is now available for the film project, with Beauty Gonzalez as his on-screen partner. This marks as Ramsay's return to acting who has been on hiatus.[8]

According to Alonso, it took four years to produce the film. He said that it also "made use of storyboards to plan all of its scenes, which in the Philippines is more typically used by advertising agencies." It resulted to "more shots being made per sequence; to up to 36 shots per sequence and surpass the average of six shots per sequence in typical romance, drama, and comedy films", he added.[4]

Principal photography was finished by September 21, 2023.[10]

Release edit

Kampon premiered in cinemas in the Philippines on December 25, 2023, as one of the official entries of the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival.[7]

Kampon was supposed to premiere in 2019 edition, but was disqualified due to production issues related to casting. Sunod was named as its replacement.[11]

Accolades edit

Accolades received by Kampon
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2023 Metro Manila Film Festival December 27, 2023 Best Actor Derek Ramsay Nominated [12]
Best Actress Beauty Gonzalez Nominated
Best Screenplay Dodo Dayao Nominated
Best Cinematography Kara Moreno Nominated
Best Editing Benjamin Tolentino Won
Best Sound Albert Michael Idioma, Jannina Mikaela Minglanilla Nominated
Best Visual Effects John Kenneth Paclibar Nominated
Best Child Performer Erin Espiritu Nominated

Notes edit

  1. ^ transl. "Servant" (typically to something sinister), stylization separates the word ampon, Filipino for an "adopted" person

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Derek na-stress sa love scene nila ni Beauty sa 'Kampon', kinurot ni Ellen" [Derek got stress d in love scene with Beauty in ‘Kampon’, pinched by Ellen]. Bandera (in Filipino). December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Felipe, MJ (December 11, 2023). "Why '(K)ampon' was pulled out from MMFF 2019". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Derek, back on set; Boyet, when off the set". The Manila Times. December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Serato, Arniel (December 19, 2023). "Atty. Joji Alonso reveals MMFF 2023 entry Kampon first Quantum film to have storyboard". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  5. ^ "Euwenn Mikaell vs Erin Espiritu bilang MMFF 2023 Best Child Performer" [Euwenn Mikaell vs Erin Espiritu for MMFF 2023 Best Child Performer]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Almo, Nherz; Ramos, Jansen (December 15, 2023). "Zeinab Harake, naloka sa intimate scene nila ni Derek Ramsay sa Kampon" [Zeinab Harame went crazy in her intimate scene with Derek Ramsay in Kampon]. GMA Entertainment (in Filipino). Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "'Firefly' among six new films included in official 10-movie list of MMFF". GMA News. October 17, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Derek Ramsay, tiniyak na gagawin ang MMFF 2023 entry na '(K)ampon'". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. July 12, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  9. ^ Lago, Amanda (August 17, 2019). "MMFF clarifies that '(K)ampon' hasn't been pulled out of festival yet". Rappler. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  10. ^ PEP Troika (September 22, 2023). "MMFF 2023 Update: Dalawa na ang nasa post production, dalawa pa ang nagsu-shooting" [MMFF 2023 Update: Two already in post production, another two still filming]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  11. ^ "Replacement for Kris Aquino's MMFF entry revealed". ABS-CBN News. September 3, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  12. ^ Antonio, Josiah (December 27, 2023). "LIST: Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 winners". News.ABS-CBN.com. Retrieved December 28, 2023.