3 years after it was announced, the film adaptation of “Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan” by author Bob Ong is finally streaming on Amazon Prime Video this May 18. The film stars award-winning Joshua Garcia alongside veteran actress Angie Ferro. It was noted that the film had significant delays mainly because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Nakakakilabot, nakakagimbal, at mapapaisip! Malapit nang mabuklat ang mga mensahe ni Mama Susan," the Black Sheep Facebook post stated.
Ready for the spooks?
It's not an exaggeration to say that Bob-Ong made our high school memories worth memorable. We would swap our copies of his books with our classmates and read them on our breaks. Bob Ong writes in a way that we can relate to as Filipinos. He writes in a conversational and humorous way. We also had an easy time inserting ourselves into the narratives of his books as Filipino youth, as some of his books talk about our struggles.
After “ABNKKBSNPLAko!” and “Lumayo Ka Nga sa Akin” we’re now having another film adaptation of his books.
“Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan” is Bob Ong’s attempt to dip and venture into a horror-mystery genre that is different and fresh from his usual comedic books.
It depicts the story of university student Galo Manansala through his journal entries that recount his suspenseful encounters. Galo, a city boy, is thrust back into the island of Tarmanes in a backward town, where his gravely ill grandmother Mama Susan resides. With a mysterious island, secret rooms, and rituals being performed every week, this is a horror-mystery book worthy of being one of the bestsellers of 2010.
Adding to the spooks and magnetic tension the film is directed by award-winning horror director and genre master Chito S. Roño who also directed films like “Feng Shui,” and “The Healing”.
This is brimming with unsettling mystery while also, at the same time, Bob Ong flawlessly inserts his usual humor. The only problem with this book is that it’s too short! So maybe the movie adaptation will help appease us. Let us see this May 18.
