Erik Matti is one of Asia's most ambitious filmmakers. An assistant director to Peque Gallaga, he made his debut with Scorpio Nights 2 (1999), a sequel to his mentor's erotic classic. He has made subversive horrors (Pa-siyam, Seklusyon), world-building fantasy epics (Tiktik, Exodus), gritty crime dramas (Ekis, On the Job) and costumed superhero films (Gagamboy, in-production Darna). While always audience-focused, Matti and his films are becoming more political; they have recently focused on systemic corruption and religious hypocrisy in the Philippines. BuyBust is his headiest achievement yet, spinning high-octane action tropes into a scathing commentary on the ongoing drug war. Here are his favorite Filippino films, in no particular order
1. Of the Flesh (Marilou Diaz-Abaya, 1983)
Watch This Title
2. Oro, Plata, Mata (Peque Gallaga, 1982)
Watch This Title
3. Scorpio Nights (Peque Gallaga, 1985)
4. City After Dark (Ishmael Bernal, 1980)
Buy This Title
5. Misteryo sa Tuwa (Uro Q. dela Cruz, 1984)
6. High School Circa '65 (Maryo J. de los Reyes, 1978)
7. Rage (Chito Roño, 1995)
Buy This Title
8. Itanong Mo Sa Buwan (Chito Roño, 1988)
9. Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak (Celso Ad. Castillo, 1978)
10. Bunso: The Youngest (Ditsi Carolino, 2005 )
