Verdict (2019)

Verdict: Directed by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez. With Max Eigenmann, Kristoffer King, Jordhen Suan, Rene Durian. Abused and battered wife, Joy, stands up for justice against her alcoholic husband, Dante, in a turmoil process of the justice system.

“Raymond Ribay Gutierrez instantly throws the audience into the fray of a marriage thatu0026#39;s in its last legs. Thereu0026#39;s not much a hint as to why the husband is trying to rein in his wife in such a brutish way in front of their only child. By the time the five-minute mark comes, the director ushers in a very unflattering and veristic law enforcement and criminal justice system procedural that is seldom depicted in Philippine cinema which has heavily relied on mawkishness to tell of such stories.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat is seen in the film is criminal justice system though very much modeled from the American judicial system, it is one that has instead opted to forego the adoption of the jury system, thus leaving the court judge to determine and to weigh the facts presented to him in cases and handing out decisions just like that of a domestic violence suit that was presented.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA downer of a film, especially with that ambiguous retching ending that is unparalleled in Philippine cinema history.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003enAn alpha, this one.”