The Aswang (pronounced os-wong) is a mythical Filipino vampire of sorts, said to feed on the unborn fetus of unsuspecting pregnant women as they sleep. Which brings us to Mondo Macabro's latest DVD release, titled interestingly enough, Aswang (aka The Unearthing). Aswang, an independently produced film circa 1994 was shot in and around parts of rural Wisconsin. With a cast that was primarily comprised of local theatre actors and a crew of friends and family, the end result is indeed quite interesting to say the least. Presented in a deluxe special edition DVD from Mondo Macabro let's take a look within and see exactly what it is that Aswang has to offer.

After her boyfriend quietly slips in a healthy and determined sperm, Katrina (Tina Ona Paukstelis) arranges for a contractual adoption, of sorts. Entering into a bizarre agreement with the Null's, Katrina is to travel to the family Orchard to meet with Peter Null's (Norman Moses) mother posing as Peter's wife Jeanine. The unborn heir being Peter's ticket to a family fortune. Upon their arrival at the mansion, Katrina (now going by the name Jeanine) is introduced to mother Null, the family's eccentric Filipino maid Cupid and is warned not to sneak into the connecting cabin that houses Peter's unbalanced sister Claire. After sipping on too much alcoholic cider at dinner, Jeanine dips into some horrific nightmares while Peter uses his exploratory prowess to determine the sex of the unborn child.

The next day Jeanine and Paul happen upon a professor (John Kishline) on sabbatical who's been snooping around the grounds. Of course the sight of this guy infuriates Paul, which leads to the first of many components of a speedy downward spiral for just about everyone. That evening Jeanine experiences her first official Aswang encounter, which is anything but pleasant, yet somehow she manages to thwart the creature's plans. The Aswang uses its flexible tongue (which looks to be able to stretch out many, many feet) to grab its victim and ultimately wrap them in a cocoon like creation after feeding. The attack finds Jeanine venturing into Claire's forbidden cabin which leads to a fight for her (and her baby's) life as the family secret and their disturbing (yet expected) intentions are finally revealed.

First time's a charm here, having never seen or heard of Aswang prior to this viewing I was pleased to find that it's an effectively creepy and creative early 90's independent horror flick. Featuring performances that range from extremely eerie to the downright nutty, Aswang is a very entertaining view. Back in the day, Aswang is the kind of horror flick I would've picked up at West Coast Video sight unseen and have thoroughly enjoyed. It's a pleasure being able to rediscover Aswang today on DVD.

There's a definite build up of tension in Aswang and even though some story elements may be predictable, there are still some pleasant surprises to be found within. Ultimately, in the end it's a very satisfying experience. With a very gritty and serious vibe throughout, the flick is not played off as camp, which could easily be seen as one of the films true strengths. Aswang has a great retro vibe, harking back to some of the true greats of the 70's and 80's pulling its influences from titles like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Evil Dead. There are some great gruesome moments, but the film doesn't depend on this gruesomeness for its success. Aswang is very sure of itself and this confidence makes the whole affair seem all the more legitimate and ultimately effective. There are quite a few low rent special effects on display and I have to admit that I was pretty impressed with the outcome. It's worth noting that the latex tongue of the Aswang (one of the most expensive aspects of the production apparently) broke almost immediately once production began. Still, what they managed to pull off with this piece of latex is quite commendable.

Presented in an anamorphic widescreen transfer (approx. 1.85:1) Aswang looks about as good as an independently shot 16mm production from the early 90's could look. There is a lot of grain (which is to be expected) and colors come off a bit muted in some scenes, but overall Aswang looks quite fine. There are really only a few moments of print damage including a light scratch here, nothing too major. Audio is presented in either a stereo or newly created 5.1 surround mix. The 5.1 mix is very aggressive and at times the ambient sounds can and do over power the dialogue. Just be prepared for some really loud audio scares with the 5.1 track. The stereo mix comes across a bit more natural.

Mondo Macabro certainly didn't skimp on the extras here, that's for sure. First up is a 30-minute featurette entitled Different Than Hollywood, which includes cast and crew interviews and behind the scenes footage. It's a great addition to this release and a really fun watch. Next up are 3 trailers, one of which was used to secure funding for the actual production so it features some alternate scenes and actors, pretty cool. These are followed by the narration of an opening scene that was never filmed due to budgetary restrictions, 2 audition tapes and a couple of still galleries. Finally we're given two feature length audio commentaries, the first of which is with co-directors Wrye Martin and Barry Poltermann moderated by Pete Tombs. The second track is a cast commentary with quite a few of the leads from the film. Both commentaries have their virtues, with the actor commentary coming across a bit more lighthearted. Both tracks are definitely worth a listen if you enjoyed the film itself.

An unexpected surprise, Mondo Macabro's special edition DVD of Aswang comes highly recommended. This is a fun and gruesome indie flick that's just waiting to be rediscovered. The presentation and extras are all top notch just waiting for you to dig right in...so what are you waiting for? Definitely recommended.

For more info on Mondo Macabro visit their UK site by clicking here or their US site located here.