Robin does ‘unusual’ role

The public has seen Robin Padilla in all kinds of action roles–from an ex-convict to a carnapper to a juvenile delinquent–and how movie fans loved him for it!

In his latest movie, Viva Films’ 2004 Manila Filmfest entry Kulimlim directed by Maryo de los Reyes from a story and screenplay by Roy Iglesias, Robin veers away from the usual and the expected by tackling a "thriller" role which movie fans will surely find a welcome change.

"It’s something new," said Robin who has also shown his comedic talent in his ABS-CBN sitcom (with Judy Ann Santos) Basta’t Kasama Kita. "When I read the script, I said, ‘Aba naiiba ang role na ’to.’ I could hardly wait for the shooting to start."

In Kulimlim, Robin plays Jake Cabrera, who finds himself possessed by the evil spirits of his wife’s rapist.

As the story goes, the three rapists known as Tres Demonyos are freed after eight years in prison by a Supreme Court verdict which finds them innocent.

With the help of a retired colonel, Jake takes the law into his own hands and decides to, so to speak, wipe the Tres Demonyos from the face of the earth with the help of the colonel’s men.

But a strange thing happens to Jake on his way home. His car is hit by a truck and he emerges from the wreck with his forehead bleeding profusely.

Back home, he starts acting strangely, assuming the three evil men’s characteristics. He starts to limp like the first rapist, stutter like the second rapist and shave his head like the third rapist. In short, Jake is possessed by the three spirits of the Tres Demonyos.

The rest of the story focuses on how Jake’s wife and children try to escape his wrath and to "exorcise" him of the three spirits.

Kulimlim also stars Tanya Garcia as Robin’s wife Hannah, Ryan Eigenmann, Jhong Hilario and Omar of the Masculados as the rapists; and Ronaliza Ching and Joshua Dionisio as Robin’s daughter and son (actually conceived by Hannah courtesy of the rapists), respectively.