MANILA -- Director Richard Somes explained the meaning of the title of his hardcore action movie "Topakk," which stars Arjo Atayde.
"Basically 'topak' is already a street slang. So I said if it's a street slang for someone who is crazy, so let' try to be more creative with the title since it's slang," he said in an interview on Radyo 630 TeleRadyo Serbisyo's "Gising Pilipinas" on Monday.
"That's why it's double K, to give some element of surprise also. Intrigued why it's double K, because you have two personality, matino (sane) and then suddenly he was triggered. So that's the history of double K," Somes said.
According to Somes, the action-packed movie, which is an official entry to this year's Metro Manila Manila Film Festival (MMFF), also tackles mental health.
"The character of Arjo has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because he's a soldier who came from a very devastating experience. He carried over his mental illness as he wanted to pursue and survive, of course, his day-to-day. His PTSD was triggered when someone was killed in front of him and then all hell breaks loose na kaagad. That's when the action comes in," said Somes who wrote the script during the pandemic.
Somes said news about war and the country's drug war inspired him to write the story.
"Then the idea came -- what makes someone be triggered, snapped? So my question, there's something that triggered them. It just so happens that we don't recognize because Philippines is communal. Like, if you have a problem 'it's just okay' but we are not looking at the deeper issue on what's really happening inside someone's head who's suffering from mental illness," Somes said.
"Topakk" also stars Julia Montes, Sid Lucero, Enchong Dee, and others.
"Watch out for them kasi they transform from different character most especially si Arjo and also Julia Montes will give you the surprise of your life. I think this is the next step for Julia Montes as an actress," Somes said as he invited everyone to watch "Topakk" and all MMFF entries beginning this Christmas Day, December 25.
"Topakk" has received two ratings from Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), the one is R-18, which is "more grittier and bloodier." The other rating is R-16 , which is less gore compared to the R-18 cut.
Hardcore action film 'Topakk' receives 2 ratings from MTRCB
"Topakk" will be shown in SM and Robinson's cinemas and hoping to reach more cinemas in the province.
Coco Martin bumilib sa action scenes ni Julia Montes sa ‘Topakk’
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