When Grade 8 student John Denver Cabungcal (first-time actor Jansen Magpusao) is accused of stealing an iPad by a bully classmate, Macoy, an altercation ensues which culminates in John Denver bashing Macoy’s face repeatedly. The physical assault is recorded on video, which soon finds its way on Facebook, along with photos of Macoy’s pulped face. In a matter of minutes, John Denver becomes trending.

John Denver Trending is an earnest letter to all the bullies of the world — and also to those who bear false witness against their neighbor, to the social media famewhores, to the liars, to the unforgiving, to the deceivers and to weak and incompetent authorities.

The 14-year-old John Denver, a kid prone to exacting a more brutal revenge against those who offend him, may have been at fault for beating up a classmate, and we painfully experience how he is savagely crucified online. It is strange, however, that it is not the violence perpetrated against Macoy that becomes John Denver’s crime, but the alleged stealing of the iPad. It’s a bit unconvincing that theft is more heinous than physical violence.

Maybe because if the film focuses on the fact that John Denver beat up a classmate, the narrative would be difficult to push through. So it focuses instead on what would hurt the victim the most: being accused of something that he didn’t do.

John Denver is already guilty of physical violence, but he’s not guilty of stealing and writer/director Arden Ron Condez uses this instead to propel the plot. It hurts like hell if you’re falsely accused by a person, but for the entire town charging you of a crime that you didn’t do, with some even jumping in to embellish the lie, it effectively breaks the spirit.

MERYLL Soriano as Denver’s hardworking mother.

John Denver Trending is not just about cyberbullying, it’s also a chilling portrait of a common sin — bearing false witness against your neighbor. It also realistically captures the evil culture of the Internet, particularly social media — a space to condemn, to start crusades, to assassinate a character. A space where cowards hide behind anonymity, where the meek finds his voice, where the bored finds amusement, the insecure to find a sense of belongingness, the evil to fabricate fake news and where gullible victims band together to cast a stone to the current trending Internet villain.

Set in Pandan, Antique, a small town steeped in superstition, with the local Kiniray-a used as the film’s language, the film evokes a strong sense of location and culture. Condez also brilliantly minimizes the use of scoring and chiefly uses the natural sounds and beauty of Pandan’s culture and environment to create mood and atmosphere, such as consistent shots of ritualistic actions of driving away aswangs. These are not just for the sake of aesthetics, but to enhance the boy’s emotional turmoil. That one unforgettable scene of John Denver walking home at night, with sparks of fire behind him, is one of the most beautiful, emotionally charged shots in recent cinematic history.

Condez adroitly builds tension, pressure and horror as the heat against John Denver boils online and offline, which also calls to mind the Ateneo bully (“bugbog o dignidad”) that suffered from cyberbullying. John Denver’s escalating mental and emotional distress leads the viewer to predict the ending, although it still makes a strong message when it happens.

Newcomer Magpusao, who took home the Best Actor award last Sunday, is a revelation, instantly earning your sympathy. He is mostly quiet, whose shock and powerlessness is etched on his face. Meanwhile, Meryll Soriano, who plays John Denver’s hard-working mother, seems miscast for the role, with her very youthful face. Also, Soriano’s performance oftentimes falls into melodrama, too self-aware and studied. That teleserye intonation mildly shatters the realistic treatment of the film. Some of the minor characters are also self-conscious of the camera and the script.

There is a problem with the script. It is bizarre and inconsistent that John Denver seems to be the only one who surrenders his cell phone to the school’s security guard before entering the school’s premises, while most of the students carry their gadgets inside — to record assaults, to capture rehearsals on Facebook live. Even an iPad can be easily charged inside the classroom. Even though it is apparently prohibited, the use of gadgets inside the school is not condemned or mentioned by any faculty member.

The film ends with a text that advocates awareness on an important, sensitive and universal concern. But, surprisingly, it’s not about the criminal act of cyberbullying which this film is hinged upon.

first-time actor Jansen Magpusao as Denver Macabungcal.

Overall, despite some plot holes and minor flawed performances, John Denver Trending, this year’s Cinemalaya Best Feature Film, is mandatory viewing. It’s a provocative film, sharpened by Rommel Sales’ exquisite cinematography. It’s a powerful reminder to everyone and inspires a moral imperative to follow the Biblical teaching of watching your words.

The film also inspires something else: an open communication between parent and child. A child should never hesitate to open up or approach a parent. A parent should never be too busy to ask a child how he is. And the life-saving importance of teaching our children hope and resilience in this cruel, cruel world.

‘John Denver Trending’ took home a total of six Cinemalaya awards in the full-length category on 11 Aug. 2019, namely Best Feature Film, Best Actor for Jansen Magpusao, Best Original Music Score, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and the NETPAC award.