A drug war’s been waging through the Philippines and no movie showcases that better this year than Watch List. Filmed entirely on location, Watch List is the 3rd film from writer/director Ben Rehki.
After her husband’s mysteriously murdered, a young woman will do anything to protect her family. Filled with questions, she embarks on a path that will take her face to face with the deadly underbelly of the drug war.
The government’s instituted a new drug rehabilitation program that keeps a list of former users and pushers. This list’s purpose was to lead them to a path of sobriety and civil obedience.
Although the purpose of the program is to rehabilitate, the list appears to only target people of lower income. Facing possible future consequences, most citizens surrender to the police immediately.
Turo and Maria (Alessandra de Rossi) used to be users, but since changed their ways by raising their three kids a small home. This doesn’t stop the local police from harassing them as their names appear on the list.
Reluctantly surrendering, the couple now have to opt into the program. During an outdoor exercise, we learn from Turo’s nephew, Joel, that his dad was also placed into the same program.
Growing up together, Joel and Turo’s son, Mark, became good friends but drifted towards different paths. Joel’s father met a deadly end despite a promise of a better life which greatly impacted Joel’s life.
Turo juggles two jobs to make ends meet for his family. He spends his nights driving a bike taxi through town while Maria takes care of the children. It’s a tough existence but one that works for them.
After one long night, Maria is suddenly awakened to find out Turo has been shot and killed. Left on his body is a sign stating ‘DRUG USER – DON’T BE LIKE HIM’. With a small amount of drugs found on him, the cops believe he was still dealing. Maria knows otherwise.
Facing an uncertain future, Maria must now bear the stigma of her own past along with Turo’s death. President Duterte’s rise to power was on a campaign against drugs, both the users and pushers.
Maria knows this but has to continue to do what she can to provide for her children. With no where else to turn, she enlists her services to the police.
The police attack the drug world on two fronts. To ensure there is no refusal for their rehabilitation program, the police wage war at night against those who decide against surrendering.
It’s here, where the police enforce their most staunch warning on using drugs. Vigilante death squads, sanctioned by the government, search through the slums looking for pushers.
There’s no trial, no jury, only executioners who act with impunity. In a turn of events, Maria (with the aid of a cold assassin played by Arthur Acuña) becomes the same person she sought to catch.
Ben Rehki delivers a tough, gripping drama with Watch List. It dives beyond the newspaper headlines and into the thick of this calculated drug war, Watch List never shies away from violence.
Watch List never shies away from showing audiences the reality of these streets. It’s been reported that 27,000 lives have been lost from extrajudicial killings over the last 5 years.
These acts of violence are widely accepted by the public either out of fear of retaliation or acceptance that this is the only way. In a film like this, it’s difficult to separate where reality ends and fiction begins.
Alessandra de Rossi performance is the highlight of Watch List. She beautifully captures a mother’s maternal instincts, and the lengths one would go through to protect her children.
Seeing her impoverished life, her actions become that much more plausible. When Maria first joins the group, it’s her belief that this work is for the betterment of the community.
Despite her grievances, she goes along naively trusting the police because she has no other choice. Maria has a difficult task balancing a double life. Alessandra convincingly resonates her inner struggle as she weighs her own actions.
Maria isn’t alone in dealing with this new reality. Growing up in the neighborhood, Mark must deal with the same perception as others on the list despite never touching drugs himself. It’s easy to see how so many kids turn to a life of crime when there is no viable alternative.
Without his mom around to confide in, Mark flees to Joel who is already deeply involved in the drug world.
In the tense climax, Watch List proves how unfair this world can be. Maria’s story ends like many others in this system. No matter how much you claw your way to a better life, there’s forces at work that’ll never change.
It’s a grim reminder that it’s not so much about the choices you have made, but about how in the end, they don’t matter when there is a system in place working against you.
Uncompromising in its vision, Watch List shows how a failed system can tear a family apart. Elevated by a strong performance from Alessandra de Rossi, Watch List shakes you to the core by offering an unfiltered glimpse into the front of the drug war.
