Spirit Warriors: The Shortcut

Spirit Warriors: The Shortcut (sometimes referred to as Spirit Warriors 2) is a 2003 Filipino fantasy horror adventure film directed by Chito S. Roño, and a sequel to the 2000 film Spirit Warriors. The film was written and directed by Chito S. Roño with screenplay by Roy C. Iglesias. It was distributed by Regal Films.

Spirit Warriors: The Shortcut
Collector's Edition DVD cover
Directed byChito S. Roño
Written by
  • Chito S. Roño
  • Roy C. Iglesias
Screenplay byRoy C. Iglesias
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyNeil Daza
Edited byVito Cajili
Music byJessie Lasaten
Production
company
Distributed byRegal Films
Release date
  • January 1, 2003 (2003-01-01)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino
Budget80,000,000.00 (estimated)
Box office₱76,777,542.95

Plot

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Taking from where they last left off, Red and his gang are asked by Harry, a wealthy benefactor to complete a quest for him, and in exchange provide Red with a hefty payment. Red refuses, understanding that any connection to the supernatural could lead to trouble. Unfortunately, Red's grandmother suffers a stroke as he was refusing the offer, convincing him to take the quest. The quest was to find the missing piece of an Agimat (a mystical amulet which have powers to heal, protect its owner from harm, and even from death). His friends, Thor, Buboy, Jigger, and Ponce do not fully understand the task until they are given a warning by the Taga-Pagbantay (The Guardian) , a mystical being which is a half-human and half-giant, told them that Red has joined a quest and needs their help. They suspected it is Harry's plan and make their way to their friend.

They arrive at an old ancestral house where they see Red lying on a sofa and unaware that his destiny was to search for the missing piece of agimat. The ancestral house turns out to be a portal or a "Shortcut" to the world of the dead and creatures of the unknown. They first encounter a Tikbalang (a large half horse and half man), followed by Aswangs (flesh-eaters) and Tiyanaks (baby-like flesh-eaters), then Mermaids in the river who bring them to the Lugar ng mga Alon (Land of the Waves) where Red and Thor fight with their doppelgangers and get the missing piece of the agimat. While Red and Thor are in the Land of the Waves; Jigger, Ponce, and Buboy find their way back to the world of the living. As Red finally has the missing piece, they decide to go back to the living. But their mission does not end here, they still have to do a final task: playing a deadly game of chase with dead people, only winning by saving the last card "The Ace of Diamonds" so that Red will share the same faith, and they travel back in time to give the agimat to the Babaylan (Witch Doctor) and give her eternal peace.

Cast

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Main roles

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Supporting roles

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  • Roy Alvarez as Nathan's stepfather
  • Dexter Doria as Ponce's mother
  • Connie Chua as the Babaylan
  • Daniel Pasia as the church caretaker
  • Marissa Sanchez as Thor's food crew partner
  • Warren Austria as Tony
  • Marlou Aquino as the Taga-pagbantay (The Guardian)

Production

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The majority of the visual effects were handled by Roadrunner Network, Inc. while the creature effects were done by Mountain Rock Productions.

See also

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Awards

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Year Award-Giving Body Category Recipient Result
2002 Metro Manila Film Festival[1] Third Best Picture Spirit Warriors: The Shortcut Won
Best Visual Effects Roadrunner Network, Inc. Won
Best Make-up Artist Warren Munar Won

References

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  1. ^ "Metro Manila Film Festival:2002". IMDB. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
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