Metro Manila

Early scenes suggest English director Sean Ellis's third feature is going to be an earnest depiction of the plight of the poor in the Philippines, with farmer Oscar Ramirez (Jake Macapagal) getting so little for his rice that he's forced to look for work in the venal urban sprawl of Manila, with wife and children in tow. Oscar is then scammed out of the little money he does have, but gets lucky when he lands a job as a security guard for an armoured truck company. Suddenly the film shifts towards John Woo territory, with a secret stash of cash, lethal gunplay and the sort of disfigured villain that would not look out of place in a James Bond movie. The film is impressively tight and clever as it gathers pace towards a strong conclusion, though some plot points do raise queries - for instance, why does Oscar's wife need to work as a hostess once her husband has his new job? But, on the whole, Ellis has produced an engaging and satisfying thriller, which is far removed from his vapid 2005 debut feature, Cashback.