While it might not be the typical Christmas film—featuring a violent action narrative with a lead haunted by a failed jungle mission—Triggered (Topakk) is among the ten films chosen for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), set to premiere across the Philippines on December 25.

Featuring Arjo Atayde and Julia Montes, this Tagalog-language film had its global debut at the Locarno Film Festival in 2023 and has been showcased at various festivals throughout the year. Atayde portrays a former special forces operative turned security guard, grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), who attempts to rescue a woman from corrupt police and a ruthless drug cartel.

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“Filipino families often go out together during the holidays, but I think this film is more suited for fathers and sons, while mothers and daughters might prefer a romantic comedy,” Atayde remarks during a discussion with Deadline. “This is a unique action film for the Philippines, especially in recent times. We’ve shifted away from martial arts, but this project draws inspiration from our director’s passion for 1980s action films.”

Richard Somes, the film’s director and co-writer, has established a reputation in both action and horror genres, aiming to revive the golden era of Filipino action cinema from the ’70s and ’80s, when iconic figures like Eddie Garcia and Fernando Poe Jr. dominated the industry. Despite the action genre’s past popularity in the Philippines, producers have increasingly focused on romantic comedies since the early 2000s, leaving local audiences seeking action to turn to Hollywood or Hong Kong films.

“It’s been predominantly romantic comedies for quite a while—few producers are interested in action,” Atayde notes. “Naturally, action films are more expensive to produce, and budget constraints are a significant factor in the Philippines.”

Known for his roles in crime dramas like Bagman and Cattleya Killer, Atayde comes from a prominent acting family that founded Nathan Studios in 2020 to explore diverse styles and genres within the Filipino film industry.

The studio, led by Atayde’s mother Sylvia Sanchez-Atayde and sister Ria Atayde, partnered with Will Fredo’s Fusee and Somes’ Strawdogs Studio Production to produce Triggered. Raven Banner Entertainment from Canada also joined as a co-producer and is managing international sales.

The film has secured distribution in various regions, including German-speaking countries (Lighthouse), Italy (Blue Swan), Scandinavia (Njuta), Australia & New Zealand (Disruptor), South Korea (Aud), India (Superfine Films), and CIS (Kinologistika). A theatrical release deal for North America is also in progress.

“We established Nathan Studios because we’re all actors who frequently discuss the types of stories we want to see,” Atayde explains. “Eventually, we realized we needed to take matters into our own hands to bring those stories to life.”

Although Atayde has participated in a few romantic comedies, he has not followed a conventional path as an actor in the Philippines. His previous roles include a governor’s henchman in Bagman and a special agent in Cattleya Killer, as well as a violent gang leader in Erik Matti’s Buybust. “Personally, I want to explore roles I haven’t tackled before,” he states. “In this country, we often get pigeonholed into specific roles; I aim to grow, explore, and understand my limitations as an actor.”

To prepare for Triggered, Atayde underwent extensive martial arts and fight training, as well as collaborated with a psychiatrist and former soldiers to grasp the effects of PTSD. “We reviewed numerous videos showcasing various cases and levels of the condition. I wanted to ensure I represented this accurately,” he shares.

“Awareness of mental health issues is still low in the Philippines,” he continues. “We are gradually improving, but the older generation was raised in different times and circumstances, often believing that discussing feelings or mental health struggles is taboo. Films like this can significantly contribute to raising awareness.”

Atayde also seeks to promote awareness through his political role, having served as the representative for Quezon City’s 1st District since his election in 2022. He played a part in drafting the Eddie Garcia Law, which aims to enhance the welfare of artists in the Philippine film industry, both in front of and behind the camera. This bill is named after the late star, who passed away in 2019 due to an accident on set.

The cast and crew of Triggered underwent rigorous training before filming commenced to ensure safety, although some minor injuries are expected in action filmmaking. Atayde is eager to acknowledge his female co-star, Montes, who also faced demanding training during preparation and filming. Her character, a woman striving to protect her younger brother from the drug cartel, is far from a helpless victim and delivers one of the film’s most intense moments when she confronts a villain decisively.

Although Montes was unable to meet with Deadline in person during their time in Manila, she later shared her motivations for taking on the role and the rigorous training she underwent. “I’ve always been a fighter and advocate for causes that protect women and children, so this character resonated deeply with me,” she explains. “The shoot was physically demanding and challenging, but it was also refreshing because I was heavily involved in shaping my character. I wanted it to be authentic, so I performed my own stunts with the assistance of our stunt master and director.”

Somes collaborated with Erwin Tagle, a professional MMA fighter, to choreograph the action sequences, including an extensive fight scene at the film’s climax where Atayde and Montes’ characters face off against the main antagonist in a torrential downpour. This scene took three days to film, during which the production experienced a real rainstorm that added to the atmosphere but also left the cast and crew soaked and cold.

“Erwin has worked on numerous films and television shows, but I believe this is the first time he was given such creative freedom, thanks to his excellent rapport with our director, allowing them to experiment together,” Atayde remarks. “If you’ve seen Direk Richard on set, he’s the one energetically running around, enthusiastically directing the action. He’s a very passionate and hands-on director.”

Atayde’s future projects include a third season of Bagman with ABS-CBN, this time with a higher budget, and a noir crime thriller titled Moonglow alongside Isabel Sandoval. He is also collaborating with Nathan Studios on a superhero film that will showcase one of the few martial arts the Philippines is known for, Arnis or stick fighting.

Nathan Studios is increasingly engaging in international co-productions, partnering with Japan’s Loaded Films and Singapore’s Momo Film Co on various projects, while also acquiring international titles, such as Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster, for release in the Philippines.

Atayde emphasizes that these efforts are part of a broader initiative to enhance the international visibility of Philippine cinema. “During my travels with Triggered, I realized our cinema lacks a distinct brand outside our borders. While action and romantic comedies are popular, I believe we should also explore drama,” he asserts. “We could aspire to create works on par with [Korean Oscar-winner] Parasite. As a sensitive and family-oriented culture, I’m confident there are numerous stories we can share with the world.”

Person: Arjo Atayde, Julia Montes, Richard Somes, Eddie Garcia, Fernando Poe Jr, Sylvia Sanchez-Atayde, Ria Atayde, Isabel Sandoval

Company Names: Nathan Studios, Fusee, Strawdogs Studio Production, Raven Banner Entertainment, Lighthouse, Blue Swan, Njuta, Disruptor, Aud, Superfine Films, Kinologistika, ABS-CBN, Loaded Films, Momo Film Co

Titles: Triggered (Topakk), Bagman, Cattleya Killer, Moonglow, Monster, Parasite

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