''Kamandag ng Droga'' () is a 2017 Philippine film directed by

Carlo J. Caparas Carlo Magno Jose Caparas (March 12, 1943 – May 24, 2024) was a Filipino comic strip creator and writer-turned film director and producer. He is best known for creating such Filipino superheroes and comic book characters as Panday, Bakekan ...

. The film tackles how illegal drugs affect the lives of four teenagers.

Production

''Kamandag ng Droga'' was directed by

, an admitted supporter of President

Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the first Philippine president from Mindanao, and is the oldest person to assum ...

who is known for his campaign against illegal drugs and whose footage was used in the film. Carparas said that he was inspired to direct the film by his wife who requested him to work on a film that would tackle the "really rampant drug situation" in the country. Caparas and his wife said that they have seen relatives fall to

drug addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to use a drug or engage in a behavior that produces natural reward, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use can ...

. The production budget for the film produced by

Viva Films Viva Films, Inc. (also known as Viva Films, stylized as VIVA Films) is a Philippine film production and distribution company owned by Viva Communications. It was founded in 1981 by Vic del Rosario Jr. and his sister Tess Cruz. Viva Films is o ...

was . Filming of ''Kamandag ng Droga'' was finished in late 2016 but editing work on the film proceeded almost a year later due to the death of Caparas' wife, Donna Villa. Caparas said that the film is not a propaganda in favor of Duterte and his anti-drug campaign. He says that the film is a "cry against drugs whose effect affects the family of those addicted to them, thus bringing a lot of damage to the entire community" and intends the film as medium to remind Filipinos that the illegal drug situation in the country could be resolved through cooperation with authorities and law enforcers.

Release

The film premiered on December 5, 2017.

Critical reception

Francis Joseph Cruz of

Rappler Rappler (portmanteau of the words "rap" and "ripples") is a Mass media in the Philippines, Filipino online news website based in Pasig, Metro Manila, the Philippines. It was founded by 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and convicted cyberlibelist ...

, an editorial news website critical of Duterte was critical of ''Kamandag ng Droga'' calling it a "grand showcase of lazy filmmaking" and a propaganda. He described the characters as two-dimensional and their motivation as flimsy. He added that the film's portrayal of the country's illegal drug problem as simplistic.

References

{{Carlo J. Caparas Films about the illegal drug trade Films directed by Carlo J. Caparas