• Entry: “Ang Darling Kong Aswang”
• Production: OctoArts, M-Zet Productions and APT Entertainment
• Direction: Tony Y. Reyes
• Story and Screenplay: Marvic Sotto, Tony Y. Reyes and Bibeth Orteza
• Cast: Vic Sotto, Cristine Reyes, Agot Isidro, Jean Garcia, Richie d’Horsie, Wally Bayola, Dante Rivero, Barbie Forteza, Mica dela Cruz, Rafael Rosell, Jackie Rice, Denise Laurel and Empress Schuck

Actor and producer Vic "Bossing" Sotto continues his winning streak with “Ang Darling Kong Aswang,” his eighth blockbuster Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry in a row.

This is quite a feat for a comedian who’s already a fixture on the boob tube as a main host of the longest-running daily noontime show, “Eat Bulaga,” dishing out basically the same kind of jokes and antics on almost every telecast.

Then again this familiarity with his audience is the reason Vic’s flicks click. He knows what his fans expect from him and he gives it to them – with a bonus.

Unlike his past film fest hits, notably the thoroughly wholesome “Enteng Kabisote” franchise, “Darling” offers general patronage-sexiness embodied by his leading lady Cristine Reyes with her fellow vampires Jackie Rice, Denise Laurel, Empress Schuck and Rafael Rosell whose well-defined muscles match the ladies’ enviable curves and alluring tresses.
Vic plays Victor, a widower charmed by Eliza (Reyes) whom he marries after getting the approval of his kids (Barbie Forteza and Mica dela Cruz). He takes in comedic stride the difficulties of having a darling vampire, who thankfully prefers animal blood and organs but unfortunately can’t help herself from transforming into a ferocious canine during the bewitching hour.

Things get worse when Eliza is traced by some tribe mates (Rice, Laurel and Schuck) and they wreak havoc on her family. To shield Victor and his loved ones from further harm, Eliza tries to settle the score with the head vampire (Jean Garcia) whose son (Rosell) is her ardent and malevolent suitor. Eliza once again rejects him and becomes an exile in the process.

Victor, with sidekicks Tom (Richie d’Horsie) and Jerry (Wally Bayola), goes to a shaman for weapons and a priest for blessing. They succeed in rescuing his wife but the vampires pursue them on their way home till they almost reach the church, where Eliza – after the good prevails upon the evil – is eventually exorcised from her inner aswang.

The movie offers a few surprises and relies more on usual tricks like physical comedy and TV ad spoofs but it manages to tickle the funny bones often enough to keep the viewer entertained.