Dear Satan, later renamed Dear Santa, is an unreleased Philippine Christmas horror film directed by RC Delos Reyes under Mavx Productions and stars Paolo Contis and Sienna Stevens. The film depicts a story of a child accidentally writing a letter to Satan rather than Santa Claus. The film garnered controversy over its title and the depiction of Satan as a redeemable character.
| Dear Satan | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | RC Delos Reyes |
| Starring |
|
Production company | Mavx Productions |
| Distributed by | Black Cap Pictures |
| Country | Philippines |
Premise
editChichi (Sienna Stevens) writes a letter to Santa Claus for Christmas but accidentally misspells Santa's name. This leads to the letter finding its way to Satan (Paolo Contis), who answers to the girl's wishes. Satan attempts to tempt Chichi to evil, but the girl's virtues resists the demon's plans and changes him instead.
Cast
edit- Paolo Contis as Satan; he receives a letter from a little girl which was actually meant for Santa Claus but misspells "Santa" as "Satan". Satan in the film is depicted as a redeemable character who initially attempts to be a bad influence to the girl. Contis reasons that Satan was chosen to play a role in the film due to be a clear depiction of evil. However, Contis admits that the audience of the trailer noticed that Satan as being "too nice" and justified holding back from playing the character at his worst since Dear Satan is ultimately still a children's film.[1]
- Sienna Stevens as Chichi; the girl who accidentally writes a letter to Satan. She withstands Satan's temptations due to her strong faith. She is intended as a personification of "child-like faith" which the production of the film meant to promote.[1]
- Aya Fernandez[2]
Production
editDear Satan was produced under Mavx Productions with RC Delos Reyes as the film's director.[3] The film was made under the workshop script of Mowelfund.[4] The story concept was by Paolo Contis.[1]
The film nevertheless received controversy over its initial title Dear Satan, with Mavx announcing it would change the film's name in August 2024 "to better align with its intended message and to respect the sensitivities of the audience". The production team explained that Dear Satan revolves around the concept of good versus evil, where an innocent child who "overcomes temptations through strong faith".[3] By this time the film was already finished and "fully edited".[1]
Planned release
editThe film was scheduled to be released theatrically in the Philippines on September 18, 2024.[5] However the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) gave Dear Satan an X rating barring it from public exhibition in cinemas.[4] Mavx Productions no longer appealed to the MTRCB. There are plans to have the film released straight-to-home media via Netflix but no release date yet has been announced.[6]
MTRCB rating
editMTRCB chair Lala Sotto-Antonio, who personally viewed the film along with the board, explaining Dear Satan's X rating said that the film was offensive to her as a Christian, particularly the depiction of Satan as redeeming himself insisting that "Satan will never ever be good".[4]
Despite the film being renamed as Dear Santa, the MTRCB upheld its X rating, saying that the film’s positive depiction of Satan served as “an attack on fundamental belief of the Catholic and Christian faiths.”[7]
The Directors' Guild of the Philippines said that the MTRCB had "evident overreach" insisting that the film does not glorify evil and that Dear Satan "challenges conventional depictions of antagonists, suggesting that even those considered inherently bad can change for the better".[8]
See also
edit- My Guardian Debil, a 1998 Filipino supernatural comedy film about a demon who finds redemption and is in fact an angel
- Anak ng Demonyo, a 1989 Filipino horror and drama film
- Dear Santa, a 2024 American film starring Jack Black with a similar plot
References
edit- ^ a b c d Cruz, Marinel (August 30, 2024). "Paolo Contis on changing 'Dear Satan' title: We're being sensitive to viewers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "Paolo Contis, Sienna Stevens to star in new movie 'Dear Satan'". GMA News. August 13, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Kang, Kristine (August 24, 2024). "Mavx Productions addresses concerns about 'Dear Satan'". GMA Entertainment. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Argosino, Faith (September 3, 2024). "'Dear Satan' offends me as a Christian, says MTRCB chief Lala Sotto". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Llemit, Kathleen (August 25, 2024). "Paolo Contis' starrer 'Dear Satan' to change title after backlash". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "American Dear Santa, mauuna pang ipalabas sa local Dear Santa" [American Dear Santa, to be released first ahead of local Dear Santa]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "MTRCB upholds X rating of 'Dear Satan'". Rappler. September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ Pasajol, Anne (September 10, 2024). "MTRCB's X rating on 'Alipato at Muog,' 'Dear Satan' an 'overreach of mandate' — DGPI". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 10, 2024.