Ten Little Mistresses Explained

Ten Little Mistresses
Director:	Jun Lana
Cinematography:	Carlo Canlas Mendoza
Editing:	Benjamin Tolentino
Music:	Teresa Barrozo
Studio:	The IdeaFirst Company Quantum Productions
Distributor:	Amazon Prime Video
Country:	Philippines
Language:	Filipino

Ten Little Mistresses (released locally as Sampung Mga Kerida)^[1] is a 2023 Philippine black comedy mystery film. The film was produced by The IdeaFirst Company in association with Quantum Productions and is the first Filipino-produced film to be launched on Amazon Prime Video.^{[2] [3]}

The film stars Eugene Domingo and John Arcilla, with the 10 "mistresses" portrayed by Pokwang, Carmi Martin, Agot Isidro, Kris Bernal, Arci Muñoz, Christian Bables, Sharlene San Pedro, Iana Bernardez, Kate Alejandrino, and Adrianna So. The title of the film is a reference to the American nursery rhyme Ten Little Indians and Filipino's "Sampung mga Daliri."^[4] The film debuted at number one in the Amazon Top Prime Videos in the Philippines.^[5]

Synopsis

The film follows the story of a widowed billionaire, Valentin Esposo, and his ten mistresses who want to become his new legal wife. After Esposo gathers his mistresses together and apologizes for mistreating them, he dies at the gathering. All 10 women end up as suspects in his death.^[6]

Cast and characters

• Eugene Domingo as Lilith, Esposo's head maid. Lilith became Valentin's fiancé after his wife's death.
• John Arcilla as Valentin, the billionaire who invited his ten mistresses to his palace for his 60th birthday to end things with them and to announce his marriage to Lilith.
• Pokwang as Babet, Valentin's second mistress after Magenta and the mother of one of his children.
• Carmi Martin as Magenta, Valentin's first mistress, who has insecurities about Babet.
• Agot Isidro as Helga, one of Valentin's mistresses and a well-known dermatologist, who falls in love with Valentin's wit, caring attitude, and wealth.
• Kris Bernal as Diva, Helga's former assistant.
• Arci Muñoz as Aura, a faith healer who has selective foresight. She predicts that a terrible event will happen on Valentin's birthday, but is unable to foresee Valentin's murderer.
• Christian Bables as Lady G., the sibling of the original Lady G., a deceased mistress of Valentin, who wants to avenge their sister, making them the initial primary suspect in Valentin's killing.
• Iana Bernardez as Coco, the tenth mistress.
• Kate Alejandrino as Sparkle, a beauty queen who advocates woman empowerment.
• Adrianna So as Because, a social media influencer named Because because of her repeated "because?" remarks during conversation.
• Donna Cariaga as Chicklet, Lilith's second-in-command.
• Cherry Pie Picache as Charo, Valentin's wife.
• Sharlene San Pedro as Moon-Young, the youngest of the mistresses. She likes to make references to Korean dramas.

Production

Filming

Filming was scheduled to begin in early 2021, but was delayed for budgetary reasons.^[7] One of the producers, Perci Intalan, approached Prime Video and obtained funding.^{[8] [9]} The film began principal photography in late 2022 and began filming early 2023 with various locations in Alitagtag, Batangas, Philippines and in Club Morocco Beach Resort & Country Club in Subic, Zambales, Philippines.^[10]

Costume design

Jaylo Conanan served as the costume designer and Jaydee Jasa designed the wigs for the film, drawing inspiration from "extravaganza" and "drag".^[11] The costumes were designed to be "loud" and embellished, with large hair-pieces worn by the mistresses.^[12] The producers described the costumes as "campy" and "colorful".

Themes

The film's cast and crew explained that the film was released on Valentine's Day to highlight women's worth and self-respect. Domingo credited director and producer Jun Lana for focusing on women's beauty, stating, “The point is, we are very beautiful. We are the most beautiful God has created. ... Do not settle for anyone who is less than what you deserve”.

Release

On February 7, 2023, a special screeneing for the cast was hosted at Red Carpet Cinemas in Shangri La Mall.^[13] The first teaser was released on January 13, 2023, by Amazon Prime.^[14] It was released worldwide on February 15, 2023.

Reception

Kristofer Purnell of The Philippine Star gave the film a positive review, noting the film's similarity to Agatha Christie novels and Knives Out, and applauding the film for its incorporation of Filipino culture and its embrace of camp.^[15] Aldous Vince Cabildo from Tripzilla called the film hilarious and praised the film's ensemble cast.^[16] Fred Hawson of ABS-CBN News gave the film a mixed review, noting the visual spectacle and outlandish costume design, while critiquing gaps in the plot and the mistresses' backstories.^[17] Em Enriquez of Preview described the film as an "in-your-face" type of comedy, noting its feminist undertones.^[18] She concluded that the film takes "hints of sarcasm and humor and puts them on steroids. It uses them to propel forward the moral of the story without sacrificing a bloody good time for the viewers. By the time the credits roll, the message is expressed loud and clear." Le Baltar from Rappler gave the film an average review, situating the film in the "kabit" (infidelity) genrenoting its similarities to Chito Roño’s Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin (1994), Ruel Bayani’s No Other Woman (2011), and Rory Quintos and Dado Lumibao’s The Legal Wife (2014)and remarking upon the film's progressive lens.^[19] Philip Cu Unjieng of the Manila Bulletin also offered a mixed review, praising Eugene Domingo's performance, but criticizing the film for an "excess of camp" that felt like "the dramatization and extension of a gay bar stand-up act".^[20] Nylon Manila's Rafael Bautista highlighted Domingo's performance, calling her a comedy queen.^[21] He also praised Cariaga for her delivery of "the most random statements at the most unlikely of times, with no inflection in her voice whatsoever". Indonesian film critic Bavner Donaldo of Cinejour highlighted the film as an instant cult.^[22]

Soundtrack

The film featured an original song in its opening scene, titled as "Sampung mga Kerida". The main soundtrack for the film is Maymay Entrata's "Amakabogera", released in 2021.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Purnell . Kristofer . First Filipino Prime Video original film 'Ten Little Mistresses' releases first-look photos, premiere date . 7 March 2023 . philstar.com . Philippine Star.
2. Web site: Ten Little Mistresses . 7 March 2023 . primevideo.com . PrimeVideo.
3. Web site: Ng . Scott . John Arcilla set to star in Amazon's first-ever original Filipino film 'Ten Little Mistresses' . nme.com . December 21, 2022 . NME . 7 March 2023.
4. Web site: Prime Video announces premiere for first Filipino original movie, 'Ten Little Mistresses' . manilstandard.net . December 25, 2022 . Manila Standard . 7 March 2023.
5. Web site: Olea . Jerry . Ten Little Mistresses, number one agad sa Prime Video sa first streaming day nito . pep.ph . PEP . 11 March 2023.
6. Web site: Basco . Karl Cedric . 'Ten Little Mistresses' has message for women on Valentine's Day: Don't settle for less . news.abs-cbn.com . ABS-CBN News . 7 March 2023.
7. Web site: Smith . Chuck . Enjoy life as a woman': 'Ten Little Mistresses' is a 'mistress murder mystery' viewed from a modern mindset . 7 March 2023 . philstarlife.com . Philippine Star.
8. Web site: Hicap . Jonathan . 'Ten Little Mistresses' holds world gala premiere ahead of release on Prime Video . 7 March 2023 . mb.com.ph . Manila Bulletin.
9. Web site: February 13, 2023 . Jun Lana gathers unique mix for mistress movie . 7 March 2023 . bworldonline.com . Business World Online.
10. Web site: Ten Little Mistresses . 7 March 2023 . imdb.com . IMDb.
11. Web site: Ten Little Mistresses Full Credits . 7 March 2023 . imdb.com . IMDb.
12. Web site: Gianan . Chlarine . January 17, 2023 . Ten Little Mistresses Mixes Two Filipino Cult Classic Filipino Genres . 7 March 2023 . mega.onemega.com . One Mega.
13. Web site: Amado . Alfredo . Scenes From The "Ten Little Mistresses" World Gala Premiere . metro.style . Metro Style . 7 March 2023.
14. Web site: Prime Video releases teaser for 'Ten Little Mistresses' starring Eugene Domingo, Pokwang and more . gmanetwork.com . January 13, 2023 . GMA Network . 7 March 2023.
15. Web site: Purnell . Kristoffer . Spotlight on Filipino camp, costume design: 'Ten Little Mistresses' review . 7 March 2023 . philstar.com . Philippines Star.
16. Web site: Cabaldo . Aldous Vince . TEN LITTLE MISTRESSES IS THE FIRST FILIPINO-PRODUCED MOVIE ON PRIME VIDEO . tripzilla.ph . February 10, 2023 . Tripzilla . 7 March 2023.
17. Web site: Hawson . Fred . Prime Video review: Can 'Ten Little Mistresses' live up to hype? . 8 March 2023 . news.abs-cbn.com . ABS-CBN News.
18. Web site: Enriquez . Em . "Ten Little Mistresses" Is the Women Empowerment Movie We Didn't Know We Needed to See . preview.ph . Preview . 11 March 2023.
19. Web site: Baltar . Le . 'Ten Little Mistresses' review: A murder mystery that thrives on excess . rappler.com . February 16, 2023 . Rappler . 11 March 2023.
20. Web site: Unjieng . Philip Co . Jun's Amazon adventure: A review of 'Ten Little Mistresses' . mb.com.ph . Manila Bulletin . 11 March 2023.
21. Web site: Bautista . Rafael . February 16, 2023 . 4 THINGS WE ADORED (AND WE DIDN'T) ABOUT TEN LITTLE MISTRESSES . 11 March 2023 . nylonmanila.com . Nylon Manila.
22. Web site: Donaldo . Bavner . 2023-03-17 . Review Film #701 - The Little Mistresses (2023) . 2024-03-06 . Cinejour.