Vivamax: Review of KATAS: Maids' Miseries

February 9, 2024

Carmina (Sahara Bernales) was the new maid in the household of eccentric millionaire matron Grace (Yda Manzano) and her younger husband Alex (Chester Grecia). She was oriented to her duties by Sabel (Cariz Manzano), who had been working there for five years. The other maid was Anna (Mara Jalipa), who was in a serious relationship with the gardener Berto (Ardy Raymundo) and were saving up for their future home back in Negros. 

Despite their 20-year age gap, Grace's sexual relationship with Alex was still very active. However, Alex also had all the other maids at his beck and call for his carnal desires, especially when they need extra cash for their families (which they always did). Despite warnings, Carmina still fell under Alex's irresistible spell. Will she go the way of the last maid Monica (Aria Bench), who disappeared under mysterious circumstances?

This new Vivamax film is written and directed by Rodante Y. Pajemna, Jr. He was a director of music videos since 2015, until Vivamax gave him a big break to write and direct his feature film debut last year with "Punit na Langit." He attempted a more complex story here, involving multiple characters, combining aspects of family drama with a hint of mystery on top of the signature eroticism. However, how the story would go was predictable early on.

Pajemna got his "Punit" leading man Chester Grecia back to have wild sex scenes with all five main actresses. Exotic Sahara Bernales now clinches a lead role, probably more for her daring to bare rather than her acting. Former sexy starlet Yda Manzano is now in her 40s, but she now dared to go all the way for the first time since her Vivamax comeback last year. Debuting nymphet Cariz Manzano (relation to Yda unsure) shows promise for drama. 

This film again tackles a topic that is very commonly told in many Vivamax stories -- how the poor had to sell their bodies to the rich in order to earn money. While this film was not about prostitution per se, these maids had to surrender and submit to their masters' sexual perversities in order to keep their jobs. Again, we hear the typical reasons for needing money,  like parents needing dialysis or younger siblings getting arrested for drugs. 

There was interesting side topic about keeping snakes as pets -- both Carmina and Alex sharing the same hobby. However, when it came to how these snakes figured in the finale, Pajemna faltered to make the scene exciting at all. In fact, after all the build-up of getting all of the maids riled up, we were expecting a grand scene of domestic mutiny in the climax. However, the execution was lame and rushed, ending up unintentionally funny.  5/10.