Paolo Contis
Badong
Overview
Two brothers accompany a group of vloggers on their search for a mythical island. But when they find it, they uncover one sinister secret after another.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Myth and the Mess: Izla and the Uncomfortable Laughter of Filipino Horror-Comedy
I went into Izla expecting a lark—a horror-comedy about vloggers stumbling onto a mythical island, the kind of premise that usually delivers a few cheap scares and a lot of eye-rolls. What I got instead was something far more unsettling: a film that doesn’t seem to know whether it wants to be funny, frightening, or just plain weird. And yet, in its messy, uneven way, it’s weirdly compelling.
Not because it succeeds at any one thing, but because it fails so spectacularly at all of them.
Barry Gonzalez’s film follows two brothers (Paolo Contis and Archie Alemania) who tag along with a group of vloggers hunting for a legendary island. When they find it, the tone lurches between slapstick gags and half-hearted horror, as if the script couldn’t decide whether it was riffing on Scooby-Doo or The Blair Witch Project. The result is a tonal whiplash that might have worked if the film committed to either extreme—but Izla seems content to hover in the middle, like a ghost too lazy to haunt properly.
The comedy here is broad, almost aggressively so. There’s a scene where one of the vloggers (Elisse Joson) dramatically recounts a local legend, only for another character to interrupt with a fart joke. It’s the kind of humor that feels like it was written for a high school skit, not a feature film.
And yet, there’s something oddly charming about its refusal to take itself seriously. The horror, on the other hand, is undercut by the same problem: it’s too timid to be truly scary. The island’s "sinister secrets" are telegraphed so far in advance that when they finally arrive, they feel more like a letdown than a payoff.
Audience Opinions
"A quirky horror-comedy with mixed reactions due to its uneven tone and pacing."
Viewers appreciate the attempt at blending comedy and horror, noting some genuinely funny moments and a few creepy scenes. However, the execution often feels disjointed, with pacing issues and underdeveloped characters leaving many underwhelmed. latestnetflix.com's view is that the film’s low-budget aesthetic is evident but doesn’t always detract from its charm.
What viewers praise
- Funny moments Some scenes deliver genuine laughs, particularly from the comedic cast members.
- Creepy elements A few horror sequences are effectively unsettling, adding tension to the mix.
- Unique premise The blend of comedy and horror stands out as an interesting experiment.
Common complaints
- Uneven tone The shift between comedy and horror feels jarring and poorly balanced.
- Pacing issues The story drags in places, making it hard to stay engaged.
- Underdeveloped characters Many cast members lack depth, making it difficult to connect with them.
Recommended for
Horror-comedy fans Low-budget indie enthusiasts Filipino cinema lovers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Izla (2021): A Horror-Comedy with a Cult Following
Izla (2021), directed by Barry Gonzalez, is a Tagalog horror-comedy that blends scares with laughs, anchored by a cast of familiar faces. Starring Paolo Contis, Archie Alemania, and Beauty Gonzalez, the film has carved out a niche in the Philippine indie scene, thanks to its mix of campy humor and supernatural thrills. latestnetflix.com's read is that while details about its production remain scarce, the movie’s trailers and promotional material offer a glimpse into its playful tone—and its unexpected connection to another quirky horror flick.
A Horror-Comedy with a Twist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6_bJwIHqrs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEVKWDMFszU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4G2yfqu7EY
From the outset, Izla leans into its horror-comedy identity. The official trailer and teaser clips showcase a mix of jump scares, slapstick humor, and over-the-top performances, particularly from Contis and Alemania. The film’s premise revolves around a group of characters navigating a supernatural threat, but the tone is far from serious. Instead, it embraces the kind of exaggerated, self-aware humor that has become a staple of Filipino indie horror-comedies.
The cast’s chemistry is a major selling point. Contis, known for his versatility in both drama and comedy, and Alemania, a frequent collaborator in lighthearted projects, appear to be the film’s comedic anchors. Beauty Gonzalez, Isabelle Daza, and Elisse Joson add star power, while Niño Muhlach—once a child star—brings nostalgia to the ensemble. The trailer hints at a chaotic, fast-paced narrative, with the cast reacting to absurd situations in ways that suggest the film doesn’t take itself too seriously.
**The Kalbo Connection: A Sequel or Spin-Off?**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgIIhVZBQ6s
One of the most intriguing aspects of Izla is its apparent link to Kalbo, another horror-comedy from the same creative team. A YouTube video titled "Back to Kalbo, Back to Izla!" suggests a shared universe or recurring characters between the two films. While the exact nature of this connection isn’t clarified in the available evidence, the title implies that Izla might serve as a sequel, spin-off, or at least a spiritual successor to Kalbo.
The promotional material for Izla doesn’t explicitly confirm this relationship, but the phrasing in the video title —along with the similar tone and cast—hints at a deliberate effort to tie the two projects together. If true, this could explain why Izla feels like a familiar ride for fans of Kalbo, offering more of the same chaotic energy with a fresh supernatural twist.
Promotion and Reception: A Low-Key Release
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJLVKENGMkQ
Izla’s marketing relied heavily on YouTube teasers and trailers , a common strategy for indie Filipino films targeting a local audience. The clips emphasize Contis’ comedic chops, with one video even titled "Izla 🤣 Paolo Contis" , suggesting his performance is a major draw. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes page 
lists the cast but offers no critical reviews or audience scores, indicating it may not have received widespread theatrical distribution or critical attention.
Despite the lack of mainstream buzz, Izla has cultivated a small but dedicated following, particularly among fans of Filipino horror-comedies. The trailers’ mix of scares and humor likely appealed to viewers looking for lighthearted genre entertainment, even if the film itself flew under the radar for most audiences.
What We Still Don’t Know
For all its charm, Izla remains a bit of a mystery. Key details about its production—such as the budget, filming locations, or behind-the-scenes challenges—are absent from the available evidence. There’s no confirmation of whether the Kalbo connection is a full sequel, a spin-off, or just clever marketing. Additionally, the film’s reception, beyond its trailers and promotional material, is largely undocumented.
What is clear, however, is that Izla fits neatly into the tradition of Filipino horror-comedies that prioritize fun over frights. With its ensemble cast and self-aware humor, it’s a project that seems designed to entertain rather than innovate. For fans of the genre, that might be enough.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.