Basic Information: Direction: Maryon de los Reyes; Screenplay: Raquel Villavicencio (Based on the stage play, Extremities); Cast: Vilma Santos, Richard Gomez, Jacklyn Jose, Mia Gutierrez. Broadcasted November 7 1988 by GMA Channel 7
Plot Description: Based on the play Extremities, a photographer (Vilma Santos) avenged her sufferings by torturing back the rapist (Richard Gomerz) who abused her.
Film Accomplishment: Part of GMA Seven's special one week event entitled: "Seven Nights To Remember in November" in connection to their newly installed high voltage power grid broadcasting tower in 1988.
Film Review: “…Jacklyn is cast with Vilma Santos and Christopher De Leon in Viva’s “Immortal.” This is Vilma and Christopher’s first film together after several years of making movies separately. Although Jacklyn is cast in a supporting role, she is excited in doing the dramatic opus since it is a Vilma starrer. Jacklyn is vocal to admit that she is an avid fan of Vilma. This is the second time she co-stars with her favorite idol. The first one was on a TV dramatic special “Lamat sa Kristal,” which was produced by Vilma herself. Besides, Jacklyn is also happy to note that she will be directed by one of her favorite directors, Eddie Garcia…” - Eddie O. Liboon (READ MORE)
An explosive combination - The highlight of GMA 7's day one of its "Seven Days to Remember in November" las Monday, was the showing of Vilma Santos, Inc.'s first drama special for television titled Lamat sa Kristal, based on the play Extrimities. Coincidentally, the said tele-movie was shot during the rage of killer typhoon Unsang and was aired at the height of another weather disturbance name Yoning. The suspense drama starred Santos, Jacklyn Jose and Mia Gutierrez as the three friends, all professinals in their respective fields, who went out in vacation at a resthouse in Tagaytay. Santos, as the quiet photographer about to hold her one-woman show, was nursing a broken heart from a failed relationship. Jose was the happy-go-lucky type while Gutierrez was the usual reliable supportive friend. The tension started when Jose and Gutierrez left Santos in the resthouse all by herself. The lonely photographer calmly did her chores till she came across a stranger (portrayed by Richard Gomez) who turned out to be a psychopath and rapist. The following scenes showed how the woman was attacked, abused, tortured, molested and almost raped and she tried to put a fight and survive the ordeal.
Santos' remarkable transformation from a hapless victim to a raging avenger trying to get even is one fo the most moving delineations we've seen in years. As it turned out, Jose was herself a rape victim and the harrowing experience of her friend suddenly confronted her with her traumatic past. She was convincing with her role and Gutierrez was likewise effective. What really surprised us was Gomez, we never thought that the good looking acotr could really act - we almost wanted to actually slash his neck in anger. As for Maryo de los Reyes' direction, we doubt it very much if he had a hard time with this one, since he had some of our most gifted thespians and the typhoon which had provided the needed atmosphere. Of course, there were some loopholes. In the script of Raquel Villavicencio. For a tele-movie, Lamat sa Kristal was well-crafted and it surely deserves a follow up soon. As usual, the commercials were too many and they seemed too long. At any rate, Lamat sa Kristal was far better than most of the movies being shown lately. We never realised that the combination of Santos and the two typhoons would be that explosive. - Manila Standard, Nov 12, 1988 (READ MORE)
Seven Star-Studded Days Kick Off Tonight - "GMA-7 takes primetime television by storm as it unleash a prowerful entertainment package of internationally acclaimed bestsellers, world-class blockbusters and certified local chartsbusters starting today, November 7, Day one of its "Seven Days To Remember In November" special programming. Towering power, A Musical Dedication kicks off the spectacular showcase by gathering the GMA Family of Stars and some of the biggest, brightest names in the entertainment world in a two-hour musical extravaganza starting at 7 p.m. GMA's prized star Vilma Santos maintain the momentum with a two-hour suspense drama, Lamat sa Kristal, her first TV-movie ever, with Richard Gomez as co-star and ace megman Maryo de los Reyes as director at 9 p.m...The celebrated musical variety show Vilma throws a grand birthday presentation-celebrations on Day Five starting at 7 p.m. live at the Araneta Coliseum..." - Manila Standard, November 7, 1988 (READ MORE)
"...Vilma Santos went through with the taping of her first drama special, Lamat sa Kristal, during the rage of killer typhoon Unsang. While it wrought havoc in the entire nation and claimed numerous lives and destroyed properties, the whole production made good use of the terribly bad weather to set the mood for the top actress' tele-movie. Indeed, there's nothing like Mother Nature providing the real atmosphere, as teh stars and crew braced the strong winds and heavy rains. To the said stars and crew the showbiz rule "the show must go on" still holds true, no matter what the weather is..." - Meg mendoza (READ MORE)
"Again, it was a bad year for the movies in 1988, the industry reached a critical low - a total output of 132 films to 150 of the previous year. Certainly, the situation, has become worse, a foreboding that may prove irreversible unless appropriate measures are instituted...On the other hand, Vilma Santos, although she starred in only one movie, Ibulong Mo sa Diyos, lorded it over in television with the top rated Vilma and a top-rating drama special (Lamat sa Kristal) she herself produced......." - Mike Feria, Manila Standard, Jan 5 1989 (READ MORE)
"...Jacklyn Jose still talks about her rare experience of appearing in a special tele-movie (Lamat sa Kristal) with her favorite actress Vilma Santos. Jose was vocal in telling her friends that she is an avid fan of the top actress. In one scene, she was supposed to drive the care where she, Santos and Mia Gutierrez were supposed to be riding in. She got excited not because she did not know how to drive but because she was for the first time with her movie idol..." - Eddie O. Libo-on, Manila Standard, Jan 9, 1989 (READ MORE)
