‘Dear Satan’ X rating already final, MTRCB affirms

A poster of the film “Dear Satan” starring Paolo Contis and Sienna Stevens. Image: Courtesy of Mavx Productions Inc.

[Updated: Sept. 6, 2024, 6:00 p.m.]

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) is upholding its decision to ban “Dear Satan” from public viewing, stressing that the film’s positive portrayal of Satan is “an attack on fundamental belief of the Catholic and Christian faiths.”

MTRCB chairperson Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio earlier said in a Senate hearing that the upcoming Paolo Contis-led film – whose title has apparently been changed to “Dear Santa” – was given an X rating as it was found to be violative of the Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1986.

She also stated in the hearing that the film “offended [her] as a Christian” and that it “has a different depiction of Satan becoming good.”

The regulatory board then specifically noted that it was violative of Presidential Decree No. 1986, Chapter IV, Section F, Subsection (c), which prohibits the exhibition of contents that “constitute an attack against any race, creed, or religion.”

“The Committee that reviewed the film found that the material depicts Satan as capable of transformation, saying it is a distortion of Catholic and Christian teachings. The review committee said the film’s narrative, which presents the possibility of Satan being redeemed, is deceiving to the eyes of the viewers,” the agency said.

“At the MTRCB, we operate under a Committee system, which thoroughly reviews each movie based on established guidelines in accordance to our charter,” Sotto-Antonio also clarified.

MTRCB also underscored that it balances upholding the cultural and moral values of the Filipinos, and the right to freedom of expression.

“May these guidelines serve as a reminder to our filmmakers. While we are fully supportive of our movie and television industry, the MTRCB is mandated by PD 1986 to uphold and promote respect for Filipino cultural values,” it added.

Mavx Productions, the production company behind the film, has yet to comment on MTRCB’s ruling as of this writing.