Darna (1991 film)

Darna is a 1991 Filipino superhero film based on the Philippine comic character Darna, directed by Joel Lamangan and written by Frank G. Rivera. It stars Nanette Medved, Nida Blanca, Edu Manzano, Pilar Pilapil, Tonton Gutierrez, Bing Loyzaga, Dennis Padilla, and Atong Redillas. The film's special effects were done by Rolly Sto. Domingo.

Darna was released through Viva Films on December 25, 1991, as part of the 17th Metro Manila Film Festival. The film was a box-office bomb.^[2]

In the early 1900s, explorer Dominico Lipolico encounters a sinister relic in the Amazon jungle that gives him immortality in exchange for fomenting evil. In the present day, Dominico, who poses as a philanthropist, moves his operations to the Philippines to spread his deeds, recruiting fashion designer Valentina and a local admirer and giving them powers of a Gorgon and a winged "Manananggal", respectively. He also tries to recruit Darna, who is incarnated in a newspaper journalist named Narda. Valentina lures Darna at an event by releasing snakes to kill the audience, to which Darna comes to the rescue. Valentina's talking pet snake, Vibora discovers Darna's transformation into Narda, which enables Valentina to capture her. At Dominico's lair, Dominico forces Darna to join him by threatening her grandmother and siblings but is thwarted by her siblings rescuing Darna before she is fully transformed. Darna rescues Narda's newspaper companions George and Buster from an attack by the Manananggal, killing her by luring her to a church cross, while Valentina is accidentally killed during a fight with Darna when Vibora unwittingly gives a live grenade for Valentina to throw. Darna then confronts Dominico, who reveals himself as a Devil-incarnate who goes on a burning spree. He initially overpowers Darna, but is killed when she grabs the relic that he wears as a necklace and crushes it, resulting in the disintegration of Dominico and his minions.

• Nanette Medved as Narda/Darna^[3]
• Nida Blanca as Lola Isabel
• Edu Manzano as Dominico Lipolico
• Pilar Pilapil as Valentina^[4]
• Tonton Gutierrez as George
• Bing Loyzaga as Puring /Manananggal
• Dennis Padilla as Buster
• Atong Redillas as Ding
• Ruby Rodriguez as Vibora (Voice)
• Donna Cruz as Sally
• Tony Lambino as Dong
• Dencio Padilla
• Paolo Contis as Young Dong
• Errol Dionisio
• Archi Adamos
• Ray Ventura
• Boy Roque
• Jun Hidalgo
• Jim Pebanco
• Carmi Matic
• Guila Alvarez
• Roland Montes
• Vina Morales - Angel

Darna was released in theaters on December 25, 1991 as an entry to the 17th Metro Manila Film Festival. According to Asiaweek, the film bombed at the box office.

• Darna at IMDb