Why should you watch this new Eheads movie docu? Here is a spoiler-free review.

Fireworks filled the midnight sky in the middle of the raging guitar solo in the outro of “Ang Huling El Bimbo” at the SMDC Concert Grounds. Shortly after, yellow bits of confetti rained down on the crowd. The four members of Eraserheads – Ely, Raimund, Buddy and Marcus – joined by their crew on stage, joined hands and took a bow. They waved at the crowd repeatedly, the crowd did the same, smiles and joy all over. It was December 22, 2022 and the Eraserheads had just performed their greatest set in their one-night reunion concert in the Philippines, drawing in a 75,000-strong crowd. History was made, and being part of it was such an exhilarating experience, it was almost surreal. 

Watching the Eraserheads: Combo on the Run at the cinema last night took me back to that particular moment. I remembered looking around at the end of the concert, seeing all the lights turned up to the brightest as fragments of yellow mesh burst around, it was as if the saturation was turned up high in an HD screen in real life. 2022, and the pandemic blank years before it, felt muted compared to the scenery around me. That was the magic of the Eraserheads for me and the movie brought it back vividly. 

Directed by Maria Diane Ventura, Eraserheads: Combo on the Run is the quintessential Eheads documentary movie for the fans, for music enthusiasts and for Filipinos. In its 1 hour and 45 minutes runtime, the movie gave the audience an informative and intimate look at the band’s history, detailing their beginning as undergraduates at UP Diliman until their rise to fame and everything  (the good and the bad) that came with it. 

Featuring lots of footage from what appeared to be long-lost vaults, clippings from old magazines and newspapers, and updated interviews with journalists, producers and managers, the film successfully brought to life the wonders of the ‘90s, and how the Eraserheads became one of the greatest musical acts in our country. 

What made it extra compelling came down to one thing: honesty – which mattered most especially when it came to demystifying the issues that had clouded their fallout that led to their disbandment in 2002. The movie featured one-on-one interviews with the four members of the band, and to their credit, each one of them did speak their own truth, spilling out the struggles, grievances and sentiments that were unheard of until now. 

Strikingly, the film did not dwell in the negative. Beyond the rift, it also provided a space for healing. As they shed light on how they navigated their own paths as individuals and musicians over the years, they also shared their insights on what led them to find their way back to each other for their 2022 reunion concert. 

Overall, the movie is authentically Eheads – the humor, the honesty and even the drama. It was an enjoyable and immersive Dolby-enhanced musical trip, going through snippets of their discography, including some demo versions, deep cuts and live performances. The interviews stood out for being candid and heartfelt. It felt like a journey of the band’s long and hectic history. At the end of it, you’ll really get to understand what makes the Eraserheads’ legacy relevant not just on a national scale, but on a personal level. 

The movie will remind you of the Eheads songs that became your soundtrack at specific points of your life. For me, it was their last song during their 2022 concert. For others, it could be their favorite karaoke hits. For longtime Eheads fans, I’m sure the answer would be longer and more meaningful. 

P.S. Stay until the end of the credits roll!