# A Very Good Girl

A Very Good Girl is a 2023 Filipino black comedy thriller film directed by Petersen Vargas from a story and screenplay written by Marionne Dominique Mancol, with Daniel Saniana and Jumbo Albano co-wrote the latter. It stars Kathryn Bernardo and Dolly de Leon, with the supporting cast includes Kaori Oinuma, Jake Ejercito, and Angel Aquino.
Produced and released by Star Cinema, the film was theatrically released nationwide in the Philippines on September 27, 2023.

## Plot

Mercy is fired and blacklisted by her tyrannical employer, “Mother” Molly Suzara, who pretends to be a caring entrepreneur. After Mercy's mother, Conchita, is fatally hit by one of Molly's company vehicles, Mercy vows revenge. Over the next five years, she amasses a fortune through fraud to pose as a rich entrepreneur named Philo, aiming to infiltrate Molly's circle and expose her past.
Philo gains Molly's attention by buying a relic at an auction and gifting it to her. She befriends Zab, Molly's brand endorser and the daughter of Molly's money-laundering partner. Zab plans to leave the country without Molly's knowledge. At Zab's birthday party, Philo reveals Zab's plans, leading Molly to expose Zab's affair. Zab retaliates by revealing Molly's blackmail information, causing her friends to abandon her. Philo wins Molly's friendship by uploading a sex tape of Zab at Molly's request.
Philo infiltrates Molly's office by arranging for her secretary Gene to get a job abroad and threatening another secretary, Charles, to expose his misogynist behavior unless he provides information on Molly's illegal activities. Despite cutting off Charles' penis and convincing him to turn whistleblower, Molly avoids imprisonment and restores her reputation. Philo spends her illegally obtained money on a grand birthday party for Molly, who declines to celebrate, saying she has lost trust in everyone. Philo arranges for a knifeman to stab her while she pretends to shield Molly, gaining her sympathy. Molly, treating Philo like a daughter, reveals she was an orphan who had an abortion and regrets her role in Conchita's death, unaware she is speaking to her daughter. Philo reveals she accidentally caused her unborn sister's death by making her father's pregnant mistress miscarry during an argument.
One day, Rigel, claiming to be Mercy's unborn sister, reconnects with her. Mercy secretly records Molly's confession about Conchita's death and presents it to the police, but it's deemed inadmissible. Mercy then learns from her friend Karen that her goddaughter Lovely has been injured in a gas explosion, with Rigel missing. Desperate, Philo seeks help from Molly, only to find her kissing Rigel, who triggered the explosion on Molly's orders.
After Rigel leaves, Molly reveals she had discovered Mercy's past and mocks her for her poverty, naivety, and mother's death. Enraged, Mercy stabs Molly in the neck but is knocked down. Molly flees, pursued by Mercy, leading to a confrontation at her stepmother's bedside. Molly tricks Mercy into fatally stabbing her stepmother, claiming they are now even. Molly asserts that Mercy is no different from her, prompting Mercy to choke her but ultimately let her go, declaring herself the better person. As Mercy leaves, Molly follows to mock her but is fatally hit by a car. Mercy, at peace, appears to ascend into the sky.

## Cast

* Kathryn Bernardo as Philomena "Philo" Angeles / Mercedes "Mercy" Novela
* Dolly de Leon as Molly "Mother" Suzara
* Angel Aquino as Conchita Novela
* Chie Filomeno as Zab Omila
* Jake Ejercito as Charles Monteron
* Donna Cariaga as Karen Merino
* Kaori Oinuma as Rigel Abalos
* Gillian Vicencio as Joenna Ondon
* Ana Abad Santos as Gene
* Althea Ruedas as young Mercy
* Natania Guerrero as Lovely
* Nour Hooshmand as Alma Feliciano
* Kakki Teodoro as Thea

## Production

In late March 2023, during Bernardo's new movie alert event that was shown through Star Magic's YouTube channel, it was announced that she is set to star with the globally acclaimed actress Dolly de Leon in a movie.
The production began filming in May 2023 and officially wrapped late July 2023.

## Promotions and marketing
### Pre-release

The official teaser of the film was released on August 4, 2023. On August 11, 2023, a teaser poster was released and was seen in different social media platforms of Star Cinema and other related accounts.
On August 23, 2023, a media conference was held. It was attended by the film's lead stars Kathryn Bernardo and Dolly de Leon, along with its cast members, creators, and director, Petersen Vargas. The official trailer and poster were also unveiled during the event.

## Release

A Very Good Girl was released in Philippine cinemas nationwide on September 27, 2023. A day before its general release, a premiere night of the film was held at SM Megamall on September 26, 2023, and it was attended by the film's cast and crew members including the lead stars Kathryn Bernardo and Dolly de Leon, and director Petersen Vargas. The event was also attended by many of ABS-CBN's homegrown talents including music groups BGYO and BINI as well as GMA Network's resident talents Alden Richards, Mavy Legaspi, and Kyline Alcantara, and veteran actor and Bernardo's co-star in 2 Good 2 Be True, Ronaldo Valdez.

### Overseas release

A Very Good Girl was released in the United States on October 6, 2023. It was previously scheduled for October 13, 2023. Two days before the general release for American audiences, a Hollywood premiere was held at the Pacific Design Theater in West Hollywood on October 4, 2023, with the attendance of the lead stars, ABS-CBN executives, and Filipino-American celebrities including social media personality and influencer Bretman Rock, actress Ginger Gonzaga, and drag queen Manila Luzon.

## Reception
### Box office

The film earned a total of ₱10 million from over 250 cinemas in the Philippines on its opening day. The film has earned over ₱40 million in its opening weekend as of September 30, 2023. As of October 10, 2023, the film has earned ₱100 million.

### Critical response

Film critic Fred Hawson, writing for ABS-CBN News, gave the film a rating of 8 out of 10 stars and praised the performances of Bernardo and de Leon, further adding: "This was quite a roller-coaster ride of a film with an over-the-top camp value, with haute couture dresses and high society production design all the way."
Wanggo Gallaga of ClickTheCity.com gave the film 4 stars out of 5 stars and he wrote: "This movie was such a joy for me to watch because it was not what I was expecting (and I loved that), even if it ended the way I think a Star Cinema movie would end. The film was crazy and irreverent, and I thought it could have even pushed it more. But where it went is already a step forward. And at the very center of it all, A Very Good Girl is so enjoyable because of Kathryn Bernardo’s commitment to the character and the genre. This is a superstar turn."

## Accolades

| Award | Year | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2024 | Gawad Lasallianeta Awards | Most Outstanding Filipino Film | A Very Good Girl | Won |
| 2024 | Gawad Lasallianeta Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | Kathryn Bernardo | Won |
| 2024 | VP Choice Awards | Movie of the Year | A Very Good Girl | Nominated |
| 2024 | VP Choice Awards | Movie Actress of the Year | Kathryn Bernardo | Nominated |
| 2024 | VP Choice Awards | Movie Director of the Year | Petersen Vargas | Nominated |
| 2024 | VP Choice Awards | Supporting Movie Actor of the Year | Jake Ejercito | Nominated |
| 2024 | VP Choice Awards | Supporting Movie Actress of the Year | Donna Cariaga | Nominated |
| 2024 | 72nd FAMAS Awards | Best Picture | A Very Good Girl | Nominated |
| 2024 | 72nd FAMAS Awards | Best Actress | Kathryn Bernardo | Won |
| 2024 | 72nd FAMAS Awards | Best Director | Petersen Vargas | Nominated |
| 2024 | 72nd FAMAS Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Dolly de Leon | Nominated |
| 2024 | 72nd FAMAS Awards | Best Cinematography | Noel Teehankee | Nominated |
| 2024 | 72nd FAMAS Awards | Best Editing | Benjamin Gonzales Tolentino | Nominated |
| 2024 | 72nd FAMAS Awards | Best Production Design | Cheska Salangsang | Nominated |
| 2024 | 72nd FAMAS Awards | Best Musical Score | Andrew Florentino | Nominated |
| 2024 | 52nd GMMSF - Box Office Entertainment Awards | Box Office Queen | Kathryn Bernardo | Won |
| 2024 | 47th Gawad Urian Award | Best Actress | Kathryn Bernardo | Nominated |
| 2024 | 7th EDDY'S Award | Box Office Heroes | Kathryn Bernardo | Won |
| 2024 | 7th EDDY'S Award | Best Actress | Kathryn Bernardo | Nominated |
| 2024 | 7th EDDY'S Award | Best Cinematography | Noel Teehankee | Nominated |
| 2024 | 7th EDDY'S Award | Best Editing | Benjamin Tolentino | Nominated |
| 2024 | 40th PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Movie Actress of the Year | Kathryn Bernardo | Nominated |
| 2024 | 40th PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Movie Cinematographer of the Year | Noel Teehankee | Nominated |
| 2024 | 40th PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Movie Musical Scorer of the Year | Andrew Florentino | Nominated |
| 2024 | 40th PMPC Star Awards for Movies | Movie Sound Engineer of the Year | Boom Suvagondha | Nominated |
| 2024 | 40th Luna Awards | Movie Actress of the Year | Kathryn Bernardo | Nominated |
| 2024 | 40th Luna Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Angel Aquino | Nominated |
| 2024 | 40th Luna Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Chie Filomeno | Nominated |
| 2024 | 40th Luna Awards | Best in Cinematography | Noel Teehankee | Nominated |
| 2024 | 40th Luna Awards | Best in Production Design | Cheska Florentino | Nominated |
| 2024 | 40th Luna Awards | Best Musical Scorer | Andrew Florentino | Nominated |
| 2024 | 2024 ContentAsia Awards | Best Asian Feature Film | A Very Good Girl | Bronze Award |
| 2024 | 26th Gawad PASADO | PinakaPASADOng Pelikula | A Very Good Girl | Nominated |
| 2024 | 26th Gawad PASADO | PinakaPASADOng Direktor | Petersen Vargas | Nominated |
| 2024 | 26th Gawad PASADO | PinakaPASADOng Aktres | Kathryn Bernardo | Won |
| 2024 | 26th Gawad PASADO | PinakaPASADOng Katuwang na Aktres | Dolly de Leon | Won |
| 2024 | 26th Gawad PASADO | PinakaPASADOng Istorya | Marionne Dominique Mancol | Nominated |
| 2024 | 26th Gawad PASADO | PinakaPASADOng Dulang Pampelikula | Marionne Dominique Mancol, Jonathan Albano and Daniel Saniana | Nominated |
| 2024 | 26th Gawad PASADO | PinakaPASADOng Editing | Benjamin Tolentino | Nominated |
| 2024 | 26th Gawad PASADO | PinakaPASADOng Musika | Andrew Florentino | Nominated |
| 2024 | 26th Gawad PASADO | PinakaPASADOng Tunog | Boom Suvagondha | Nominated |
| 2024 | Asian Academy Creative Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Kathryn Bernardo | Won |