AWOL (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

After a bombing destroys his squad, Abel pursues a solitary vendetta that connects the attack to Amang's criminal operation.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Mission Before the Loss

Abel's team is sent to neutralize Saheed and succeeds, though Saheed dies by suicide. The squad later gathers at a restaurant to celebrate a christening.

Key Events

• Saheed Takes the Money — Saheed takes a bag of money before executing a bound man. Location: Unspecified location
• Abel's Team Is Deployed — Abel and his team are sent to neutralize Saheed. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Unspecified location
• The Mission Succeeds — Abel's team successfully completes its mission against Saheed. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Unspecified location
• Saheed Dies by Suicide — Saheed commits suicide with a grenade after the mission. Location: Unspecified location
• Squad Celebration — Abel's squad gathers to celebrate a fellow member's child's christening. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Restaurant

The Squad Is Destroyed

A bomb kills Abel's teammates as he and his wife leave the restaurant. Abel seeks clues, faces an attack at home, and watches a surviving suspect die in the hospital.

Key Events

• The Restaurant Bombing — A bomb explodes as Abel and his wife leave, killing his team. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Restaurant
• A Vow for Justice — After the bombing, Abel swears to seek justice for his fallen teammates. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Unspecified location
• The Superior Withholds Clues — Abel asks for clues, but his superior gives information to a police officer instead. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Unspecified location
• Attack at Abel's Home — Attackers kill the guards at Abel's house; Abel survives the assault with a wound. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Abel's house
• The Hospital Assassination — A nurse-disguised assassin kills a surviving suspect while Abel tries to question him. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Hospital

A Rogue Investigation

Listed as AWOL, Abel investigates the bombing alone. Mallari points him toward Delgado, whose connection to Victor and revelation about Armando help expose the conflict with Amang.

Key Events

• Abel Is Listed AWOL — The military lists Abel as absent without leave. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Unspecified location
• Abel Starts His Investigation — Abel investigates the bombing on his own and begins killing his enemies. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Unspecified location
• Mallari Reveals Delgado — Abel finds escaped convict Mallari, who points him toward rogue policeman Delgado. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Unspecified location
• Delgado Takes Victor's Call — Delgado receives a call from Victor before Abel kills him at his hideout. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra, Victor Location: Delgado's hideout
• Delgado Reveals Armando's Fate — While trying to take a child hostage, Delgado reveals that Abel's team killed Amang's son Armando. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra, Amang Location: Delgado's hideout

Revenge and Return

Abel protects his family, kills Amang at the crime boss's hideout, and returns to his family while his superior dismisses the AWOL status as a miscommunication. Abel later executes Victor and says he is coming home.

Key Events

• Abel Foils Another Attack — Abel protects his family, kills the hospital assassin, and threatens Amang using the assassin's phone. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Unspecified location
• Abel Enters Amang's Hideout — Abel storms Amang's hideout and kills Amang's lackeys. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra, Amang Location: Amang's hideout
• Abel Kills Amang — After a confrontation at the hideout, Abel kills Amang. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra, Amang Location: Amang's hideout
• The AWOL Status Is Explained Away — Abel returns to his family, and his superior calls the AWOL status a miscommunication. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra Location: Unspecified location
• Victor's Final Execution — Abel shoots Victor limb by limb, then in the head, and calls his wife to say he is coming home. Characters: Lt. Abel Ibarra, Victor Location: Unspecified location
• The Investigation Continues — The policeman investigating the assassinations leaves the crime scene after examining it. Location: Crime scene

Story Breakdown

• The Saheed Mission — Abel's team is deployed against Saheed, whose death closes the mission.
  • Terrorist Executes Prisoner — Saheed takes money and executes a bound man.
  • Mission Ends in Suicide — The team succeeds, and Saheed commits suicide with a grenade.
• A Celebration Shattered — A squad celebration turns into the event that drives Abel's pursuit of justice.
  • Christening Gathering — Abel's squad celebrates a fellow member's child's christening at a restaurant.
  • Bomb Kills Squad — A bomb explodes as Abel and his wife leave, killing his teammates.
• Clues Withheld — Abel seeks information but does not receive the investigative support he wants.
  • Superior Withholds Information — Abel's superior gives clues to a police officer instead of providing them to Abel.
  • Home Attack — Attackers kill the guards at Abel's house, and Abel is wounded.
• The Hospital Setback — Abel's attempt to question a surviving suspect ends in another killing.
  • Suspect Questioning — Abel tries to extract information from a surviving suspect in the hospital.
  • Assassin Escapes — An assassin disguised as a nurse kills the suspect and flees.
• Abel's Rogue Inquiry — After being listed AWOL, Abel pursues leads and uncovers a link to Amang's operation.
  • Mallari Names Delgado — Mallari points Abel toward rogue policeman Delgado.
  • Victor's Call — Delgado takes a call from Victor before Abel kills him.
• The Amang Connection — Delgado's revelation ties Abel's earlier mission to Amang's retaliation.
  • Armando's Death Revealed — Delgado says Abel's team eliminated Amang's son Armando.
  • Threat by Phone — Abel kills the hospital assassin and threatens Amang using the assassin's phone.
• Amang's Hideout — Abel takes his revenge to Amang's base and kills the crime boss.
  • Abel Storms the Hideout — Abel enters Amang's hideout and kills his lackeys.
  • Amang Is Killed — After a confrontation, Abel kills Amang.
• The Final Pursuit — Abel returns to his family but continues his vendetta against Victor.
  • AWOL Status Covered Up — Abel's superior says the AWOL listing resulted from a miscommunication.
  • Victor's Execution — Abel kills Victor and calls his wife to say he is coming home.

Directed by

Enzo Williams

Key Cast

• Gerald Anderson — Lt. Abel Ibarra
• Diane Medina — Lara
• Bembol Roco — Amang
• Bernard Palanca — Victor
• Richard Quan — Castro