In the remote northern Philippine town of Damortis, Miguel, a former seminarian, stumbles upon a mysterious gift—he can heal. Together with his wife, Anna, he establishes a profitable faith-healing practice. As crowds grow and offerings pour in, the couple’s fortunes rise. But as their influence grows, so do the trappings of success.

Lando, Miguel’s childhood friend whom he has taken under his wing, inherits Miguel’s healing powers and quickly eclipses him in both ability and charisma. Caught between grief and disillusionment, Anna watches the world unravel to a climax.

Damortis weaves together religious symbolism, intense ritual imagery, and psychological tension. With striking use of colour and a hypnotic narrative rhythm, the film explores themes of faith, power, and moral collapse. The film is both an atmospheric cautionary tale and a critique of how spiritual authority can be corrupted by human desire.

Featuring performances by actress Madeleine Nicolas, painter Lito Carating and installation artist Roberto Villanueva, Santos shot the film in 1982 with borrowed equipment and the participation of the local townspeople. Damortis screened at a few venues in Manila and abroad, including the Mannheim International Film Festival in Germany (1987) and the Asian-American Film Festival in New York, United States (1988).

In 2025, National Gallery Singapore commissioned the 2K digital restoration of the film, carried out by L’Immagine Ritrovata.