Mars Ravelo's Darna! Ang Pagbabalik

Mars Ravelo's Darna! Ang Pagbabalik (translating to "Mars Ravelo's Darna! The Return"), also known simply as Darna!

Ang Pagbabalik, is a 1994 Filipino superhero film based on the Pilipino Komiks character Darna. The film was directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes, with a screenplay by playwright Floy Quintos. Anjanette Abayari plays the dual role of Narda and her superhero alter ego Darna.

The cast also includes Edu Manzano, BB Gandhanghari (credited as Rustom Padilla), Bong Alvarez, Pilita Corrales, Cherie Gil, and Lester Llansang. Viva Family Entertainment produced the film, which hit theaters on June 9, 1994. As of 2023, it remains the last Darna film to have a theatrical release, as subsequent projects for the character have been television series.

Plot

In the plot, after stopping criminals who trigger a lahar flow as Darna, Narda is knocked out by a woman who steals the white stone that lets her transform. Rescued from the lahar by her brother Ding and their grandmother, Narda loses her sanity as they flee to Manila. They settle in a slum with former villager Pol, who helps them survive and defends Narda from thugs led by syndicate boss Magnum. While selling goods with Ding, Darna is hit by a car carrying Dr. Valentine, a doomsday cult leader warning of a flood.

Ding sees the white stone inside the car. He, Narda, and neighbor Pia sneak into Valentine's lair and find the stone powering Valentine's mother, Valentina. When Ding grabs the stone, Valentina awakens and deteriorates while holding him hostage; Ding throws the stone to Narda, who transforms back into Darna and regains her sanity. Darna escapes with Ding, while Valentine grieves as her mother becomes a hideous creature.

Later, Narda foils a bank heist by Magnum and saves police officer Max from a bomb, unaware that Max is Magnum's alter ego. Meanwhile, Narda's grandmother joins Valentine's cult. Max deduces Narda is Darna and kidnaps her. On the flood's scheduled day, Valentine generates a storm that floods Manila.

Pol and Ding find Narda imprisoned, with Valentine and Magnum worshipping Valentina, who uses the stone to regain strength. After a fight, Ding shoots the stone into Valentina, who swallows it and explodes. Narda takes the stone, transforms into Darna, and throws Magnum (now a python) into a fire. Valentine flees but is revealed as a monster to her followers, who abandon her.