HORROR has always been a favorite movie genre among Filipinos.
Sometimes, we really love to scare ourselves by looking for horror movies that will keep us on the edge of our seats. Pinoy horror films didn't get much recognition because, honestly speaking, we are not good in terms of special effects. But the beauty of Pinoy horror films rely on its rich plot and stellar performances by its actors who can make you feel an intense kind of emotions through their facial reactions. Furthermore, Pinoy horror has evolved throughout the years. It keeps on getting better and scarier while some were even recognized internationally.
I've listed a few Pinoy horror movies that you should try if you're in the mood to scare yourself. Here are they...
1. Sukob (The Wedding Curse)
Who would forget the remarkable tandem of Kris Aquino and Claudine Barretto in one movie? It was the talk of the town when it was released in 2006. Under the direction of Chito S. Roño, Sukod was based on a famous Filipino superstition which was no one should get married in the same year an immediate relative passes away or no siblings should get married in the same year. It was believed that by not following this belief, it will attract bad energies that will bring a lot of misfortunes to a married couple. This film will really scare the hell out of you. It was packed with suspenseful scenes that will make your hair raise making it one of the most remarkable horror films in our country. Sukob has earned a total of 203 million pesos and was considered the highest-grossing Filipino film from 2006 until 2009.
2. The Road
Released on 2011 under the direction of Yam Laranas, this psychological horror crime drama easily became a favorite among moviegoers. The story revolves around a successful policeman named Luis Medina who was approached by a woman asking for new information about her daughters who were missing twelve years ago. Asking his partner to retrieve the missing persons life, Luis conducted an investigation despite the discouragements he received from his colleagues. The Road was divided into three different stories all tied up to scare and haunt you. It has received mixed reviews and moderate success but the story line will surely not disappoint you. It was even commercially released in the United States and has received a few nominations and won awards.
3. Tragic Theater
It's a supernatural horror film released by Viva Films on 2015 based on a book written by G.M. Coronel. It was based on a real-life tragic accident which happened during the administration of President Marcos in which a group of construction workers faced death when ceiling of the theater that they were building collapsed. Many survived, but unfortunately, more than a hundred men didn't make it and were buried beneath the theater. Since then, a lot of scary stories circulated about the souls of the said construction workers roaming around the said theater. The movie revolved around Annie, an engineer, who was about to start a project on the said theater. But before starting it, she consulted a group of exorcists and spirit mediums led by a priest to gather information about the old theater who has a very dark and tragic past. Upon entering the theater, they have faced a lot of terrifying obstacles which tested their courage and faith. Things got complicated when Annie left the circle and got possessed by a demon.
4. Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang
This Filipino pyschological thriller film was the second film produced by Skylight Films and was released by Star Cinema. Corazon tells the lovestory of a married couple who was having a hard time conceiving a child during the times of Japanese occupation in the Phillipines. Their prayers of having a child was eventually answered after joining a traditional fertility rites in honor of certain patron saints. Unfortunately, unexpected circumstances led to their baby's death which started the conflict of the story. Corazon started to act in a weird and creepy way. Things got more creepy when she hunted for babies to eat their flesh. Corazon is a remarkable film because of the beautiful lovestory hidden underneath its weird and scary plot.
5. Seklusyon
An official entry to the annual Metro Manila Film Festival, Seklusyon has received praises and 9 awards when it was released on 2016. It follows the story of Miguel, a deacon who went through "Seklusyon", an old ritual where aspiring priests are sent in a secluded area on the last seven days of their training. It was believed to be the most challenging chapter of their journey towards priesthood because during the last seven days, they are most vulnerable to evil temptations. But things got complicated when a nun named Sister Cecilia and a miraculous yet mysterious child named Anghela Sta. Ana came to give them the biggest test of their lives as soldiers of God. This film delivered a very strong and intriguing message which gained a big thumbs up among moviegoers and move critics.
We still have a lot of good Pinoy horror films which deserves to be featured on this list. But for now, these are all the films I would like to recommend. How about you? What Pinoy horror movie scared you? Feel free to drop your comments below and let's talk about which film has made our knees buckle and made our hair rise.
What Horror Movies do you love to recommend? :)
