REPUBLICASIA previously collated a list of several Filipino and foreign horror and thriller flicks one can choose from for their Halloween binge. But if they want to double the fright, Nadine Lustre’s latest horror movie is here to make them stay up all night.
Directed by Mikhail Red, “Nokturno” will finally be made available on streaming platform Prime Video beginning Friday, October 31. Nadine stars alongside Eula Valdez, Bea Binene, Wilbert Ross, and Justin James “JJ” Quilantang in the folk horror film.
On X (formerly Twitter), Prime Video Philippines shared a few stills from “Nokturno,” including scenes where Eula and Nadine are seen inside what appears to be an old house, JJ looks up the stairs, Bea looks for something from the window,and a silhouette of an eerie robed creature.
“Nokturno” is Nadine and Mikhail’s second collaboration after the success of their techno-horror film “Deleter.” However, there is much to learn about this folk horror movie.
Here are a few facts about “Nokturno” that may pique viewers’ interest and make them add it to their binge-watch list this spooky season:
‘Nokturno’ is inspired by Philippine folklore
“Nokturno” got its inspiration from the urban legend of “Kumakatok.” In Philippine folklore, “Kumakatok” is described as a group of three figures wearing dark robes who knock on doors in the middle of the night, signaling a bad omen. Their visit could mean that someone would subsequently die in the household they knocked on.
In the movie, Nadine plays the role of Jamie, an overseas migrant worker in Dubai who returns home only to deal with a supernatural ancient curse brought by the “Kumakatok” that haunts her family.
Jamie lives with her mother Lilet (played by Eula) and two younger siblings Joana (played by Bea) and Julius (played by JJ). Joana has a boyfriend named Manu (played by Wilbert).
During the story conference for “Nokturno” in 2023, Mikhail said he incorporated “a lot” of Philippine folklore elements to the story to veer away from his concept for “Deleter.”
“Deleter,” one of the official entries in the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), centers on Lyra (played by Nadine), a content moderator tasked to filter graphic content before it reaches social media platforms. Lyra begins to experience sinister circumstances after her co-worker commits suicide.
“If you notice, ‘Deleter’ is a techno-horror ‘di ba? We dealt with the internet, technology and yung accessibility non, and office-setting. Ito [Nokturno] naman mas rural, mas isolated, mas lonely,” the filmmaker pointed out.
Filipinos grew up hearing folklore from their elders, and “Nokturno” cast members were no different. One example was the “Engkanto” stories Nadine heard from her relatives from the province, and the actress said she believes that these mythical environmental spirits exist with humans in the mundane world.
“Sa laki ng mundo feeling ko naman—much like aliens, you know? Ang laki-laki ng mundo, so, I don’t think na tayo lang yung nandito. And I also believe in spirits,” she said.
‘Nokturno’ talks about family conflict
Aside from the supernatural occurrences, Jamie also has to deal with another battle: conflicts in her family, particularly with her mother.
According to Mikhail, Jamie struggles to get her younger brother out of the care of their “controlling, conservative, traditional” mother.
“May ganon na conflict, eh. Very progressive mother na character who left the family, saw the world, and then lakas to come back after a tragedy,” the director revealed. “Magba-bump heads sila ni Eula, ni Lilet.”
Mikhail hopes viewers would resonate with this subplot, given how family-centered Filipinos are.
“Baka the younger audience will relate dun sa struggle, yung perspective ni Jamie. And then, baka the parents will relate rin dun sa perspective and sa pinaglalaban naman ni Lilet, and may mahanap silang balance or resolution dun,” he emphasized.
It is Nadine’s 2nd topbilled horror film
Nadine has many films in different genres under her name, with “Nokturno” being the second horror movie she topbilled following “Deleter.”
Longtime fans of the actress have probably seen her in “Chain Mail,” which starred Meg Imperial and Shy Carlos. However, Nadine said she could not consider the 2015 mystery horror film her own as she only played a supporting role.
“Meron po akong isa pang naging film before na horror, pero support lang po ako dun, as in sobrang bilis lang po ako dun,” she said, referring to “Chain Mail.” She continued, “Lumabas lang po ako saglit sa ibang mga scene.”
Nadine also said she could not claim the “horror queen” title, despite the success of “Deleter,” for which she won the Best Actress award at the MMFF’s Gabi ng Parangal in 2022.
“I don’t think I can claim it, pero I’m really happy na naka-receive po ako ng award sa performance ko sa ‘Deleter,’” the 30-year-old actress said.
The “Box Office Horror Queen” title was previously given to Kris Aquino, who starred in several hit Filipino horror movies, including “Feng Shui,” “Segunda Mano,” “Sukob,” and “Dalaw.”
The story was first pitched during pandemic
Nadine and Mikhail’s second horror movie team-up was made public last year, but “Nokturno” had been in the pipeline since the pandemic, according to the filmmaker.
“This is an idea that na were already pitching nung time ng ‘Deleter.’ Pero logistically, hindi lang nag-match at that time, pandemic pa non eh,” Mikhail said.
He mentioned how it would not be feasible for them to shoot “Nokturno” at the time since COVID-19 protocols were still in effect, limiting mobility and mass gatherings. Unlike “Deleter,” the folklore horror movie has more characters and filming locations.
“That’s why ‘Deleter’ really worked kasi it’s a concept na very contained, konting characters in one location, very claustrophobic,” Mikhail noted.
The story conference for “Nokturno” was held over a month after the COVID-19 public health emergency was lifted throughout the country, allowing Mikhail’s team to film for “Nokturno” as the health protocols on COVID-19 eased.
Mikhail unveiled the first-look image of “Nokturno” in August 2023, featuring Jamie’s family with eerie expression.
Nadine immediately agreed to ’Nokturno’
It did not take long for Nadine to say yes when the role of Jamie was first pitched to her, stressing that horror films are the kind of projects she has been wanting to do.
“Actually, hindi na po ako nagdalawang isip,” she said. “I’m a huge horror fan. I love watching horror films and, of course, si Direk Mik naman ‘yon and I really love working with his whole team, so, hindi na po [ako] nagdalawang isip, I said ‘yes’ right away.”
While she was thrilled about “Nokturno,” Nadine admitted that she still felt “a little pressured” to do another horror movie with Mikhail after receiving positive reviews for “Deleter.”
“Every time someone approaches me na alam na meron ulit kaming project, syempre ang ano nila, ‘Sobrang ganda ng ‘Deleter,’ so excited kami para mapanood yung ’Nokturno’ for this year.’ Medyo may konting pressure pero I’m very confident naman,” Nadine stressed.
The actress also shared that she gave each of her characters a zodiac sign to set them apart from one another, especially with Jamie and Lyra who are from the same genre of films.
“Inaaral ko po yung character ko and, of course, I ask Direk kung ano ba yung ugali ng character ko, sometimes, I put in a zodiac sign para lang magawan ko siya ng iba’t bang ugali, yung mga mannerism and all of that,” she explained.
When asked what zodiac sign she gave to Jamie, Nadine said at the time, “Fini-figure out ko pa po ‘yan.”
Cozy up and get ready to be spooked as “Nokturno” knocks on your screen via Prime Video!
