AS we officially enter the spooky season, people are finding ways to scare others or send shivers down their spines.
While some plan to trick or treat, attend Halloween parties or participate in pulse-pounding activities, others opt to celebrate the season by staying home and enjoying a lineup of horror and thriller flicks that will have them glued to the screen.
Republicasia listed down several local and foreign movies, in case you haven’t planned your Halloween binge. So, get your popcorn, dim the lights, and let the scares begin!
‘Outside’
Director: Carlo Ledesma
Cast: Sid Lucero, Beauty Gonzales, Marco Masa, and Aiden Patdu
Where to watch: Netflix
The list of Filipino zombie-themed movies keeps growing, with “Outside” being the latest addition. But this new horror film has more to offer than just the undead creatures, which hooked many viewers.
“Outside” centers on a Filipino family—composed of a “cunning” father named Francis (played by Lucero), a “strong-willed” mother (played by Gonzales), and their two sons (played by Masa and Patdu)—who moves to an idyllic farmhouse amidst a zombie outbreak. As they deal with the traumatic crisis, the family’s psychological and emotional struggles show, making the film a “terrifying psychological thriller” as described by Ledesma. “Outside” is Netflix Philippines’s first zombie movie.
‘Eerie’
Director: Mikhail Reid
Cast: Bea Alonzo, Charo Santos-Concio, Jake Cuenca, and Maxene Magalona
Where to watch: Netflix
Following the suicide of a student named Erika, a series of uncanny events surround an all-girls Catholic school run by nuns, including the sudden death of another student named Clara. This prompts Pat Consolacion (played by Alonzo) to conduct her own investigation to uncover truths and find out who the culprit is, without telling the school’s strict head teacher, Mother Superior Alice (played by Santos-Concio).
In April 2019, “Eerie” surpassed the P100 million mark in local ticket sales, just 10 days after it was released in cinemas.
‘Clarita’
Director: Derrick Cabrido
Cast: Jodi Sta. Maria, Ricky Davao, and Aaron Villaflor
Where to watch: Netflix
Filipinos grew up hearing several mysterious events, including the supposed exorcism of a teen girl named Clarita Villanueva in May 1953, which made local and international headlines. This story inspired the 2019 supernatural horror film “Clarita,” which was topbilled by Sta. Maria, who played the titular role. Clarita was locked up in the Old Bilibid Prison in Manila where she had unearthly experiences, claiming to be bitten by two terrifying creatures.
Sta. Maria previously said in media interviews that Clarita was by far her “most challenging” role.
‘Feng Shui’
Director: Chito Roño
Cast: Kris Aquino, Jay Manalo, and Lotlot De Leon
Where to watch: Netflix
Aquino, dubbed as the “Queen of All Media,” has a series of hit horror films under her name, including “Feng Shui,” which centers on a Bagua mirror or an amulet believed to protect one from evil and bring them good luck. But this is not the case for Joy (played by Aquino), who finds and brings home a Bagua mirror that turns out to be cursed. While it initially delivers good fortune to Joy, the antique item causes the death of those who stare at it, with their demise relating to their Chinese zodiac sign.
“Feng Shui’s” box-office success led to the making of its sequel, “Feng Shui 2,” starring Aquino and Coco Martin.
‘Bliss’
Director: Jerrold Tarog
Cast: Iza Calzado, Ian Veneracion, and TJ Trinidad
Where to watch: Netflix
Another successful psychological thriller that gained international recognition is “Bliss.” It follows a successful actress named Jane Ciego (played by Calzado), who becomes disabled following an accident. Left under the care of her husband Carlo (played by Trinidad) and an odd nurse, Jane is transferred to a secluded house to avoid more attention from the media. As she spends time there, Jane begins to experience strange circumstances that make her question her sanity.
“Bliss” was screened at the 12th Osaka Asian Film Festival, which awarded Calzado the Yakushi Pearl Award (Best Performer).
‘Ready or Not’
Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Cast: Samara Weaving and Mark O’Brien
Where to watch: Disney+
Every family reunion, including weddings, has included games to let relatives spend time together. But what if they take the game too seriously, even if it means losing their lives?
Such a deadly scenario transpired in the 2019 film “Ready or Not,” which follows a newlywed couple, Grace (played by Weaving) and Alex (O’Brien), who participate in a bloody hide-and-seek game. It has been a tradition of Alex’s family to play a game at a wedding night, where the new family member has to be sacrificed or they die instead. Picking the hide-and-seek card, Grace has to hide herself in her in-laws’ mansion as they hunt her with their weapons.
‘Hold Your Breath’
Director: Karrie Crouse, Will Joines
Cast: Sarah Paulson, Amiah Miller, and Annaleigh Ashford
Where to watch: Disney+
“Hold Your Breath” is one of the newest additions to Disney+’s horror film collection, featuring Margaret (played by Paulson), a grieving mother who experiences violent sleepwalking episodes following the death of her youngest daughter due to illness. She lives with her two other daughters in a then-successful farmland, while her husband moves to Philadelphia for work. Bizarre events begin to occur when Margaret stops taking her sleeping pills, causing her to hallucinate and sleepwalk, in a bid to protect her children from a strange man named Wallace, who claims to be “The Grey Man.”
“Hold Your Breath” is one of the movies that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, under the Special Presentations section.
‘Shutter’
Director: Masayuko Ochiai
Cast: Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor, and Megumi Okina
Where to watch: Disney+
“Shutter” centers on a newlywed couple, Jane (played by Taylor) and Ben (played by Jackson), who travel to Japan for a career opportunity. Jane accidentally hits a girl while traveling, and since then, the couple finds strange lights in their photos. Ben also starts complaining of severe shoulder pain, the cause of which is unknown.
As Jane finds the answer, she learns about her husband’s dark secret concerning a girl named Megumi (played by Okina) who had committed suicide.
‘The Omen’
Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, and David Warner
Where to watch: Disney+
If you are into classic horror films, “The Omen” should definitely be part of your Halloween binge.
This 1976 supernatural horror film revolves around an American diplomat named Robert Thorn (played by Peck) who secretly adopts a child named Damien, whom his wife Katherine (played by Remick) believes is their own. Since adopting Damien, a series of mysterious deaths surround Thorn’s family, including the demise of Damian’s nanny who publicly hangs herself on his fifth birthday party.
‘The Boogeyman’
Director: Rob Savage
Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, and Vivien Lyra Blair
Where to watch: Disney+
“The Boogeyman” is one of the horror films based on the stories written by renowned Stephen King.
The 2023 horror movie revolves around therapist Will Harper (played by Messina), who is reeling from the death of his wife who died in a car crash. One day, a man named Lester visits Will and tells him that his children were killed by an evil creature they called “The Boogeyman.” However, Will does not believe his story and instead calls the police, prompting Lester to escape. Sadie, one of Will’s daughters, later discovers Lester’s body in her mother’s art closet, and since then, strange occurrences begin to happen in their household.
