Immortal beloved

KRISTA Miller and Kiko Matos in “Hukluban”

Veteran filmmaker Gil Portes’ “Hukluban,” an entry in the Sineng Pambansa Horror plus Film Festival this month, is described as a “gothic romance.”

Portes was inspired by his own 1983 drama thriller “Gabi Kung Sumikat ang Araw” in making “Hukluban,” which top-bills newbies Kiko Matos and Krista Miller.

It tells the story of a cursed maiden who is young and beautiful at night, but transforms into a hukluban, a decrepit hag, by dawn.

The immortal woman’s only hope is for true love to break the curse.

In rebooting and updating the timeless tale, Portes focuses on the heroine’s search for redemption across six generations.

The new version makes use of advances in makeup processes and prosthetic technology—a marked improvement on the original film three decades ago.

Portes, whose previous Sineng Pambansa entry was last year’s “Ang Tag-Araw ni Twinkle,” has won awards for his movies “Andrea, Paano Ba ang Maging Isang Ina” (1990), “Saranggola” (1999), and “Mga Munting Tinig” (2002), among others.

Other filmmakers in the fest’s lineup are Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes (“T’yanak”), Romy Suzara (“Sigaw sa Hatinggabi”) and Edgardo “Boy” Vinarao (“Bacao”).

Presented by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, in partnership with SM Cinema, the fest will run from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4 in all SM cinemas nationwide at regular admission prices.

All four films are inspired by different stories from Filipino folklore and regional beliefs.