Benjamin Alves (left) and Solenn Heussaff
Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Misterio de la Noche” (Mystery of the Night), which features Solenn Heussaff as a manananggal, will have its world premiere at the Cheval Noir Main Competition of the 2019 Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, Canada.
The 15-year-old festival, which runs from July 11 to Aug. 1, is dubbed as the largest genre film derby in North America, according to the Canada-based website Screen Anarchy, which also announced the Fantasia lineup for 2019.
“Fantasia is the perfect place to showcase the movie since it’s a horror drama,” Alix told the Inquirer on Friday. “I will be attending since it’s also my first time to experience a genre festival. I’m excited, especially because I rarely do horror films.”
Alix’s last one was “Chain Mail,” released in 2015.
“Misterio de la Noche,” based on Rody Vera’s play “The First Aswang,” is set in the 1900s. Through the film, Alix addressed “the multigenerational horrors of Spanish colonial rule in a classic fairy tale retold with a dash of eroticism,” Screen Anarchy stated.
Solenn Heussaff
Alix’s is the lone Philippine entry competing in the category with South Korea, Japan, South Africa, Brazil and the United States.
“This is most challenging for Solenn because she is naked in the entire film,” explained Alix. Solenn’s character is a mystical child, who was raised by fairies (Gina Alajar, Elizabeth Oropesa and Radha). She grew up with shape-shifting characters who transform into wild boars or birds at will.
“Solenn also hardly has any speaking lines because her character doesn’t talk and merely mimics animal sounds. Later, she will be seen transforming into a manananggal,” Alix added.
The film also stars Benjamin Alves, Rosanna Roces and Mercedes Cabral.
Gina Alajar