‘Sunod’

Carmina Villaroel

Directed by Carlo Ledesma; stars Carmina Villaroel, Mylene Dizon, Rhed Bustamante, Krystal Brimner, JC Santos, Susan Africa, Kate Alejandrino

Desperate to earn extra income for her gravely ill daughter’s mounting medical expenses, Olivia (Villaroel) accepts a financially rewarding, but physically taxing job at a call center located in an old and rundown building in Manila.

“My character is someone who will do anything just to keep her child alive,” said Villaroel, who’s making her long-overdue movie comeback.

Olivia’s personal problems and job pressures eventually take their toll on her. And as her physical and mental state become more and more vulnerable, she starts to experience a series of eerie incidents, including ghost hauntings.

Scene from “Sunod”

Unknown to her, the spirit of a young girl—who appears to have a connection to the building—has taken a liking to her and follows her home. Suddenly, her daughter starts acting erratically. This compels Olivia to uncover the mysteries that shroud the girl and the environment she inhabits.

“This is different from the past horror flicks I have done in the past, because the scare comes from the vibe and quiet eeriness. It’s unsettling,” Villaroel said.

But more than the hauntings and the love between a mother and daughter, the movie also takes a peek at the dynamics of call-center culture. “It’s an exploration of the mental state that call center operators go through,” Ledesma said. –ALLAN POLICARPIO INQ