Nadine Lustre at the story conference for “Nokturno.” Image: Facebook/Viva Films
Winning the Best Actress award at the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is a clear sign that Nadine Lustre is on her way to becoming the so-called “horror queen” — but it’s a title that she doesn’t see herself as.
Lustre said this during the story conference for her upcoming film “Nokturno,” which will be her second project with filmmaker Mikhail Red. She will also be joined by Bea Binene, Eula Valdez, Wilbert Ross, and JJ Quilantang.
“Parang hindi ko pa po ma-claim ang ‘horror queen’ kasi this is [just] my second [horror project]. Kasi meron pa po akong isang film na horror pero supporting character lang po ako d’un. As in sobrang bilis [ng appearance] ko d’un,” she said, referring to the 2015 film “Chain Mail” where she was a supporting character.
(I don’t think I can claim the “horror queen” title because this is my second horror project. I was previously casted in a horror film, but as a supporting character. My appearance was really quick in that film.)
“Ang first [horror project] ko is ‘Deleter’ then second is ‘Nokturno.’ I don’t think I can claim it pero I’m really happy na naka-receive ako ng maraming awards because of ‘Deleter,’” she further added.
(My first horror project was “Deleter” and second is “Nokturno.” I don’t think I can claim it pero I’m really happy na naka-receive ako ng maraming awards because of “Deleter.”)
The title “Horror Queen of Philippine Cinema” was previously bestowed on Kris Aquino, owing to the box office success of her numerous films in the horror genre, among them, “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” “Feng Shui” series, “Sukob,” and more.
Lustre, who admitted that “Nokturno” is the project she always “wanted to do,” claimed that she doesn’t want to be boxed in a single genre, saying she sees herself taking on different genres in the future.
“I don’t want to be boxed. Hopefully, after ‘Nokturno,’ magkaroon ako ng variation sa projects. But ako talaga, biased kasi ako sa horror, thriller, and crime. But with ‘Nokturno,’ excited ako kung paano ko iti-twist ‘yung character this time around and paano siya magiging iba sa ‘Deleter,’” she said.
“Nokturno” is not the first time Lustre is dipping her toes into the horror genre. Her character Lyra in “Deleter” was faced with the horrors of her past while working at an online content moderation office. Another film “Greed” has her playing a dark role, that of Kichi who succumbed to the horrors of poverty.
Despite her knack for dark roles, Lustre stressed that her “Nokturno” character Jamie would face different challenges as her fate would affect those around her—while noting that she doesn’t want to reveal any spoilers at the moment.
“‘Yung challenges ni Jamie ay sobrang iba from Kichi and Lyra. Mas rural kasi ang ‘Nokturno’ and ‘yung mga kabatuhan ko rito — especially with Eula Valdez — makikita niyo ‘yung interactions ng character ko with Eula, with a mom, with a brother, with a family member,” she said.
(Jamie’s challenges are different from Kichi and Lyra. “Nokturno” is set in a rural environment and you would see my character’s interactions—especially with Eula Valdez—as well as with a mom, brother, and a family member.)
“Sa ‘Deleter’ wala, halos computer lang kabatuhan ko d’un. And for ‘Greed,’ tatlo lang kami lagi sa eksena. But this time, meron nang family involved, may grieving. Tina-try ko kasing wag mag-share at ayokong mag-kwento kasi baka ma-spoil ko na naman,” she continued while laughing.
(I didn’t have that in “Deleter.” I was mostly interacting with a computer. Whereas for “Greed,” we were usually three in a scene. But this time, a family and grieving is involved. I’m trying my best to not share anything because I might spoil the film.)
Filming for “Nokturno” kicked off earlier this month, although a premiere date for the film is yet to be announced, as of this writing. EDV