The cast of “Nanay, Tatay” and “Pasahero” during the “Sine Sindak” media conference in Quezon City. Image: Courtesy of Viva Films and SM Cinema
For filmmakers Roman Perez, Jr. and Roni Benaid, as well as actress Louise delos Reyes, horror will always be a common genre among Filipinos, due to the country’s knack for sharing ghost stories and scaring people for fun.
Perez and Benaid are the directors of the films “Pasahero” and “Nanay, Tatay,” which are included in the lineup of the fifth installment of the Sine Sindak Halloween film festival. Running from October 30 to November 5, the filmmakers hoped the festival would restore the audience’s love for going to the theater.
Aside from the Filipino films, other titles included in the lineup are Japan’s “House of Sayuri” and “My Mother’s Eyes,” Indonesia’s “The Thorn: One Sacred Night,” Cambodia’s “Tenement,” France’s “Mad,” and United States’ “V/H/S Beyond.”
“It’s the experience of going to the theater that makes it worthwhile. It feels good to watch the movie in the cinema where you can feel the magic,” Benaid said in response to INQUIRER.net, when asked how the festival can encourage viewers to return to the cinema.
“Isn’t it better to watch horror movies with someone in the theater? It’s because you can bring the spooky experience until you reach home, which would hopefully happen,” he further added.
Meanwhile, Perez said that while there’s nothing wrong with watching horror films on a streaming platform, he believes that being scared in a cinema is a more worthwhile experience in itself.
“When the culture of watching movies in a theater started, horror has always been one of the most-watched genres because of the experience that it brings. It’s okay to watch on a streaming platform but it’s better to experience it with someone who’s also scared, almost to the point of screaming. Nothing beats the experience of watching horror in cinemas,” he said.
The “Pasahero” director reiterated that Filipinos have a unique affinity for the horror genre as well, despite its tendency to follow repetitive storylines.
He said Filipinos have a unique sensibility to horror, citing the Metro Manila Film Festival where a horror flick is a staple among the movie entries.
“There will always be a horror film in the lineup. Even though it’s repetitive, it will still be a part of the festival. Because it’s part of our sensibility as a viewer. That’s what Filipinos want. We want to be scared with someone,” Perez said.
Agreeing with the filmmakers’ remarks, delos Reyes pointed out that while horror movies can sometimes be repetitive, viewers have different interpretations of their themes.
“Horror can have repetitive plotlines. But your grandmother and mother’s stories might be different from my grandmother and mother’s. Horror stories in the Philippines are ever-evolving. There will always be something new on the table when it comes to this genre. Horror is a genre that will never fade, not only in the Philippines but also in the world,” she said.