“Spooky season” is officially upon us, and that means our favorite horror movies are making a much-awaited comeback.
Various new spine-chilling films from around the world dominated the big screen in 2025, such as Good Boy, Weapons, Together, and Bring Her Back. A few scary stories from the Philippines, which probably hit closer to home, also came out in cinemas and participated in international film festivals.
Photo: GMA Pictures, VIVA TV/YouTube
Filipinos don’t hold back when creating hair-raising tales that keep us awake at night. Our lineup of horror films this year makes sure that the rest of the world knows that, too.
As we brace ourselves for the frights, fun, and festivities of Halloween this month, here’s a look back on the Filipino horror films that left us on the edge of our seats this year. A revisit is certainly in order, just in time for the return of the country’s most beloved horror anthology franchise this December.
Lilim
“Hell is a place on earth” in this Mikhail Red film, which eerily combines religious beliefs with Filipino myths and folklore. When Issa (Heaven Peralejo) and her younger brother Tomas (Skywalker David) seek shelter in a secluded orphanage, they slowly bear witness to the so-called sanctuary’s ruthless rituals that appease the nocturnal deity they worship.
Lilim puts a sinister twist on our perceptions of faith. The film was an official entry to the 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Netherlands. In July this year, Red and Peralejo also represented the Lilim team at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF). The two hosted an introduction and talk-back session to accompany the film’s North American premiere.
Posthouse
Have you ever wondered what happened to the Philippines’ first-ever horror film? This seemingly forgotten aspect of our history is unearthed through the larger-than-life terror of Nikolas Red’s Posthouse.
Sid Lucero and Bea Binene play a father-daughter duo who come across the supposedly lost footage of the first Filipino horror film, which dates back to 1927. The lines between fiction and reality start to blur as remnants of the age-old film start haunting the two and the posthouse where they work. This psychological horror movie by the creators of Deleter and Lilim also tackles themes of generational trauma and grief.
Untold
In Untold, Jodi Sta. Maria plays Vivian Vera, an established journalist whose world gets upended by curses, nightmares, and vengeful spirits. As she battles haunting visions and apparitions that make her life a living hell, she discovers the shocking truths behind the crimes and mysteries she thoroughly reports on.
Untold is a psychological horror film brimming with twists and turns by Derick Cabrido, who also directed Mallari, an official entry to the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
P77
An overseas Filipino worker’s (OFW) fresh, new start at life takes a turn for the worse in P77 (short for Penthouse 77), a supernatural thriller about a haunted penthouse with a horrifying past. Luna (Barbie Forteza) must conquer the dangers that lurk around her to make it out of the cursed home in one piece.
P77, also directed by Derick Cabrido, is Barbie’s first major role in a horror film since The Road in 2011. Her acting range and experience came full circle through this project, and we couldn’t be prouder.
Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Evil Origins
This year’s MMFF is ready to give us the creeps on Christmas Day as the iconic Shake, Rattle, and Roll franchise returns to Philippine cinemas. We’re stoked to watch a brand new set of spooky stories on the big screen, with an all-star ensemble, no less.
The horror anthology’s latest installment follows the franchise’s anthological tradition of featuring three separate narratives in one movie. This year’s stories unfold across three timelines: 1775, 2025, and 2050.
Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Evil Origins’ must-watch cast includes seasoned actors like Janice de Belen, Richard Gutierrez, and Carla Abellana, as well as Gen Z artists such as Sofia “Fyang” Smith, Francine Diaz, Sassa Gurl, Ashley Ortega, and Dustin Yu.
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What’s your favorite Filipino horror film of 2025? Share your picks with us in the comments below!
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