This weekend, I gave fear a front-row seat. No plans, no errands — just me, a blackout room, and a craving for chaos. I was in the mood for horror, the kind that makes your skin prickle and your heart pound like it's trying to escape your chest. Whether in the echoey chill of a dark, empty cinema or wrapped in a blanket fortress with my bass speaker cranked all the way up, I wanted something to rattle me.
There’s something deliciously twisted about chasing scares on your day off — a kind of therapeutic madness. The room was pitch black, the subwoofer growled like something alive, and every sound — from a distant whisper to a floorboard creak — felt like it was crawling up my spine. I didn’t just watch horror; I invited it in, let it make itself at home, offered it popcorn.
I ran through a mini marathon of films, each with their own flavor of fear — some psychological, some supernatural, some just plain disturbing. And you know what? It was a damn good time. Jump scares that actually landed. Creepy sound design that had me side-eyeing my own hallway. That lingering unease after the credits roll? Yeah, that’s the good stuff.
Nothing like a weekend well-spent, getting spooked for fun. 10/10 would do it again.
Until Dawn
Directed by David F. Sandberg, Until Dawn is a survival horror film inspired by the 2015 PlayStation video game of the same name. The movie follows Clover (Ella Rubin) and her friends—Max (Michael Cimino), Nina (Odessa A’zion), Abe (Belmont Cameli), and Megan (Ji-young Yoo)—as they retrace the steps of Clover’s missing sister, Melanie (Maia Mitchell).
Their journey leads them to Galore Valley, a mysterious mining town where people have reportedly vanished. After stopping at a gas station, they meet Hill (Peter Stormare), who warns them about the town’s eerie reputation. As they arrive, heavy rainfall forces them to seek shelter in a visitor center, where they discover a wall filled with missing persons’ posters—including Melanie’s.
As night falls, the group realizes they are trapped in a sinister time loop. A masked assailant wielding a pickaxe attacks and kills them, only for them to wake up and relive the same night. Each time they die, the loop resets with a new threat, forcing them to find a way to survive until dawn.
The film blends slasher horror, psychological tension, and supernatural elements, creating a gripping and terrifying experience. With haunting cinematography, eerie atmosphere, and intense performances, Until Dawn delivers a unique take on the horror genre, keeping audiences on edge as the characters fight to break free from their deadly cycle.
Final Destination Bloodlines
Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, Final Destination: Bloodlines is the sixth installment in the iconic horror franchise. This time, the film introduces a multi-generational curse, expanding the series’ mythology beyond individual survivors.
The story begins in 1968, when Iris Campbell (Brec Bassinger) attends the grand opening of the Skyview Restaurant Tower. She experiences a terrifying premonition of the building’s collapse, saving herself and others from certain death. However, her survival disrupts Death’s design, setting off a chain reaction that haunts her descendants.
Decades later, Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana), Iris’s granddaughter, begins experiencing visions linked to her family’s past. As she investigates, she realizes that Death is coming for her bloodline, targeting her relatives in gruesome, elaborate accidents. Alongside her brother Charlie (Teo Briones) and a group of friends, Stefani races against time to uncover the truth and break the cycle.
The film delivers inventive death sequences, including a hospital MRI disaster and a tattoo parlor catastrophe, keeping audiences on edge. Tony Todd reprises his role as William Bludworth, offering cryptic insights into Death’s relentless pursuit.
With tense atmosphere, shocking twists, and brutal kills, Final Destination: Bloodlines reinvigorates the franchise while honoring its legacy. The generational twist adds emotional depth, making survival feel even more impossible. While some characters lack development, the film’s high-stakes horror and suspenseful storytelling make it a thrilling watch for fans of the series.
Espantaho
Directed by Chito S. Roño, Espantaho is a Filipino supernatural horror film that intertwines family drama, eerie folklore, and psychological tension. The story unfolds in the Lazatin-Henson-Katigbak Mansion, where Monet (Judy Ann Santos) and her mother Rosa (Lorna Tolentino) mourn the death of their patriarch, Pabling. As they observe the traditional pasiyam—a nine-day prayer ritual for the deceased—unsettling events begin to disrupt their mourning.
Tensions rise when Adele (Chanda Romero), Pabling’s legal wife, arrives with her children, Andie (Janice de Belen) and Roy (Mon Confiado), claiming ownership of the ancestral home. As the family battles over inheritance, Monet experiences terrifying visions of her deceased mother, warning her of an impending danger. A mysterious painting appears at their doorstep, depicting a scarecrow (Espantaho)—a sinister figure tied to the horrors of betrayal and unresolved conflicts.
One by one, people start disappearing, and Monet’s seizures and hallucinations intensify, revealing dark secrets buried within the family. The film masterfully blends Filipino funeral traditions, supernatural horror, and psychological suspense, leading to a shocking revelation that changes everything.
With stunning cinematography, eerie atmosphere, and powerhouse performances, Espantaho delivers a chilling exploration of grief, inheritance, and supernatural forces. The film’s haunting visuals and emotionally charged storytelling make it a standout entry in the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival, leaving audiences questioning the secrets buried within families.
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