Horror movies, especially those from Asian studios, have a unique appeal. Watching them and willingly embracing the fear has become a regular part of our entertainment.
It easy enough to say that there’s something about these films that keeps drawing us back to the genre. And in response to that, Viva Communications, Inc. and SM Cinema have teamed up for a new edition of their expanding horror film festival, Sine Sindak.
At the contract signing ceremony last week, Viva Communications Inc. President and CEO Vincent Del Rosario extended his appreciation to SM Cinema for its longstanding support of the Philippine film industry.
Talking about their collaboration, Del Rosario noted the significance of their partnership, which has been in place since 1986.
“This is a very special event for us. Since 1986, we’ve been providing films to SM. I think this is a culmination, a new level of partnership, so we are very grateful for this opportunity,” Del Rosario said during the event.
The signing marked the upcoming Sine Sindak: Ang Ika-5 Yugto, a yearly horror film event, which will run from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 in SM Cinemas across the country. Viva Films, one of the key players in the local film scene, is set to showcase four films at the event.
This year’s lineup includes two local entries: Pasahero and Nanay, Tatay, alongside two foreign films, The Thorn: One Sacred Night from Indonesia and House of Sayuri from Japan.
Pasahero, directed by Roman Perez Jr., is a suspense-horror film about seven train passengers who witness a crime but fail to intervene. Haunted by their guilt, they face a series of misfortunes linked to the incident. The cast includes Louise delos Reyes, Mark Anthony Fernandez, and Bea Binene.
Nanay, Tatay, written and directed by Roni S. Benaid, follows three young girls taken in by a couple who lost their own child. However, they soon discover that their new home is haunted by a restless spirit. The film stars Aubrey Caraan, Andrea Del Rosario, and Xia Vigor.
On the international side, The Thorn: One Sacred Night, directed by Hanny Saputra, tells the story of a man confronting black magic and an evil spirit after a family tragedy. House of Sayuri, helmed by Koji Shiraishi, is based on a horror comic about a family haunted by a vengeful spirit in their new home.
The Sine Sindak ticket will be available begin Oct. 9.
