After attending a block screening of The Caretakers at UP Town Center in Quezon City, I happened to chance upon director Shugo Praico, who shared insights about the film’s future and its strong environmental message.
Produced by Rein Entertainment and Regal Entertainment, The Caretakers is a unique entry into the horror genre. The producers call it an eco-horror film because it combines supernatural terror with a strong call for environmental awareness.
Praico shared how the film’s production embraced a “zero waste” practice, a commitment that reduced daily waste from 15 trash bags to just a couple.
The film’s producers, Lino Cayetano and Philip King, worked closely with local government units to ensure the sustainability of the production. They set up systems to recycle cardboard and bottles and even created a compost pit for organic waste. This focus on stewardship was integral to the film’s core, as it draws heavily on the themes of nature and its protection.
“Included in the production was the zero waste practice. We segregated. The barangay helped us. The waste, instead of being thrown anywhere, was properly handled… The barangay also had segregation. We felt that this is something we could contribute to mother earth,” Praico explained.
Praico also hinted at the future of the film, expressing hope for The Caretakers’ international success and aiming to showcase it at international festivals. His previous project, Nanahimik ang Gabi, had already achieved global recognition, with Heaven Peralejo winning the Best Actress award at the Asian Academy Creative Awards in 2023.
“We’re looking at the festivals. The more, the better, so we can share the Filipino story with other countries. There are already target international film festivals on the list,” Praico shared.
Set in the scenic yet eerie rural landscape of San Miguel, Bulacan, The Caretakers follows the story of Audrey (Iza Calzado) and Lydia (Dimples Romana), two mothers bound by their love and sacrifices for their children. Audrey, hoping to sell her family’s secluded ancestral home, encounters Lydia, the caretaker who has tended to the property for years.
As the film unfolds, it becomes clear that the house—and whatever spirits haunt it—won’t release their hold so easily. What starts as a routine sale becomes an increasingly sinister battle with supernatural forces that challenges human intervention in nature.
Praico takes pride in local horror and envisions it gaining global recognition for its unique storytelling. And he dreams of the day when Philippine horror stands among the world’s best.
“The idea behind Filipino horror, for me, is that it should be a Filipino story. It should involve elements like lamang-lupa (creatures from the underworld). It must be part of our everyday lives. And, of course, there should always be drama,” Praico said. “And I hope the world audience would appreciate that.”
Co-written with John Carlo Pacala, the film extensively explores the tension between modernity and nature, based on Praico’s belief in the pull of simpler, quieter times.
“There’s a certain movement to go back to the simplest life, the simplest times, especially since modern times are moving so fast. When you look at it, there’s something lurking back there. We’re moving forward, but suddenly there’s a pull back,” said Praico.
The Caretakers is now showing in cinemas nationwide.