Regal Entertainment officially kicked off its Metro Manila Film Festival 2025 entry, Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins, with a star-studded Grand Media Launch held at Cinema 5, Gateway Mall 1.
Now on its 17th installment, the iconic horror franchise returns with a bold new structure—three interconnected anthology stories spanning the past, present, and future, tracing the roots of evil through different eras.
The event gathered an impressive lineup of cast members, creatives, and special guests. Among those who graced the launch were Richard Gutierrez, Manilyn Reynes, Carla Abellana, Arlene Muhlach, Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin, Ashley Ortega, Dustin Yu, Matt Lozano, Ysabel Ortega, Sassa Gurl, Karina Bautista, Althea Ablan, Dylan Yturralde, Raven Rigor, Sarah Edwards, Arkin Lagman, Celyn David, and writers Noreen Capili, Onay Sales, and Gina Marissa Tagasa.
Also present were Regal’s Head of Creative Content JP Abellera, and producers Roselle Monteverde and Keith Monteverde. Making the moment even more special, Annabelle Rama and Zion Gutierrez—Richard Gutierrez’s eldest son—came to show their full support.
The event began with the unveiling of the official poster for Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins, drawing loud applause and heightening anticipation for the film’s December 25 release.
Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins marks the franchise’s powerful return to the Metro Manila Film Festival with three distinct stories, each crafted by a different writer–director team and elevated by an all-star ensemble. During the media conference, the creative minds behind the film shared insights into their segments—spanning a chilling past, a chaotic present, and a terrifying future.
The first chapter, 1775, is written by Noreen Capili and directed by Shugo Praico. Set inside a Spanish-era convent, this segment explores a world governed by silence, obedience, and rituals—until an ancient evil begins to awaken within its walls. Capili explained that the challenge lay in crafting a horror story where characters are forbidden to scream. “They’re nuns bound by prayers, silence, and obedience. We wanted to build fear that is slow, quiet, and creeps in,” she shared. Praico added that they aimed to blend terror with deeper meaning, drawing from fears rooted centuries ago—fears that still echo today.
The cast of 1775 includes Loisa Andalio as Flor, Carla Abellana as Clara, Ashley Ortega as Salve, Ysabel Ortega as Rita, Elijah Alejo as Ana, Janice de Belen as Madre Juana, Arlene Muhlach as Madre Josefa, and Ara Mina as Madre Piedad.
The anthology then leaps to the present in 2025, written by Onay Sales and directed by Joey de Guzman. Set in the vibrant chaos of modern-day Manila, the story unfolds at a Halloween masquerade party that descends into terror after a mysterious killer arrives. Sales described the segment as “very now, very young, very loud,” capturing the energy of a Gen Z-driven narrative. The challenge, she said, was juggling multiple characters, each strong-willed enough to stand against the evil they encounter. De Guzman added that the fun, youthful energy of the segment naturally translated on set through performance and experimental cinematography, resulting in a horror piece that’s both thrilling and visually playful.
The 2025 cast features Francine Diaz as Faye, Seth Fedelin as Sean, Fyang Smith as DJ Elle, JM Ibarra as James, Althea Ablan as Pia, Sassa Gurl as Sky, Karina Bautista as Callie, Dylan Yturralde as Marco, Arkin Lagman as Ice, Alex Calleja as Bano, and Kaila Estrada as DJ Katherine.
The anthology concludes with 2050, written by Gina Marissa Tagasa and directed by Ian Loreños, set in a dystopian future where the Philippines has fallen into ruin. In this world of drought, conflict, and hunger, a new breed of aswang has taken over. Tagasa shared that the story centers on hope—on the resilience of family and faith, even in a world collapsing under flesh-eating creatures. Loreños revealed that the tone of the episode was inspired by memories of the pandemic, shaping the narrative into an allegory of real-world survival. “Our story became an ode to a generation that survived our recent pandemic,” he shared.
Starring in 2050 are Richard Gutierrez as Rosdan, Ivana Alawi as Edris, Manilyn Reynes as Malena, Dustin Yu as Riel, Matt Lozano as Dong, Celyn David as Drea, Raven Rigor as Bomen, Angelica Lao as Vexa, Shecko Apostol as Dravo, Sarah Edwards as Mia, and Maika Rivera as Helga.
During the media conference, the cast exchanged laughs and playful answers when asked which villain roles they would like to portray in future projects. Richard Gutierrez expressed gratitude for returning to Regal Films, where his career began. Carla Abellana reflected on the honor and pressure of appearing in the film’s opening chapter, noting how the first episode sets the tone through its atmosphere and quiet dread.
Fresh from their MMFF 2024 success with My Future You, Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin shared excitement about reuniting for another major festival entry. The event also felt like a tribute to Manilyn Reynes, whose legacy in the Shake, Rattle & Roll franchise remains iconic. She spoke about the evolution of fear in cinema—from classic horror to the modern, more layered approach seen in Evil Origins.
Get a closer look as the cast share their behind-the-scenes stories and experiences filming Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins.
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