An informal survey of younger pinoy directors revealed the best horror movies that continue to influence Filipino film aftists. The choices are:

“Gabi Ng Lagim” (Night of Horror) by underrated director Jose Miranda Cruz continues to be the classic Tagalog horror movie.

“Kung Bakit Dugo Ang Kulay Ng Gabi” (Why the Night is the Color of Blood) by Celso Ad. Castillo is an unforgetable foray into the realm of the unknown, with the vampiric roles gamely taken on by Rita Gomez and Celia Rodriguez in their long black outfits and lips flowing with blood.

A second Castillo film, “Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara” (Scaring Barbara to Death) is included in the list. This mystery thriller won awards in the Asian Film Festival years back.

And who could forget Peque Gallaga’s supernatural shockfest “Shake, Rattle and Roll”, which became a serial franchise. “Shake, Rattle and Roll 9” is up for release by end of the year. However, it was Gallaga’s original version that raised the fright bar for Filipino horror in succeeding years.

A most recent Filipino horror film, “Sigaw” has been produced for a Hollywood release. Director Yam Laranas is rightly proud of this development.

The American version, titled “The Echo” still has Laranas at the helm and also stars beauteous Filipina actress Iza Calzado who was in the original film.

Directors Choice

Brilliante Mendoza said it might be self-serving for him to say so, but he thinks that the “Syquijor” is one of the best Filipino horror films of all time.

Jowee Morel (Paru-Parong Rosas) considers “Syquijor” experimental and “a breakthrough.”

DirectorJeffrey Jeturian selects “Gumising Ka, Maruja” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll” as two of the best horror films of all time.

Excerpted from an article by Boy Villasanta for ABS-CBNNEws.