This review may contain spoilers
From 1775 to 2050: A Bold Return to Form
I went into Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins fully intending to watch it anyway — I have friends in both the cast and the production — but I didn’t expect to see it in advance, alongside the cast, on premiere night. That alone already set the mood. Part of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival and rated R-13, this entry marks a confident, high-profile return for Regal’s longest-running horror franchise.
Since its debut in 1984, Shake, Rattle & Roll has been a staple of Filipino cinema, delivering some of the country’s most unforgettable horror moments. For me, nothing still tops “Undin” (1991) — that toilet scene remains one of the most traumatising bathroom scares in local film history, so iconic that Filipinos still joke about “Undin” lurking in drains decades later. Evil Origins clearly understands that legacy, but instead of coasting on nostalgia, it takes a genuine creative risk.
True to form, the film is split into three episodes, but for the first time in the franchise, they are interconnected, forming one overarching story that spans the past, the present, and the future. Directed by Shugo Praico, Joey De Guzman, and Ian Loreños, and running close to 148 minutes, it sounds like the kind of runtime that could easily drag. Thankfully, it doesn’t. The film stays engaging because each segment offers a distinctly different flavour of horror — and because the connecting thread gives the whole thing momentum.
The opening chapter, “1775,” is set in a Spanish-era convent and leans heavily into atmospheric, religious horror. A group of nuns find themselves trapped as an unseen evil turns faith, repression, and desire into weapons. Visually, it’s moody and gothic, with strong production design that recalls The Nun. Janice de Belen is genuinely chilling as the cruel Mother Superior, while Carla Abellana, a veteran of standout SRR segments, brings gravitas as a prophetic figure. The script could have benefitted from deeper backstories, but the performances carry it — especially Loisa Andalio, who leaves a strong impression and feels like a future scream queen in the making.
The clear standout of the film is “2025,” a high-energy slasher set during a Halloween masquerade party. This is Shake, Rattle & Roll at its most fun and confident. The music pulses, the visuals pop, and the pacing never lets up. Fan-favourite pairings Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin, as well as JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith, deliver both chemistry and individual presence, while Sassa Gurl steals scenes with perfectly timed comic relief. The kills are creative, the tension is real, and the mix of horror, humour, romance, and gore just works. It’s campy, bloody, and exhilarating — easily one of the best local slasher segments in recent years, and one that honestly feels strong enough to stand alone as its own film.
The final chapter, “2050,” swings big with a post-apocalyptic Philippines overrun by aswangs. Empty highways, broken bridges, and abandoned trains give the episode an eerie scale, turning Metro Manila into an unsettling wasteland. Richard Gutierrez is in his element as the action-driven lead, backed solidly by Ivana Alawi and Matt Lozano, while Manilyn Reynes once again proves why she remains a quiet horror MVP — grounding the chaos with experience and emotional weight. 💚 Dustin Yu stands out here as well, delivering sharp line readings, expressive physicality, and impressively confident action work. His presence feels assured, and it’s easy to see why he continues to gain recognition in the genre. The aswang designs are excellent — fast, vicious, and far more terrifying than your standard lumbering monsters.
Taken as a whole, Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins is best experienced on the big screen, where its scale, sound design, and visual ambition really land. Not every narrative thread is perfectly polished, and some character arcs could be stronger, but the film’s willingness to experiment pays off more often than not. It’s loud, entertaining, occasionally messy, but never dull — and most importantly, it proves that there’s still plenty of life left in this franchise.
This is a bold, crowd-pleasing return to form. It delivers genuine scares, big swings, and memorable moments, carried by a committed ensemble that understands both the fun and the fear of Shake, Rattle & Roll. For horror fans, slasher lovers, or anyone looking for a full-throttle cinema experience with friends, Evil Origins is an easy MMFF recommendation.
Since its debut in 1984, Shake, Rattle & Roll has been a staple of Filipino cinema, delivering some of the country’s most unforgettable horror moments. For me, nothing still tops “Undin” (1991) — that toilet scene remains one of the most traumatising bathroom scares in local film history, so iconic that Filipinos still joke about “Undin” lurking in drains decades later. Evil Origins clearly understands that legacy, but instead of coasting on nostalgia, it takes a genuine creative risk.
True to form, the film is split into three episodes, but for the first time in the franchise, they are interconnected, forming one overarching story that spans the past, the present, and the future. Directed by Shugo Praico, Joey De Guzman, and Ian Loreños, and running close to 148 minutes, it sounds like the kind of runtime that could easily drag. Thankfully, it doesn’t. The film stays engaging because each segment offers a distinctly different flavour of horror — and because the connecting thread gives the whole thing momentum.
The opening chapter, “1775,” is set in a Spanish-era convent and leans heavily into atmospheric, religious horror. A group of nuns find themselves trapped as an unseen evil turns faith, repression, and desire into weapons. Visually, it’s moody and gothic, with strong production design that recalls The Nun. Janice de Belen is genuinely chilling as the cruel Mother Superior, while Carla Abellana, a veteran of standout SRR segments, brings gravitas as a prophetic figure. The script could have benefitted from deeper backstories, but the performances carry it — especially Loisa Andalio, who leaves a strong impression and feels like a future scream queen in the making.
The clear standout of the film is “2025,” a high-energy slasher set during a Halloween masquerade party. This is Shake, Rattle & Roll at its most fun and confident. The music pulses, the visuals pop, and the pacing never lets up. Fan-favourite pairings Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin, as well as JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith, deliver both chemistry and individual presence, while Sassa Gurl steals scenes with perfectly timed comic relief. The kills are creative, the tension is real, and the mix of horror, humour, romance, and gore just works. It’s campy, bloody, and exhilarating — easily one of the best local slasher segments in recent years, and one that honestly feels strong enough to stand alone as its own film.
The final chapter, “2050,” swings big with a post-apocalyptic Philippines overrun by aswangs. Empty highways, broken bridges, and abandoned trains give the episode an eerie scale, turning Metro Manila into an unsettling wasteland. Richard Gutierrez is in his element as the action-driven lead, backed solidly by Ivana Alawi and Matt Lozano, while Manilyn Reynes once again proves why she remains a quiet horror MVP — grounding the chaos with experience and emotional weight. 💚 Dustin Yu stands out here as well, delivering sharp line readings, expressive physicality, and impressively confident action work. His presence feels assured, and it’s easy to see why he continues to gain recognition in the genre. The aswang designs are excellent — fast, vicious, and far more terrifying than your standard lumbering monsters.
Taken as a whole, Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins is best experienced on the big screen, where its scale, sound design, and visual ambition really land. Not every narrative thread is perfectly polished, and some character arcs could be stronger, but the film’s willingness to experiment pays off more often than not. It’s loud, entertaining, occasionally messy, but never dull — and most importantly, it proves that there’s still plenty of life left in this franchise.
This is a bold, crowd-pleasing return to form. It delivers genuine scares, big swings, and memorable moments, carried by a committed ensemble that understands both the fun and the fear of Shake, Rattle & Roll. For horror fans, slasher lovers, or anyone looking for a full-throttle cinema experience with friends, Evil Origins is an easy MMFF recommendation.
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