Riding on the success of horror hits, GMA Pictures and Mentorque Productions (“Mallari,” “Uninvited”) are set to release “Huwag Kang Titingin” on April 15, banking on a story that taps into viral culture and the dangers of reviving forbidden rituals.
The film follows a resurfaced practice that spreads online as a viral challenge, drawing in curious participants who unknowingly awaken a sinister force. What begins as content soon turns into a fight for survival as an entity stalks those who took part.
Set in the secluded fictional town of San Antonio, the story unfolds in a rest house steeped in eerie traditions, where mirrors, shadows and dimly lit spaces become gateways for the supernatural.
Sofia Pablo leads the cast as Selene, a reserved young woman burdened by guilt and determined to protect her younger brother as the terror escalates. Allen Ansay co-stars as Badong, a quiet house helper who harbors unsettling knowledge tied to the events.
They are joined by a young ensemble that includes Marco Masa, Charlie Fleming, Michael Sager, Kira Balinger, Josh Ford, Sean Lucas and Anthony Constantino, with the special participation of Shuvee Etrata.
At the center of the horror is the “Umaaaligid,” an entity born of ritual and unresolved vengeance that does not strike quickly but lingers, creeping into dreams and slowly consuming its victims.
Directed by Frasco Mortiz and written by Ays de Guzman, the film builds on the filmmakers’ experience in the horror genre while aiming to connect with a younger audience shaped by social media trends.
At the film's media conference, GMA Pictures president and lawyer Anette Gozon pointed to both the cast and the story as key reasons audiences will come to the cinemas.
“I think this is the collection of one of the most beautiful cast members ever of GMA Pictures. It's not just beautiful, it's fresh, it's vibrant. So, I think one of the pulls of this movie is our stellar cast. The combination is really beautiful,” said Gozon.
“But more than the cast, I think what you'll really like in this movie is the story. After ‘Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho: Gabi ng Lagim’ by GMA Pictures, and after the box office hit, ‘Mallari’ by Mentorque, of course, we won't give you a horror movie that won't level up compared to those. So, I'm very happy to say that yes, ‘Huwag Kang Titingin’ is at that level. It's really exciting,” she added.
Beyond the horror premise, the film also gives its lead pair a chance to step away from previous roles audiences have come to associate with them. Pablo and Ansay, also known as Team Jolly, said shifting from romantic projects to horror required a more restrained and focused approach on set.
“Actually, when we were doing it, we were both really serious. Especially me, since this is my first movie. Sofia shared a lot with me, including how working on a movie is very different from working on a series. In a series, you can do just a few takes, but here, every scene really has to be perfect. While we were doing it, I was thankful that our closeness was already solid. It made it easier for us to adjust and deliver what we needed together. So I think that’s where it became easier,” said Ansay.
“That’s what’s also good about this movie. It’s different from what we’ve done before. Our characters are deeper here. And my character, I don’t really talk much about it because it’s quite deep. But overall, it was easy for us to adjust together,” he added.
Pablo said their real-life closeness had to be managed carefully during filming so as not to distract from the emotional distance their characters were meant to convey on screen.
“Actually, at first, they wanted to separate our tents. Because our characters, as you can see in the trailer, aren’t supposed to be close in the story. But we only had one tent. So what we did was, when we had scenes together, we didn’t talk much, so we wouldn’t get distracted from our characters. The film is deep, and we didn’t want our real-life closeness to distract from the roles we were portraying. Adjustments in chemistry? It was already there. We didn’t really have to adjust it,” she said.
For de Guzman, the film’s hook lies not only in fear itself but in how easily private or sacred things can be turned into online spectacle, especially during a season when people are most eager to post and share.
“Summer, right, is content season. It’s the time when people post everything—your beach outfits, your travel vlogs, your summer body. So here, we asked: what if something private, something sacred, something that shouldn’t be seen by everyone, becomes content? What happens when something sacred is exposed or even distorted for content online? What are the consequences of that? That’s what we explore in the film. That’s why I think summer and horror go very well together,” de Guzman said.
He added that the film was designed as a theatrical experience rather than just a straightforward scare story.
“Also, just to say, what you’ve seen in our promotional materials and in the trailer — that’s not the full film. Once you watch it in theaters, it’s not what you expect. Another thing about summer is that it’s experiential, right? That’s how we made this film. It’s meant to be an experience in the theater because we value the audience's experience in the cinema. It’s not something simple. We value that effort, so it’s not just something you watch — it’s something you experience and share with others,” he added.
Also part of the cast are Lui Manansala, Sherilyn Reyes, Alchris Galura, Michael Flores, Bernadette Allyson, David Domanais and Christian Kimp Atip.
Mortiz helms the film alongside creative producer and screenwriter de Guzman, the team behind the teen horror hit “Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay.”
With its mix of supernatural terror, viral culture and emotional storytelling, “Huwag Kang Titingin” positions itself as a horror entry aimed at younger moviegoers while drawing on fears that feel both modern and deeply familiar.
Produced by GMA Pictures and Mentorque Productions, “Huwag Kang Titingin” opens in theaters on April 15.
