CinemaBravo

Zombie films have long been a captivating genre on the big screen, and this time, a fresh wave of talent is stepping into the spotlight as far as Philippine cinema is concerned. Lisik: Origin Point serves as the debut film of Domniel International Films Production, featuring a cast of newcomers eager to make their mark in the industry. The film opens February 19 in theaters nationwide.

During their media conference, director John Renz Cahilig addressed comparisons between Lisik: Origin Point and the South Korean coming-of-age zombie apocalypse horror television series on Netflix called All of Us Are Dead.

“Actually, coincidences lang po ‘yon. Yung sa All of Us Are Dead kasi, yung teacher do’n is very parang galit siya e. Parang vengeful siya e. Kaya his experiment is for revenge. Yung sa amin naman po is for the greater good ang plano niya. It just went south,” he explained.

(Actually, those are just coincidences. In All of Us Are Dead, the teacher there is very angry, almost vengeful. His experiment was for revenge. But in our film, the goal was for the greater good. It just went south.)

He acknowledged that many have drawn similarities between the two projects. “Saka, actually, I’ve been hearing that comparison for quite a while now. I don’t blame people kasi yung setting namin, ta’s yung kuwento may zombies sa school. Talagang plano na namin siya even before nag-pop na yung All of Us Are Dead. So talagang school yung setting namin. And besides, if you watch the movie, makikita n’yo yung character difference. It’s very different from the characters from that series.”

(I’ve been hearing that comparison for quite some time now. I don’t blame people since our setting and story involve zombies in a school. But we had this planned long before All of Us Are Dead became popular. The school setting was always our plan. And if you watch the movie, you’ll see the character differences. They’re very different from the ones in that series.)

As for why they chose a zombie-themed film as their first venture into full-length production, executive producer Dominic Orjalo pointed to audience preferences.

“Unang-una, yun po ang gusto ng mga kabataan, mga millennial, mga young-at-heart, di ba po? At saka yung mga zombie sa Pilipinas, sa mga movie e predictable e, na parang normal lang siya e. Unlike ito, kakaiba, kasi gumamit kami ng mga artificial intelligence (AI), gumamit kami ng mga CGI, mga visual effect, kakaiba yung aming mga stunt na hindi pa nakikita sa mga Philippine movie.”

(First and foremost, this is what young people, millennials, and the young-at-heart enjoy, right? Zombie films in the Philippines tend to be predictable, almost normal. But this one is different—we used artificial intelligence (AI), CGI, visual effects, and stunts that have never been seen before in a Philippine movie.)

New platform for emerging talent

Produced by Domniel International, Lisik: Origin Point introduces a fresh production team eager to contribute to the local film landscape. Set to open in cinemas nationwide on February 19, 2025, the action-thriller features a cast led by Nika De Guzman, Grace Rosas Tayo, and Jeremiah Allera, alongside Rosemarie Smith. The film also includes a special participation from veteran actor Ramon Christopher, with Revers Quilario, Joshua Cantuba, Rain Mirasol, and Jossah Mae Sison.

For Orjalo, Lisik: Origin Point represents an effort to introduce new talent to the industry. On a press release, he said that as the Executive Producer, he wants to give aspiring actors a chance to showcase their skills and gain experience in filmmaking. As a school owner, he sees the project as an opportunity for his students to explore acting and filmmaking firsthand. “Bringing this film to life came with its challenges, but we persevered to make it happen.”

Through this project, Orjalo hopes to encourage more independent productions and provide a stepping stone for new artists in Philippine cinema. “This is just the beginning,” he said, hinting at future endeavors.

Director John Renz Cahilig, who has been involved in independent filmmaking for over a decade, considers Lisik: Origin Point a significant milestone. “I started with short films, constantly refining my craft,” Cahilig explained. (I started with short films, constantly refining my craft.) “This project is a culmination of years of effort, and I gave it my all despite the challenges.” (This project is a culmination of years of effort, and I gave it my all despite the challenges.)

He highlighted the extensive work that went into the film, from production constraints to personal sacrifices. “This film reflects our dedication, and I hope it paves the way for more opportunities,” he added. (This film reflects our dedication, and I hope it paves the way for more opportunities.)

Synopsis of ‘Lisik: Origin Point’

Class dismissed… forever.

Senior high school student Kara (Grace Rosas Tayo) struggles with the loss of her brother, bullied to death, while her friend and classmate Elisha (Nika De Guzman) is consumed by anger toward the bullies led by Max (Jeremiah Allera).

A mysterious infection turns their school into a nightmare, transforming students into flesh-eating monsters.

Elisha uncovers the truth behind the experiments and hunts the bullies, but the infection takes her too. She urges Kara to escape with vital documents. Kara sacrifices herself to save a young boy.

Elisha, the last survivor, is found by her policeman brother, her eyes now glowing blue despite the bite.