CinemaBravo

The cast of Lilim didn’t just experience fear on screen—they also had chilling encounters while filming this new offering from Evolve Studios, Viva Films, and Studio Viva. Directed by Mikhail Red, the filmmaker behind the blockbuster Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) horror hit Deleter, Lilim brings a new kind of terror to cinemas.

Starring Heaven Peralejo, National Winner for Best Actress at the 2023 Asian Academy Creative Awards, the film follows two siblings who take refuge in an orphanage, only to uncover a terrifying secret that puts their lives at risk.

An official selection at the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), Lilim is set to premiere in cinemas nationwide on March 12, 2025. Ahead of its release, the film held a private surprise screening in Quezon City, where cast members Heaven Peralejo, Ryza Cenon, and Mon Confiado, along with Red, shared their eerie filming experiences during a Q&A session.

Asked about his reaction to the audience’s screams and feedback during the screening, Red shared:

“…Ang daming nagsisigawan, ang daming natutuwa. Parang roller coaster of emotions. I hope sulit… Hopefully, by March mai-support siya ng Filipino audience. Kasi, it’s an honor mabigyan ng opportunity makagawa ng mga ganitong movie, lalo na from a studio. Napaka-big opportunity, big privilege makagawa ng genre movies like Lilim na rated R. Hindi kami nag-hold back do’n sa horror.”

(There were so many screams, and people were really engaged. It felt like a roller coaster of emotions. I hope it’s worth it… Hopefully, by March, the Filipino audience will support it. It’s an honor to be given the opportunity to create films like this, especially from a major studio. It’s a huge opportunity, a big privilege to make genre films like Lilim, which is rated R. We didn’t hold back on the horror.)

However, the horror didn’t just stay on set. The cast shared their personal spooky encounters during filming, particularly in Mount Makiling, located in the provinces of Laguna and Batangas.

“Isa sa mga experience ko nung [nag-shoot] kami sa Makiling mismo… Inabot kami ng… 2AM,” shared Mon Confiado. “Nag-drive ako mag-isa. Paikot-ikot ako sa loob ng Makiling. Hindi ako makalabas. Hindi ko alam kung ano’ng nangyayari. Sabi ko, ‘Parang iba na ‘to ha. Nakailang ikot na ako dito e!’ Walang joke, binaligtad ko talaga yung damit ko! Kasi di ba may gano’ng kasabihan. At nakalabas ako! I guess, nagkataon lang… Weird lang yung feeling na yon.”

(One of my experiences while we were filming in Makiling… We were there until 2 AM. I was driving alone, going in circles inside Makiling. I couldn’t find my way out. I didn’t know what was happening. I thought, ‘This feels different. I’ve passed this spot several times already!’ No joke, I even turned my shirt inside out! Because, you know, there’s a superstition about that. And I finally got out! I guess it was just a coincidence… but the feeling was really weird.)

Heaven Peralejo also felt something strange on set: “Scary experience ko… sa Makiling talaga yung first day. Cold, gubat, walang signal, walang ilaw, may time lang na yung generator namatay. Ta’s yung hintayan namin, sa car lang… Parang feeling ko may something.”

(My scary experience… was really on the first day in Makiling. It was cold, in the middle of a forest, no signal, no lights. There was even a time when the generator shut down. And we had to wait inside the car… It just felt like there was something there.)

Meanwhile, Ryza Cenon, who has previously revealed her history of sensing spirits, was still able to shock the audience with this trivia.

“Ako naman, sanay ako sa mga nararamdaman na yan, mga nagpaparamdam. May third eye naman talaga ako since nung bata pa. So, nakakakita ako. So, nakakaramdam ako. So pag may mga ganyan akong nararamdaman ako sa set, dinededma ko na lang. Minsan kinakausap ko, nagsu-sorry ako sa kanila na nabubulabog namin sila kasi maingay kami.”

(As for me, I’m used to these sensations, to spirits making their presence felt. I’ve had a third eye since I was a kid, so I can see and feel them. When I sense something on set, I just ignore it. Sometimes, I even talk to them and apologize for disturbing them because we’re so loud.)

The story begins with Issa, who kills her abusive father in a desperate act of self-defense. After the harrowing encounter, she flees their home along with her younger brother, Tomas.

On the run from the police, the siblings take shelter in Helping Hands, a secluded orphanage led by mysterious women who present themselves as nuns. Though the orphanage is said to be built on a miraculous site, the head nun ominously warns them that the place holds many secrets.

Issa and Tomas soon try to acclimate to their new environment; however, they realize that something is terribly wrong. They stumble upon cult practices and find that the nuns’ intentions are far from holy. 

As Issa fights to protect her brother, the malevolent forces within the orphanage grow more powerful, threatening to claim them as the next victims of its dark secret. The walls seem to whisper a chilling truth: hell is a place on earth.

Red sheds light on the dark inspiration that fueled ‘Lilim.’ “I wanted to make a film about a hidden society sheltering from the encroaching oppression of the times, only to collapse and fall victim to their own beliefs, a society shackled by fear and by fanaticism, mirroring the very world it tries to escape,” Red shared in a statement to U.S. publication Variety. “It is also my first horror film seen through the eyes of children.”

For ‘Lilim,’ Red is collaborating with his own family members. His father, Raymond Red, Palme d’Or winner for Best Short Film in 2000 Cannes Film Festival for ‘Anino,’ serves as cinematographer, while Mikhail’s brother, Nikolas, penned the screenplay. 

Peralejo plays the lead role of Issa, which marks her major debut in the horror genre. Veteran actress Eula Valdez, whom Red previously worked with in ‘Neomanila’ and ‘Nokturno,’ delivers a chilling portrayal as the head of the orphanage, Marga. Mon Confiado (‘Nanahimik ang Gabi,’ ‘Arisaka’) joins as an investigator tracking the movements of the two siblings, while child actor Skywalker David gives a breakthrough performance in his feature film debut as Tomas.

Meanwhile, Ryza Cenon, who plays a nun, delivers a “twisted scene” in the movie that Red is particularly eager for audiences to witness. In a bold transformation, Cenon even shaved her hair off to fully embrace her role. 

Following its world premiere at Rotterdam, ‘Lilim’ garnered rave reviews from international publications. Hailed as a “crowd-pleaser” by ScreenAnarchy, the film was lauded for being “creepy, entertaining, and polished” with its jumpscares described as “solid.” Peralejo’s portrayal as Issa also drew acclaim, with critics commending her as an actress who “isn’t afraid to become a plucky heroine when the script calls for it.”

With its haunting narrative, strong cast, and bloody spectacle, ‘Lilim’ has also been praised by Asian Movie Pulse for being a “well-directed, well-shot, well-acted psychological horror/slasher that will definitely satisfy all fans of the particular genre.”

After making waves at IFFR, the global impact of ‘Lilim’ is just getting started. The film will continue to terrify audiences worldwide, having been selected by more prestigious festivals—marking significant milestones for the Filipino horror genre on the international scene. 

Filipino viewers won’t have to wait much longer. Experience the horrifying mystery of ‘Lilim’ in cinemas nationwide starting March 12.