Breaking my vacation, I finally managed to catch Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins at the cinema, and I have to say, my excitement level was through the roof before the lights went down. This franchise is such a massive milestone for Philippine cinema, and seeing it return as an official MMFF entry feels like a holiday tradition finally being restored. There is just something about that iconic title card that brings back so many childhood memories of being terrified during Christmas. This was actually my fourth movie to watch among the MMFF entries this year, so I went in with a pretty good grasp of the competition, and I was really rooting for this one to be the standout.
Let’s watch the trailer first:
I genuinely enjoyed the experience, especially because the production value has clearly leveled up. The anthology format spanning from 1775 to 2050 was an ambitious move, and it was fun seeing how they tied the “Evil Origins” theme together across different eras. I particularly loved seeing Richard Gutierrez back in the mix; he has this effortless action-star command that really anchored the futuristic segment. Karina Bautista also caught my eye as a total surprise highlight. She played her role with this unexpected edge that I didn’t see coming, and she definitely held her own against the more seasoned horror veterans in the cast.
Of course, there’s Fyang Smith. I’ve been following her since she showed so much potential in the iWant series Ghosting, where she really proved she could handle that mix of feisty energy and supernatural tension. Seeing her make her big-screen debut here was a “proud fan” moment. She has this natural screen presence that makes it hard to look away, and she fits the high-stakes, chaotic energy of the 2025 slasher segment perfectly. Between her, Richard, and Karina, plus FranSeth making me love them both more, the star power was definitely there to keep me entertained throughout the long runtime. Also, it would be a sin if I didn’t mention Janice De Belen, Francine Diaz, Manilyn Reynes, Carla Abellana, Sassa Gurl, and Loisa Andalio.
What really makes Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins click is how it manages to feel like a cohesive, big-budget event rather than just three random stories thrown together. The overarching connection through “Malum” across the three timelines—1775, 2025, and 2050—gives the whole movie a sense of purpose that some of the older installments lacked. I loved that the “2025” segment leaned into that gritty, campy slasher vibe, which felt very fresh for the franchise and allowed the younger cast to really have fun with their roles. I get it; nagugulat talaga ko sa mga scenes. It was effective. Plus, the technical leap is also very noticeable; the visual effects and the way they built a post-apocalyptic Philippines in the final act were genuinely impressive for a local production. It’s that mix of a high-energy “gorefest,” nostalgic cameos from icons like Manilyn Reynes, and a modern technical polish that makes it an easy recommendation if you’re looking for a fun time at the cinema.
That being said, even with the incredible cast and the deep nostalgia I have for the series, I’d say my final take on the film is fairly middle-of-the-road. Sakto lang. The gore and technical effects were definitely impressive and kept the energy high, though I felt the shifts between the different time periods could have been a bit smoother to keep the momentum going. While it leaned more into visceral thrills than the kind of psychological dread that stays with you after leaving the theater, it remains a solid, entertaining popcorn flick that I’m glad I experienced. It’s a wonderful tribute to the SRR legacy that feels like a warm, familiar reunion, even if it didn’t quite reach the heights of some of the other entries I’ve seen earlier this week. But overall, it was an enjoyable film.
Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins is still raking high in the box office!
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