Multi-awarded filmmaker Alvin Yapan is back to the first genre he did as a director – horror-thriller. From doing Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe (The Rapture of Fe) in 2009, Yapan has just finished working on his newest film ‘Talahib.’
A slasher film in tradition of A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise and other local massacre films, Talahib is about a ghost killer who preys upon hapless victims who pass by his talahiban (open grass field) in an abandoned subdivision. Bodies are found asphyxiated before being disposed in the same talahiban. The story is told from the point of view of PO2 Bong (played by Joem Bascon), the police investigator. Even with a close encounter with the killer, he does not believe in ghost killers. However, Bong starts to reassess his belief when he encounters a band of friends, all in their 20s or early 30s, conducting a spirit quest at the talahiban.
“Parang bumabalik lang ako sa horror genre pero ang gusto ko this time, fun and adventure, ‘yung di gaanong malalim pero may lalim. Mas gusto ko ngayong gumawa ng pelikula na nae-enjoy ng mga tao but at the same time, hindi nasa-sacrifice ‘yung quality pero enjoy pa din siya panoorin. Ang hirap kasi, bilang director, timplahin ‘yun. ‘Yung very enjoyable panoorin kahit hindi mo pag-isipan pero at the same time, kung pag-aaralan mo naman, may makikita ka pa din,” director Alvin Yapan on doing horror thriller again.
Will the film be gory as it is a slasher film?
“Inaasahan namin, sana makakuha kami ng PG rating kahit slasher film. Slasher film siya kasi habulan, patayan. Sikret na lang kung sino ang makaka-survive. Pero at the same time, hindi kami nagpapakita ng direct violence killing on camera,” Yapan on the film’s violence.
Talahib stars Joem Bascon, Gillian Vicencio, Kristof Garcia, Kate Alejandrino, Angellie Sanoy, Timothy Castillo, Jess Mendoza, Dax Alejandro, Yam Mercado, Iyo Canlas and Ms. Sue Prado. Produced by FEAST Foundation.
Watch our interview with director Alvin Yapan and the cast of Talahib below: