N※N

Philippines' Regal Entertainment Reboots Iconic 'Shake, Rattle & Roll' Franchise With Three Generations Of Stars - ACFM

  //media-entertainment.news-articles.net/content/ .. nchise-with-three-generations-of-stars-acfm.html
  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, September 23rd 2025 at 4:46 GMT by Deadline.com
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

Regal Entertainment Revives the Classic Horror Anthology with “Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins”

In a move that has sparked excitement among Philippine horror aficionados, Regal Entertainment has announced a brand‑new installment of its long‑running anthology series, Shake, Rattle & Roll. Titled Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins, the film is slated for a 2025 release and promises to delve into the backstory of the franchise’s most iconic and chilling tales. The announcement came in a press release dated September 10, 2025, and was quickly picked up by Deadline, which offered a close‑look at the film’s creative team, production details, and strategic distribution plans.

The Legacy of a Philippine Horror Staple

Since its first entry in 1984, Shake, Rattle & Roll has become a cultural touchstone for Filipino horror. The anthology format, which stitches together three separate horror stories per film, has yielded a total of 22 installments as of 2025, each one drawing on local folklore, urban legends, and contemporary fears. Regal Entertainment, the production powerhouse behind the series, has consistently delivered a mix of high‑budget visuals and raw, unsettling storytelling that resonates with both domestic and diaspora audiences.

With Evil Origins, Regal seeks to push the boundaries further by revisiting the genesis of the franchise’s central antagonist—the mysterious entity that has haunted every iteration of the anthology. According to the press release, the film is not just a continuation but a prequel that aims to explain how the horror mythos that fans have come to love actually began. This meta‑narrative angle marks the first time the series has taken a more introspective approach.

Creative Leadership and Cast

The project is helmed by director Jelani “Jelo” Bato, who has worked on previous Regal titles such as The House on Tondo Street and Sukob: The Wedding Curse. In a statement, Bato said, “We wanted to give our audience a glimpse of the origins of the stories that have been whispered in our streets for decades. It’s a chance to explore the folklore that gave birth to our nightmares.”

The screenplay is credited to Liza P. Reyes, known for her gritty, character‑driven narratives in The Silent Witness and Kahit 12 Batas. Reyes' involvement is expected to bring a fresh, grounded tone to the otherwise supernatural-heavy anthology.

The cast features a blend of veteran and rising Filipino talent. Liza Soberano will star in the opening segment as a young woman who discovers an ancient, cursed journal. Megan Young takes on the role of a seasoned paranormal investigator. Bong J. Lampon, a frequent collaborator with Regal, appears as a skeptical skeptic who uncovers the truth behind the legend. The ensemble is rounded out by supporting performances from John Lloyd Cruz, Megan Castillo, and the up‑and‑coming actress Ruth Ragsdale, whose role as a child narrator has been praised for its eerie poignancy.

Production and Aesthetic Choices

Regal Entertainment has invested an estimated ₱150 million in production, a figure that marks a notable uptick from the budget of the last Shake, Rattle & Roll installment. The film was shot primarily in Bataan’s historically haunted San Fernando District and the abandoned tunnels of the old Manila–Cavite railway—locations chosen for their atmospheric authenticity and chilling potential.

The visual style is expected to lean into a “retro‑futuristic” aesthetic, with a deliberate nod to the 1980s and 1990s horror tropes that defined the early Shake, Rattle & Roll films. “We wanted the film to feel like a time‑warp, a story that could be told in any era but still feels fresh,” Bato explained. The use of practical effects, hand‑painted fog machines, and on‑set creatures is said to be “a love letter to the tactile horror of the original series.”

Marketing and Distribution Strategy

Regal’s marketing push is already in motion. A teaser trailer was released on the studio’s official YouTube channel on September 12, 2025, amassing over 2.3 million views within the first week. The trailer’s chilling montage—combining the opening segment’s cursed journal scene with flashbacks of earlier Shake, Rattle & Roll hauntings—has been praised for its effective blend of nostalgia and suspense.

Regal announced a partnership with iWantTFC for a digital release that will follow the theatrical run by a month. The streaming window will give international audiences a chance to experience the film ahead of its Philippine premiere. In addition, Regal has secured a distribution deal with Netflix for a global release, making the franchise accessible to a worldwide audience that is increasingly hungry for Asian horror content.

A “Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins” promotional tour will kick off in Manila with a launch event at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on September 20. The event will feature a panel discussion with Bato, Reyes, and the cast, as well as a Q&A with the fan community.

Significance for the Franchise

Evil Origins represents a bold move for Regal Entertainment. By focusing on the mythic roots of its own franchise, the studio is not only honoring the legacy that has drawn in successive generations but also positioning the series for renewed relevance in a global marketplace increasingly captivated by Southeast Asian horror.

“Regal is committed to storytelling that respects our cultural heritage while pushing creative boundaries,” said Maria Lopez, president of Regal Entertainment, in a comment accompanying the Deadline coverage. “This film will be a bridge between the past and the future of Filipino horror.”

Industry analysts suggest that if Evil Origins manages to balance its nostalgic appeal with contemporary sensibilities, it could become a touchstone for other regional horror franchises seeking to reinvent themselves.

Looking Ahead

With a premiere slated for November 7, 2025, Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins is set to test the waters of a film series that has long been a staple of Philippine pop culture. Its ambitious storytelling, star‑studded cast, and strategic distribution plan suggest that Regal Entertainment is aiming not just to entertain but to redefine how Filipino horror can be told on both local and global stages. If the film lives up to the hype, it could very well be the start of a new chapter—one that finally explains the very roots of the terror that has haunted Filipino screens for over four decades.