Mikhail Red’s ‘Lilim’ Leads Viva Films’ Horror Slate at Hong Kong FilMart (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran The Philippines‘ Viva Communications is set to unleash a wave of horror titles at Hong Kong FilMart, spearheaded by acclaimed filmmaker Mikhail Red‘s latest chiller “Lilim.” “Lilim,” which premiered in the Philippines earlier this month, has a narrative set against the country’s turbulent 1970s and 1980s.

It follows the harrowing journey of a sister and brother who seek sanctuary in a secluded orphanage during a period of social unrest.

What begins as a refuge quickly descends into a nightmare as the siblings uncover dark cult practices and confront an ancient evil lurking beneath the surface.

The cast includes Heaven Peralejo, Eula Valdez, Mon Confiado and Ryza Cenon. “Viva Philippines will be launching several horror titles that will be released this year — one of which is ‘Mak Mak,’ which is a remake of the box office hit, ‘Pee Mak,'” said Vincent Del Rosario, president and COO of Viva Communications. “Local horror stories such as ‘Talim Island’ and ‘Rosario’ will also be featured.” “Rosario,” directed by Bobby Bonifacio Jr., draws on a Filipino superstition which dictates that a broken rosary must be placed in the hands of the dead; but when an unbroken rosary is mistakenly left in the hands of a deceased woman, a deadly family curse is unleashed. “Talim Island,” helmed by Roni Benaid, carries the tagline: “Blood of the Cursed.” The horror push is part of a broader content strategy for Viva. “Due to the success in our platforms, we will be showcasing as well our latest adult titles and our YA series, some of which are adaptation from Wattpad stories,” Del Rosario noted.