Oftentimes, the indicator of success is when something becomes a household name. In the realm of local horror movies, a few classics have sustained this kind of popularity through the years, with elements from the stories eventually turning into modern myths. Such is the case for the “Shake, Rattle & Roll” cinematic universe—which, by the way, also literally creeped into our households.
The episode “Pridyider” caused many of us to have trust issues with refrigerators, “Nanay” forced us to avoid strange restrooms, and “Ang Telebisyon” taught us that anything could fit into TV sets, apparently… including a hella creepy clown. With releases ranging from 1984 to 2014, it’s no secret that the “SRR” anthology raised us and molded our fright tolerance. But the question is: Which stories still give us horror movie-induced trauma today?
Just in time for Halloween, we revisit the film series and confess our deep-seated fears for certain “SRR” episodes.
“Shake, Rattle & Roll” EP 21: “LRT”
Is this segment the reason why my mental alertness skyrockets when I ride the train at night? Perhaps. “LRT” aced the world-building department through its eerie, almost claustrophobic atmosphere, amusing (but also frustrating) characters, non-overkill of jumpscares, and twists that put my once adolescent self on the edge of her seat—also thanks to the appearance of a sound-sensitive, terrorizing monster that ticks off every nightmare’s main character criteria. I still haven’t made peace with that ending, TBH. But one thing’s for sure: As a 2006 release, its socio-political message remains relevant to this day.
– Jelou Galang, associate editor and brand engagement lead
“Shake, Rattle & Roll” EP 6: “Nanay”
I will never forget the first time I watched “Shake, Rattle & Roll III” and saw the slimy water nymph-like creature named Undin. I remember being disgusted by its slick hair and brownish-green skin as it poked its head from the toilet. My mom and sisters used to tease me that if I spent too long inside the bathroom, it may appear out of the drains—and the fact that we live near a river made it worse. My sisters would even imitate how Maloy (Manilyn Reyes) called Undin and I’d just run away from the bathroom as fast and as far as I could. Now that my eldest sister is a mom, we still use Undin to scare her children just like how my family used to do to me. After 30 years, Undin remains iconic and horrific even just within the four corners of our bathroom.
– Yel Sayo, designer
“Shake, Rattle & Roll” EP 26: “Class Picture”
This episode scared the f*ck out of me, but I’d rate it 1000/100 being a total screamfest. “Class Picture” follows the chilling mystery of three missing students and a brutal nun. I enjoy watching spooky school tales, but this one gave me trauma. I grew up studying in Catholic institutes, including an all-girls school founded by nuns. Every time I passed our hallway with their old pictures on the bulletin board, I’d be reminded of Sister Maria Belonia’s (Jean Garcia) creepy smiles. No matter how many times I’ve rewatched this film, “Class Picture” remains classic and horrifying.
– Justine Rey, junior content creator
“Shake, Rattle & Roll” EP 24: “Punerarya”
I was just a gullible 11-year-old when “Punerarya” was released. I remember giving every funeral home a stink eye back then, thinking they were all owned by weredogs that eat human entrails. The film was honestly not scary per se, but its gore aspect made my gut twist in disgust. As for the plot twist, I wouldn’t say it was something I didn’t see coming because there were a few Easter eggs (a.k.a foreshadowing scenes) scattered throughout the film, but the reveal was still effective. In fact, it was so effective my crush on 12-year-old Nash Aguas vanished immediately after seeing his character do stomach-churning things.
– Kleo Catienza, junior content creator
“Shake, Rattle & Roll” EP 38: “Lost Command”
It was 2012 when we watched this in the cinema with my high school friends after our Christmas break. It felt so real and made me wonder, what if the elements in the movie actually existed? I got an icky feeling watching the whole film because it’s kind of gory, especially at the end. It was a fun film to watch with friends back then and we all got terrified of the idea of going to strange forests, thinking we might have the same experience.
– Mikey Yabut, multimedia designer
If (re)watching these segments aren’t enough to get your hair rising, head to Regal Entertainment’s YouTube channel for the rest of the roster.
Read more:
What will horror movies look like in the next decade?
6 horror films that aren’t gore fests
Art by Yel Sayo