Daven Tamayo

Judy Ann Santos on MMFF horror movie: 'Mas mahirap manakot kaysa magpatawa, magdrama'

Article (news)

MJ Felipe

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1732704133204viber_image_2024-11-27_18-12-37-172.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Judy Ann Santos. MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News"/>Judy Ann Santos. MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News</div>Award-winning actress Judy Ann Santos is back in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) with the horror movie &quot;Espantaho&quot; under the direction of Chito Rono.Speaking with ABS-CBN News during the cast pictorial, Santos shared that the whole team felt the excitement when it was announced that their film is included in the 50th edition of the festival.&quot;Nandun na &#x27;yung pressure na may kasama, may takot, may kaba. Kasi &#x27;Mindanao&#x27; was what, five years ago? Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang takbo ng viewers when it comes to watching movies, but I&#x27;m excited kasi ngayon na lang kami ulit nakagawa ni Direk Chito ng pelikula, na horror,&quot; she said. Without spoiling anything, Santos described the film: &quot;&#x27;Espantaho&#x27; is a supernatural curse, doon papalibot &#x27;yung pangyayari. Kung bakit may peste &#x27;yung dalawang pamilya.&quot;Back in 2019, Santos won Best Actress for her stellar performance in the MMFF movie &quot;Mindanao&quot; under the direction of Brillante Mendoza. Five years later, she is back but this time in a horror flick.When she got the offer and script of &quot;Espantaho,&quot; the actress immediately sent a message to Rono.&quot;Sabi ko in fairness, same ito ng takot ko sa nakaraang pinabasa mong horror stories sa akin. Ganun din ang sinabi ko sa team ko, I like this movie, naramdaman ko siya, kunin natin!&quot; she recalled. Santos also revealed that the movie was initially not intended to join the annual film festival, but it was the bigger dream of the whole team.&quot;Regardless kung matanggap kami or hindi, basta gagawin namin, ibibigay namin yung 125% namin,&quot; she said. Admittedly, Santos had to dust off some of her acting chops when she first stepped into the set.&quot;Nakakapanibago kasi ang tagal ko nang hindi nag-horror. Kailangan kong kapain. Kasi &#x27;yung facial expression ko, nakakatakot na ba ito? Iba &#x27;yung pag shinoot mo yung eksena, iba pag binababasa mo siya,&quot; she said. &quot;Sa kabuuan, mas mahirap manakot kaysa magpatawa, kaysa magdrama,&quot; she stressed.  &quot;Mas mahirap akong mag-imagine na takot ako kasi wala naman akong nakikita.&quot;Joining Santos is a cast of fellow award-winning actors like Lorna Tolentino, Chanda Romero, Janice de Belen, Mon Confiado, Eugene Domingo, and JC Santos, among others. &quot;This is a film na pinagsama-sama ang mga veteran stars, mga lumang tao, kasama ako doon. When you work with people who have been in this industry for the longest time, feeling mo hindi ka nagtatrabaho,&quot; she said. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2024/11/27/watch-trailer-for-mmff-entry-espantaho-starring-judy-ann-santos-lorna-tolentino-1630">WATCH: Trailer for MMFF entry &#x27;Espantaho&#x27; starring Judy Ann Santos, Lorna Tolentino</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/10/15/judy-ann-santos-stars-in-new-horror-movie-with-lorna-tolentino-749">Judy Ann Santos stars in new horror movie with Lorna Tolentino</a></div>

Award-winning actress Judy Ann Santos is back in the Metro Manila Film Festival with the horror movie "Espantaho" under the direction of Chito Rono.

Award-winning actress Judy Ann Santos is back in the Metro Manila Film Festival with the horror movie "Espantaho" under the direction of Chito Rono.