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Xyriel Manabat, Charlie Dizon lead ‘Near Death’ premiere night at SM The Block

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Josh Mercado

In Philippine cinema, horror films are often embellished with excessive elements such as bloody dead bodies, nonstop death scenes, and terrifying mythical creatures, which sometimes work and sometimes do not.However, Richard Somes&#x27; latest film &quot;Near Death&quot; did not rely on those; rather, it was intimate. It was filmed in straightforward settings, mostly the apartment complex where Charlie Dizon&#x27;s character Julia resides.It felt really intimate, which worked brilliantly.The movie wasn&#x27;t overloaded by razzle-dazzle, but it did feature a remarkable performance showdown between Dizon and Xyriel Manabat. The two Kapamilya stars played sisters in the Somes film, elevating each moment with their subtle crying scenes that felt natural rather than theatrical.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761002383038image0.jpeg" style="width:955px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-dragging"/>Xyriel Manabat, Charlie Dizon lead ‘Near Death’ premiere night at SM The Block. Josh Mercado </div>Their crying sequences were intimate, with only the two of them in their apartment unit making the film appear larger. Even Somes applauded them for the acting feast they displayed.Based on their previous acting roles, Dizon and Manabat have established themselves as artists rather than “celebrities.” The best actress award Dizon received from Gawad Urian gave critics the impression that she takes her acting very seriously. According to an old saying, an artist is respected once they have won Gawad Urian.And in the new movie&#x27;s moments, Dizon offered award-winning performances. But she wasn&#x27;t screaming for it; she was the character who was fighting her inner demons while also dealing with loneliness, emptiness, and suicidal thoughts.Her days were filled with evil whispers, bad spirits, and tears, weeping, asking for help, and searching for the purpose of life. Her character was an accurate representation of a human body dealing with mental health challenges.In her darkest moments, she made a connection with a stranger Lucas, played by RK Bagatsing, who was also suffering from mental illness. Arriving at precisely the right time, their friendship was strengthened by their shared situation.Life was difficult for the two, made worse by the exhaustion of understanding what life was truly about. What made it much worse and more horrifying were the whispers and spirits that seemed impossible to escape. Meanwhile, Mia (Manabat, who has already proven herself as a young actress) believes Julia&#x27;s mental episodes were only her imagination and advised her to control it. Despite not fully understanding her sister&#x27;s daily horror, she was a loving sister who looked after her when she first attempted suicide by jumping into the building.At the same time, it was hard for her to watch her sister suffer. Manabat did not disappoint people who admired her acting abilities. She owned scenes, much like Dizon. It was an acting showdown, aided by their genuine emotions, body movements, and the artists within them.As they faced evil whispers, bad spirits, and tears, their endings differed. One was eventually freed from her inner demons in a bloody way, while the other decided to move on with her life.And in real life, people struggle with loneliness, emptiness, and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts. They all have one thing in common: the need to escape.&quot;Near Death,&quot; which is part of the Sine Sindak Film Festival and produced by Diamond Productions, CMB Films, and RVS Studio, will be shown at SM cinemas on October 29.

‘Near Death’ review: An intimate horror elevated by Charlie Dizon, Xyriel Manabat’s acting showdown

‘Near Death’ review: An intimate horror elevated by Charlie Dizon, Xyriel Manabat’s acting showdown

‘Near Death’ review: Charlie Dizon, Xyriel Manabat deliver acting showdown in intimate horror flick

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‘Near Death’ review: Charlie Dizon, Xyriel Manabat deliver acting showdown in intimate horror flick

Josh Mercado

Published Oct 21, 2025 01:03 PM PHT

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Updated Oct 21, 2025 01:05 PM PHT

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