A long-lost silent film by Philippine cinema pioneer Jose Nepomuceno has inspired the debut feature of emerging filmmaker Nikolas Red.
From Nepomuceno’s “Ang Manananggal,” considered a lost work, Direk Nikos crafts a modern psychological horror story that explores both supernatural terror and inherited trauma. “Virtually all of our silent films are actually lost or hindi pa natin nare-recover,” said Direk Nikos.
That absence became a creative opportunity for the young director. “It gave us room to reimagine,” he added.
Direk Nikos, the son of acclaimed director and editor Raymond Red and younger brother of award-winning filmmaker Mikhail Red, helms “Posthouse” with a clear vision shaped by his years behind the camera. His brother Mikhail serves as creative producer on the film.
“I’m a fan of horror films about people watching horror,” related Nikolas. He cited his work on Mikhail’s 2022 film “Deleter,” which starred Nadine Lustre, as part of the foundation for “Posthouse.” “I want to utilize that same effect — someone watching something scary — combined with my interest, kasi in a way history buff ako… I want to combine that with the very modern take of horror of people watching scary things like ‘The Ring,’ ‘Sinister’…”
Despite his background, Direk Nikos admitted that directing actors posed a new challenge. “I was very scared coming into this… but the biggest leap from being an editor and writer was working with actors. It’s the one thing that really separated the two. It’s a whole different thing,” he said.
He is grateful he had for his stars Sid Lucero and Bea Binene. Sid stars as Cyril, a troubled film editor working in a decaying post-production facility founded by his estranged father. Haunted by the unresolved murder of his mother Judy and a disturbing supernatural experience from his childhood, Cyril finds solace in work and in mentoring his daughter Rea, played by Bea. Rea is a passionate film student, but their relationship remains strained.
When a mysterious package of old film reels arrives, including what appears to be remnants of “Ang Manananggal,” the two begin a restoration project that quickly descends into horror.
As they piece the film together using a Moviola machine, strange phenomena begin to occur. Apparitions appear, reels vanish and reappear, and people around them start to die. The deeper they go, the more the film seems to bleed into reality. Cyril is forced to confront the darkness he thought he had left behind.
Prior to “Posthouse,” Nikolas Red has built an impressive body of work as an editor and writer. He earned acclaim for his editing on “Deleter” (2022), which won Best Editing at the Metro Manila Film Festival, and on “Eerie” (2018), another box-office horror hit. He also co-wrote “Dead Kids” (2019), the first-ever Filipino Netflix original film, while his debut short film, “Putol” (2021), premiered at the International Silent Film Festival Manila. Supporting him behind the scenes is Mikhail, who serves as “Posthouse” creative producer.
Joining the cast are Ryza Cenon, Rafa Siguion Reyna and Andrea del Rosario.
A co-production between Evolve Studios, Studio Viva and Viva Films, “Posthouse” opens in cinemas on August 20.
