Kapag Horror Talaga.
 |
| (C) Letterboxd |
Viva Films’ Pee Mak brought Filipinos back to local horror fare outside the Metro Manila Film Festival. The Victor Villanueva-directed horror comedy opened to a solid ₱40 million in its first seven days. It also marked a healthy on-screen debut for the love team of Wilbert Ross and Bea Binene, popularly known as WilBea.
What worked here? Years ago, love teams could be launched or boosted on the big screen with the help of a pre-existing IP. Think of JaDine in Diary ng Panget, JoshLia in Vince and Kath and James, or LizQuen in Just the Way You Are. WilBea already has a pre-existing fan base, thanks to their streaming show Golden Scenery of Tomorrow, which was also based on a book. With Pee Mak being a horror comedy, a genre that remains robust in the country, the opportunity to break out was greater than it would have been for other recent local films. The comedy ensemble of Vandolph, Jairus Aquino, Gian Bernardino, and TJ Valderrama also widened its appeal further. The cast, alongside its director, was actively engaging with both fans and non-fans.
Could it have been bigger? Maybe, but that would have more to do with the enduring appeal of the original 2013 Thai hit than with the stars themselves. Perhaps the adaptation came a bit too late (the Philippine adaptation of Miracle in Cell No. 7 was released in 2019, six years after the original), or the original film was not reintroduced to the public enough. Nevertheless, Pee Mak could continue performing well in key locations until the end of the month, given the competition and word-of-mouth. CBO recently reviewed the film as a “non-stop fun time at the cinema.”
Forgotten Island, meanwhile, continues its strong run in the country. As of October 18, the DreamWorks animated film had collected $3.923 million locally, securing its place as the second-highest-grossing animated film of the year in the country.
Newcomer Street Fighter opened to an okay $275K, while Whalefall managed to bring in $144K during its opening week (October 14–18).
This article will be updated as more box office figures are released.
