Contrary to its title, Uninvited is already inviting us to keep our tabs on it as early as in their production process—and here’s why
Another film is keeping us on our toes, making us ready to head to the cinemas once it premieres: Uninvited, the upcoming film topbilled by actors Vilma Santos, Nadine Lustre, and Aga Muhlach. Slowly but surely, facts about the movie unfold—and they’re only making the wait more unbearable. But as we continue to watch out as for when it hits the theaters, here’s why the anticipation for the movie is through the roof, and much deservingly so.
Wow! Bagay ito sa #MMFF! #UninvitedMovie pic.twitter.com/dVEZzYu1lh
— CinemaBravo (@cinemabravoph) September 19, 2024
RELATED: 3 Times Nadine Lustre Proved She’s a Changemaker
A Grand Gathering and Reunion of Stars
When the roster of participating artists for Uninvited was unveiled, fans and casual audiences marveled at the promising ensemble—some have worked together, others crossing paths once more. The most exciting reunion that people are waiting for? It’s the one between the Star of All Seasons Vilma Santos and one of this generation’s critically-acclaimed actresses Nadine Lustre. They previously worked together in 2006 for the Maalaala Mo Kaya episode “Regalo.” Recently, they finally made their much-awaited interaction.
Sorry ngayon lang na-post but FINALLY NADINE AND ATE VI IN ONE MOVIE 😭😭😭 #Uninvited pic.twitter.com/LhtR6X73cw
— ALTStarMagic 💫 (@AltStarMagic) September 24, 2024
Joining the leads are a pool of veterans and award-winning artists such as Tirso Cruz III, Lotlot De Leon, Mylene Dizon, Gabby Padilla, Gio Alvarez, Cholo Barretto, Ketchup Eusebio, Elijah Canlas, Ron Angeles, and RK Bagatsing. Just by this ensemble alone makes the movie all the more something to really look forward to, as Cruz III and Bagatsing have also worked together in the series Wildflower; and Canlas and Padilla in Kalel 15.
The Back-to-back Creative Powerhouses
A joint project between two production companies, Uninvited is co-produced by both Project 8 and Mentorque Productions. They previously collaborated for the Cinemalaya 2024 entry Kono Basho. The latter has also produced the MMFF 2023 3rd Best Picture Best Picture Mallari. Meanwhile, Project 8 has produced a number of films and series such as Samantha Lee’s Rookie, TIFF 2024 entry Sunshine starring Maris Racal, LizQuen’s Alone / Together, Fangirl, Simula Sa Gitna, and the first Filipino-produced Netflix series Replacing Chef Chico.
Under the direction of Dan Villegas and with the production leadership by Antoinette Jadaone and Irene Villamor, the upcoming motion picture is one that brims with promise. All three directors have worked with Nadine on On the Wings of Love, Never Not Love You, and Ulan.
A New Film or an Adaptation?
Theories on the movie’s premise have been circulating online, wondering what the movie could be about. Is Uninvited a film that tackles a new story altogether, or is it an adaptation? If it’s indeed the latter, will it take the path of the 2003 psychological horror film of the same title starring Jun Ji-hyun, or the 2009 film—an adaptation of another South Korean movie called A Tale of Two Sisters? One thing’s for sure—the horror-thriller genres are not new to the lead cast, as Lustre is cementing the genre in her roster of work with Deleter and Greed, as well with her upcoming film Nokturno. Santos has also dabbled into horror with her 2012 movie The Healing, while Muhlach played the psycho serial “Cattleya Killer” in the 1996 film Sa Aking Mga Kamay.
