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“P77,” GMA Pictures’ summer offering, may understandably become a polarizing film. Released through GMA Public Affairs’ film division, one would expect the movie to carry some concern over the social responsibility of the media, and, like their 2024 offering, “Green Bones,” would loop back to some didactic end. Initially slated for a 2023 release, its early promotional materials said that it was a film about the horrors of homelessness in a city of ghettos and skyscrapers. The final result shifted towards something else.

Barbie Forteza plays Luna, a daughter in a family facing precarity, who signed up to work on a cruise ship. Her employment was cut short as she rushed back home after learning of a medical emergency involving her sickly younger brother, Jonas (Euwenn Mikaell). With her mother missing in action, Luna takes matters into her own hands to work again for her family. She then finds out about Penthouse 77,...

Exclusive: Philippines production powerhouses GMA Network and CreaZion Studios are working with regional streamer Viu on Beauty Empire, an upcoming drama series starring Barbie Forteza, Kyline Alcantara, Ruffa Gutierrez and Gloria Diaz.

Directed by Mark Sicat Dela Cruz and created by filmmaker Real Florido and screenwriter Rona Co, the series lifts the lid on the Philippines’ highly competitive beauty industry. The cast includes two generations of former Philippine beauty queens – Gutierrez was Miss World Second Princess in 1993, while Diaz was crowned Miss Universe in 1969.

Complementing the female cast is a strong male ensemble cast led by Sam Concepcion and Sid Lucero, while also introducing Korean actor and K-pop star Choi Bo Min.

The story follows rags-to-riches CEO Noreen Alfonso (Barbie Forteza) who is out to take revenge on the people who have wronged her. She stake her claim as a new beauty industry player, tearing down the empire that her enemies have built.

In one sequence in Milo Sogueco's Mariquina, shoemaker Romeo (Ricky Davao, who inhabits the role with unabashed fragility) attempts to salvage whatever he can save in his warehouse from the flood. His teenage daughter, Imelda (Barbie Forteza, who inhabits the delicate role with laudable maturity) suddenly appears in the scuffle, wanting to help or at least express some concern over her father's misfortune. Romeo, flared by desperation in the face of the threat of ruin, coldly orders his daughter to return to her room and to leave everything to him. Mariquina is peppered with sequences like this, sequences that subtly expose the cracks and fissures in the relationship between father and daughter. In that particular flood sequence, Sogueco smartly reveals Romeo's enduring conflict and also his...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

The Road opened in cities across the country today as part of its limited theatrical release and is now available on a variety of on-demand services. During a recent talk with director Yam Laranas, I learned about the evolution of this film from a single story idea, scaring child actors, and his next project:

When did you first start working on The Road and what was your inspiration for the story?

Yam Laranas: I started in 2005 and was dabbling with the idea of creating a claustrophobic film that wasn’t happening in a haunted house. So I thought about how scary it is to be lost on a dark road, not knowing where to go. I remember being lost on a dark road during a road trip and you feel trapped.

What changed since your original idea from 2005?

Yam Laranas: When I started writing, I only wrote about...

Title: The Road Director: Yam Laranas (‘The Echo,’ ‘Patient X’) Starring: Tj Trinidad, Barbie Forteza, Derrick Monasterio, Lexi Fernandez, Rhian Ramos and Louise delos Reyes Foreign language films with subtitles often turn prospective viewers away, as many people don’t have the patience to read what’s going on throughout the entire movie. But some foreign movies not only feature intriguing locations and sets, but enough emotional back-stories to captivate audiences worldwide. The new Filipino horror crime drama ‘The Road’ is one such film, as it entertainingly balances the unique motivations of a ruthless killer, the futile attempts by his victims to escape and an interesting abandoned road and house that largely [ Read More ]...

We have 4 brand new photos from the upcoming Filipino horror film The Road, which will be released on May 11th.

“The Road tells the story of a twelve-year-old cold case that is reopened when three teenagers vanish while traversing an infamous and abandoned road. As investigators try to find leads to the whereabouts of the missing teens, they also unearth the road’s gruesome past that spans two decades – a history of abduction, crimes and murders.”

Directed by Yam Laranas, The Road stars Carmina Villaroel, Rhian Ramos, Tj Trinidad, Barbie Forteza, Lexi Fernandez, Derrick Monasterio, Alden Richards, Louise de los Reyes, and Renz Valerio.

The movie will receive a limited theatrical release on May 11th and will also be available on video-on-demand. Here is a list of cities screening the film:Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle,...

Freestyle Releasing has released a red band trailer and a new poster for The Road, which debuts in theaters May 11. Yam Laranas directs this horror-thriller about three teenagers who go missing on an infamous road. Check it out.

The Road - Red Band Trailer

The Road tells the story of a twelve-year-old cold case that is recently reopened when three teenagers vanish while traversing an infamous and abandoned road. As investigators try to find leads to the whereabouts of the missing teens, they also unearth the road's gruesome past that spans two decades - a history of abduction, crimes and murders.

The Road comes to theaters May 11th, 2012 and stars Carmina Villaroel, Rhian Ramos, Tj Trinidad, Barbie Forteza, Lexi Fernandez, Derick Monasterio, Alden Richards, Louise de los Reyes. The film is directed by Yam Laranas.

Filipino director Yam Laranas' (Sigaw, The Echo) The Road just got a little bit longer and a lot eerier with the release of these four striking new stills. They don't contain the gore we saw in our last look at the film, but they certainly convey a lot of atmosphere. "A twelve year old cold case is reopened when three teens are missing in an abandoned road. In the course of the investigation, deeper and gruesome stories of abduction and murders are discovered. After more than two decades, the secrets of the haunted road may finally be revealed." Carmina Villarroel, Marvin, Agustin, Tj Trinidad, Rhian Ramos and Barbie Forteza all star. The film features music and Soundcscapes by Johan Söderqvist (Let The Right One In). The Road opens May 11 from Freestyle...

While we already broke the news last month that Freestyle would be releasing Filipino director Yam Laranas' (Sigaw, The Echo) latest indie project, The Road, in theaters May 11, Variety now reports it will also arrive day and date across digital platforms including YouTube, iTunes, Amazon, Netflix and Hulu Plus. "A twelve year old cold case is reopened when three teens are missing in an abandoned road. In the course of the investigation, deeper and gruesome stories of abduction and murders are discovered. After more than two decades, the secrets of the haunted road may finally be revealed." Carmina Villarroel, Marvin, Agustin, Tj Trinidad, Rhian Ramos and Barbie Forteza all star. The film features music and Soundcscapes by Johan Söderqvist (Let The Right One In).

There's been a lot of hype surrounding Filipino director Yam Laranas' (Sigaw, The Echo) latest indie project, The Road, a pretty fantastic looking supernatural thriller that takes to the haunted gravel. Told as a trilogy within a single movie, Bloody exclusively learned that Freestyle Releasing will get this sucker in theaters May 11. Watch this spot for news soon. "A twelve year old cold case is reopened when three teens are missing in an abandoned road. In the course of the investigation, deeper and gruesome stories of abduction and murders are discovered. After more than two decades, the secrets of the haunted road may finally be revealed." Carmina Villarroel, Marvin, Agustin, Tj Trinidad, Rhian Ramos and Barbie Forteza all star. The film features music and Soundcscapes by Johan Söderqvist (Let The Right One In).

The first of the three episodes of Yam Laranas' The Road is the most reminiscent of the atmospheric thrills of Sigaw (The Echo, 2004). One night in 2008, three teenagers (Barbie Forteza, Lexi Fernandez and Derrick Monasterio) find an abandoned dirt road to practice driving. As they move further from the junction, a suspicious red car passes by them every so often. After noticing that the red car is without a driver, they hurriedly find their way back to the junction, but to no avail. They are trapped, and continuously haunted by the mysterious red car and a woman whose bloodied head is covered by a plastic bag.   The episode, set mostly at night in an abandoned road lighted only by the moon...

There's been a lot of hype surrounding Filipino director Yam Laranas' (Sigaw, The Echo) latest indie project, The Road, a pretty fantastic looking supernatural thriller that takes to the haunted gravel. The director has shared his fresh tale with a few genre sites and has assembled a new quote-filled trailer. Dig on it inside. "A twelve year old cold case is reopened when three teens are missing in an abandoned road. In the course of the investigation, deeper and gruesome stories of abduction and murders are discovered. After more than two decades, the secrets of the haunted road may finally be revealed." Carmina Villarroel, Marvin, Agustin, Tj Trinidad, Rhian Ramos and Barbie Forteza all star. The film features music and Soundcscapes by Johan Söderqvist (Let The Right One In).

Gma Films have revealed a new teaser one-sheet for the new Filipino horror flick 'The Road'. Coming from writer/director Yam Laranas the crime-horror movie stars Marvin Agustin, Tj Trinidad, Rhian Ramos, Carmina Villarroe and Barbie Forteza. The new poster is pretty creepy and could at first glance almost be mistaken for something from 'Silent Hill'. Check out the poster below and make sure you head on over to Arrow in the Head to catch the equally creepy trailer as well....

Last week we gave you the trailer for Filipino director Yam Laranas' (Sigaw, The Echo) newest supernatural indie project, The Road. And now we have your first look at the film's poster as well! "A twelve year old cold case is reopened when three teens are missing in an abandoned road. In the course of the investigation, deeper and gruesome stories of abduction and murders are discovered. After more than two decades, the secrets of the haunted road may finally be revealed." The film features music and Soundcscapes by Johan Söderqvist (Let The Right One In). Carmina Villarroel, Marvin, Agustin, Tj Trinidad, Rhian Ramos and Barbie Forteza all star. Hit the jump to check out the poster!

Just yesterday we brought you the world premiere trailer debut for Filipino director Yam Laranas' (Sigaw, The Echo) latest indie project, The Road, a pretty fantastic looking supernatural thriller that takes to the haunted gravel. Now we've got our hands on an exclusive motion poster and first ever image, both of which can be enjoyed after the break. Carmina Villarroel, Marvin, Agustin, Tj Trinidad, Rhian Ramos and Barbie Forteza all star. The film features music and Soundcscapes by Johan Söderqvist (Let The Right One In). "A twelve year old cold case is reopened when three teens are missing in an abandoned road. In the course of the investigation, deeper and gruesome stories of abduction and murders are discovered. After more than two decades, the secrets of the haunted road may finally be revealed."...

World Exclusive: Filipino director Yam Laranas (Sigaw, The Echo) is officially back with his newest indie project, The Road, a top secret supernatural horror film we've been teasing for a few months now. Not only do we finally have some plot details, but we've scored an exclusive look at the haunting first official trailer! "A twelve year old cold case is reopened when three teens are missing in an abandoned road. In the course of the investigation, deeper and gruesome stories of abduction and murders are discovered. After more than two decades, the secrets of the haunted road may finally be revealed." The film features music and Soundcscapes by Johan Söderqvist (Let The Right One In). Carmina Villarroel, Marvin, Agustin, Tj Trinidad, Rhian Ramos and Barbie Forteza all star.