Director Yam Laranas’ Rooftop doesn’t disappoint

Everyone needs a good scare once in a while.

Award-winning director Yam Laranas’ horror flick, Rooftop, did not disappoint in eliciting the shrieks and screams from the jam-packed cinema, where the film had a special screening last April 26, a day before it opened exclusively in all SM cinemas.

The crowd consisted mainly of students and young vloggers, who were excitedly invited to the screening and got to meet the six young stars of the film.

Yes, Rooftop is the first local film that gets to be shown on the big screen this year. The stars of Rooftop were all thankful and excited that the film they wrapped up nearly three years ago, finally hit the big screen.

In fact, Rooftop was in the line-up of Viva Films slated to be shown in 2020. However, the pandemic ensued that’s why the film was canned, apparently for a long time.

The fast-paced horror film was understandably given an R-13 classification due to the blood, gore and terror. It will be the Philippines’ entry at the forthcoming Asian Horror Festival.

One would think the six, young stars — Marco Gumabao (as Lance), Ryza Cenon (Ellie), Rhen Escaño (Jessica), Ella Cruz (Wave), Marco Gallo (Martin) and Andrew Muhlach (Chris) — would find it hard to put up with the demands of their director, but they delivered what was asked from them without hesitation.

The dilemma of the six adventurous students starts on a harmless prank one summer break in the school rooftop, where they were supposed to be off limits. Paul (Epy Quizon), the part-time janitor in the school and their fellow student, gives them access to the rooftop one evening, with the caretaker (Allan Paule) condoning their adventure for a bribe of a thousand bucks.

However, a downward spiral of events happens after Paul gets accidentally pushed from the rooftop and dies. Being young, reckless and afraid to face the consequences of their actions, the students decide to cover up what transpired and decide never to speak about what happened.

With Paul’s ghost haunting them, the students are never left at peace, be it in their respective bedrooms, back to the rooftop and anywhere else in the dormitory. Especially that they try to hide the uncanny truth about what really happened.

“Boo,” the frightening word repeatedly uttered by Paul to scare the students, became an occurring pun for everyone in the audience after they left the cinema.

The second half of the film becomes a non-stop horror thriller. It’s hard not to close your eyes or scream once Rooftop starts to unleash its fearful moments. Direk Yam certainly knows when to jolt his audience. He is not a master storyteller of horror tales for nothing.

His better-half, Gin de Mesa, wrote the haunting story of the film, with direk Yam, too, as well as Jonison Fontanos.

The young stars of Rooftop were all very thrilled their horror film was going to be finally shown on the big screen.

“We feel the pressure,” actress, model, dancer and painter Ryza said. “Alam naman natin na lahat ng tao takot lumabas, especially sa sinehan kasi kulob siya. Kinakabahan pa ako.”

According to sexy star Rhen, she feared for the release of Rooftop, which was wrapped up even before the pandemic ensued. Known for her movies like Adan, Untrue, The Other Wife and Paraluman, as well as the LGBTQ series, Lulu, Rhen acknowledged that watching films in cinemas remained tentative for most people.

“May konting takot sa akin. Parang lahat ng tao, nag-convert sa digital at nasanay na doon. Maybe they’re thinking, ‘Why would I watch the film in a cinema when I could view it online?’” she said.

Epy Quizon plays a part-time school janitor who gives students the key to a supposedly off-limits rooftop

“Remember, kahit ang ilaw, pinaghihirapan ng mga crew. Sana mas ma-appreciate ng audience ang movie kapag pinanood nila sa big screen at ibang experience ulit. Suportahan nila.”

Rhen, a first-timer in the horror genre, disclosed horror is her weakness. “May tamang timing,” she said. “There has to be a build-up. Kailangan ma-feel ng audience ang takot nila. There was a struggle for me. Was I scared enough? Sa tulong ng mga co-actors ko and direk Yam, they all made sure that we did what we were supposed to do.”