A Filipino psychological horror zombie movie? You had us at zombie.
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While it may not be as thriving as it is in other countries, the Filipino zombie subgenre still has its gems. There’s the 2011 horror cult classic Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington, and 2020’s Block Z that gave a somewhat Gen Z spin on the genre, to name a few. And this 2024, a new entry is entering the collection with Outside.
First revealed during the Netflix APAC Southeast Asia Showcase earlier this year, Outside has made the rounds online after its recent trailer drop went viral on social media. It is, after all, not every day we get Filipino zombie movies, especially ones of this caliber. And with a release date of October 17, it drops just in time for Halloween szn. Curious to know more about the newest Filipino horror movie that’s got netizens talking? Scroll down for the deets.
THE PLOT CENTERS ON A FAMILY WITH SECRETS
Outside is set in a world during a violent and devastating zombie outbreak. In this bleak reality, we follow a family of four led by its unstable patriarch, Francis (Sid Lucero). Together with his wife Iris (Beauty Gonzales) and sons Josh (Marco Masa) and Lucas (Aiden Tyler Patdu), they flee to Francis’s secluded and abandoned farmhouse in the province to seek refuge and restore some semblance of normalcy. But what is supposed to be a haven turns out to be something worse as they unearth an old secret that becomes a greater threat. All this to say, Outside styles itself as a gripping psychological horror experience.
THE MOVIE IS SET IN AND INSPIRED BY NEGROS
Most of the movie is set in the province and was specifically shot in Negros Occidental. But this is more than just a stylistic choice as the movie’s director, Carlo Ledesma is from Negros and took inspiration from his experiences growing up on the island and his feelings of isolation during the pandemic, a period when the idea for the film began to take form. As some have pointed out, Negros’ local folklore has creatures akin to zombies, so it will be interesting to see how the movie blends native culture with the personal story.
THE CAST IS PRETTY LOADED
Leading Outside is a talented A-list cast that includes Sid Lucero and Beauty Gonzales, who are joined by Marco Masa and Aiden Patdu, and with the special participation of Enchong Dee and Joel Torre for good measure. It’s lowkey giving powerhouse acting, and special mention goes to Sid Lucero playing the father not only because he’s a great actor, but that he can also deliver on the unreliable lead role, which makes you question if he’s someone to be believed or trusted.
IT COMES FROM AN ACCLAIMED DIRECTOR
Bringing Outside to life is Filipino-Australian TV commercial and content filmmaker Carlo Ledesma. He first earned acclaim for his thesis feature The Haircut, which clinched the Mini Movie Channel Award for Best Short Film at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Carlo is also no stranger to the genre, and horror buffs may know him as the director of the underrated 2011 found-footage film The Tunnel, which served as his feature debut. He followed that up with Sunod in 2019 and the horror-comedy short The Kapre. With an eye for highlighting compelling human characters, their intricate connections, and conflicts, all while portraying the uniqueness of Filipino narrative to the world, Outside might have an interesting perspective to tell.
IT TELLS A PERSONAL STORY
Outside is no Dawn of the Dead (the 2004 remake, to be exact). But what the movie lacks in action, it makes up for it in psychological horror. The film is described as more than your typical zombie film as Carlo Ledesma sees the movie as his most personal project to date. “More than anything, Outside is a story about family,” he said. “It explores how a family could fall apart, and it played out my worst fears as a father.” At the core of Outside is a movie about a family’s survival, and honestly, unhinged family secrets are just as scary as a zombie horde.
Outside streams exclusively on Netflix beginning October 17.
Photos courtesy of Netflix
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