‘Shake, Rattle, & Roll’ at 40: The Scariest and Most Entertaining Episodes
‘Shake, Rattle, & Roll’ at 40: The Scariest and Most Entertaining Episodes
It’s spooky season! Time to shake your fears, rattle your bones, and roll with the chills as we list down our ten favorite episodes from the iconic Philippine horror anthology.
The Shake, Rattle & Roll franchise has produced 16 films since its inception in 1984 (happy 40th anniversary!) with no sign of stopping after coming back from a nine-year hiatus in 2023 with Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme. Each installment contains at least three segments that revolve around common Philippine horror tropes like mythical creatures and superstitions.
We asked the SINEGANG.ph staffers who have seen at least one SRR film to choose and vote for the segments that scared and entertained them the most. It’s a Herculean task weighing 48 episodes and their individual merits, but we managed to narrow the list down to 10 (with some honorable mentions), ranked according to release date.
With love, here’s our Halloween treat for you! Awoooh!
Honorable Mentions:
Nanay (SRR III, 1991)
Better look before you sit down on the toilet because there might be an undin!
Ang Telebisyon (SRR VI, 1997)
Mr. Boo is coming to get you from the television screen!
Pridyider (SRR I)
Ishmael Bernal’s Pridyider presents a classic horror entry that follows Virgie (Janice de Belen) and her mother, Lorna (Charito Solis), as they move into a new home that seems too good to be true. Unbeknownst to them, the house was once inhabited by a cannibalistic murderer who stored his victims in the refrigerator. Aware of its silly premise, the episode elevates the terror through its atmosphere and direction. Imagine what audiences must have felt trying to grab a midnight snack in their fridge in the middle of the night. - Ralph Regis
Manananggal (SRR I)
Probably one of the scariest and most underrated SRR episodes ever created. Peque Gallaga’s Manananggal tells the story of a young boy (Herbert Bautista) trying to court a young woman (Irma Alegre) without knowing that she is actually a monster infamously known for separating its upper torso from its lower body. Gallaga effectively taps into our collective fear and fascination with this classic Filipino folklore and uses the ominous forest setting and sound design to great effect. - Linus Masandag
Aswang (SRR II)
Aswang is a beloved classic and for good reason. It depicted a specific kind of fear of being invited to a feast only to find out that you’re one of their main menus. You find yourself rooting for our main character, Jessa (Manilyn Reyes), and her friends as they try to escape from these cannibalistic vampire creatures before they end up on their dinner table. There’s a constant sense of paranoia and dread throughout the narrative, and watching these characters figure out and try to outsmart their enemies is always a delight! - LM
Ate (SRR III)
Ate tells the story of Rosalyn (Janice de Belen) who returns to her province after hearing news that her older sister Rowena (Gina Alajar) has died. But upon arrival she discovers that her sibling is very much alive…or is she? This episode has everything you want from a story like this: death, grief, cults, and suspicious characters. Storywise, it’s engaging and thrilling as the pacing takes its time to flesh out its twists and turns. Honestly, I wish I could watch a feature-length film of this because it is that great! - LM
Ang Madre (SRR IV)
Ang Madre offers a commentary on religion, society, and prejudice. The episode follows Astrude (Ai-Ai delas Alas), Puri (Gina Alajar), and her son Teks (IC Mendoza) as they live in a slum community terrorized by a manananggal that prowls at night, believed to be Aling Iya, played by the “Queen of Philippine Horror Movies,” Lilia Cunatapay. It cleverly illustrates how society easily suspects others based on appearances, when in fact, the true antagonist is a nonchalant nun, Sister Mary John played by Aiko Melendez. The balance of comedy and horror can be hard to pull off in this franchise, yet the late Peque Gallaga writes an effective story to boot. - RR
Yaya (SRR VIII)
A seven-year-old Nash Aguas battles her yaya, portrayed by an effectively creepy Iza Calzado, who is actually…a vampire? If that doesn’t hook you in then I do not know what will. With very competent filmmaking from Topel Lee, Yaya provides us with genuinely scary moments while also being delightfully fun. - LM
LRT (SRR VIII)
An SRR favorite by many, LRT goes full throttle with its Hollywood-esque premise of a mysterious creature targeting its victims: 13 passengers taking the last trip of the LRT-2. The story features people from different walks of life, and it’s the diverse group of people we, the audience, can identify with. Moreover, the sheer unlikelihood of the story makes it so interesting to even think about. The ending paints a picture of the complexities of justice, showing how what we may turn to for help can ultimately reveal the true horrors of our society. - R
Class Picture (SRR X)
Do not stare! Class Picture is a horror masterclass, with a story that students can tell to scare each other into believing their school is haunted. The episode follows Joy (Kim Chiu), Louie (Gerald Anderson), and their classmates in an overnight staycation to prepare for an exhibit, haunted by Sister Maria Belonia (Jean Garcia), who vows to kidnap three students to complete a centuries-old class picture. There’s something eerie about ghostly nuns, and Jean Garcia definitely understood the assignment. - RR
Punerarya (SRR XII)
Dreadfully frightening and intense, Punerarya knows how to provoke with its violence and unpredictable twists on its narrative that will have you gasping and disturbed. It follows a woman (Carla Abellana) who works as a part-time tutor for a family that owns a ghoulish funeral parlor. Helmed by Jerrold Tarog, it’s one of the better SRR episodes because it’s dark, scary, and most importantly, satisfying. - LM
Mukbang (SRR EXTREME)
“Let him cook!” And so Jerrold Tarog did: Mukbang is a perfect blend of horror and humor. The episode follows a ragbag of influencers that travel to a mansion after being invited by fellow influencers for a mukbang collab livestream. Their planned staycation takes a dark turn when they seemingly begin to eat their friends for dinner. Oh, and there are shape-shifting monsters roaming around. Standout comedic performances from Ninong Ry and Esnyr Ranollo make this a gem in the franchise’s recent return to the big screen. While the concept may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the characters and performances pack a punch for entertainment. - RR
Here’s another treat: you can watch all episodes from Part II to XV on Regal Entertainment’s YouTube channel while the latest installment, SRR Extreme, is streaming on Netflix.
And some trivia: the first SRR was recently restored and screened at Metro Manila Film Festival’s Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta last September 25 to October 15.
