CreaZion Studios frames this as a bold artistic statement, with CEO Anter 'RJ' Agustin praising the 'exceptional team of artists' and commitment to 'filmmaker-driven works that elevate Southeast Asian storytelling.' The studio wants audiences to see this as prestige horror with cultural depth.
Insiders note Julia Barretto's career trajectory is carefully curated after her zombie thriller 'Block Z' success. Pairing her with horror royalty Charo Santos-Concio and veteran Christopher de Leon signals ambition—but sources say the real story is whether this can compete internationally against bigger budgeted supernatural films.
The film was first unveiled last year by creator Real Florido and previously reached finals of the EST N8 Horror Pitch at Asia TV Forum & Market in Singapore. Charo Santos-Concio's 'Kisapmata' (directed by Mike De Leon) screened at Cannes, giving her legitimate international festival credentials that CreaZion is clearly leveraging.
This casting announcement reads like a calculated move to legitimize Philippine horror on the global stage—and with Tarog behind the camera, they're not just chasing prestige. They're positioning for it.
CreaZion Studios has dropped a bombshell casting reveal ahead of Cannes, announcing that Julia Barretto will lead "Knock Three Times"—a Filipino horror feature steeped in urban folklore and backed by serious talent both in front of and behind the camera. Joining her are legendary Philippine screen presences Charo Santos-Concio, Christopher de Leon, and Tony Labrusca under the direction of Jerrold Tarog, whose previous work includes "Quezon." The premise alone sounds like a recipe for sleepless nights: Barretto plays a young woman returning from rehab who discovers her mother has fallen under the spell of a malevolent antique mirror.
The story draws from actual Filipino urban folklore—a childhood ritual involving mirrors, candles, and three knocks that many Filipino families will recognize as part of their cultural DNA. This isn't generic horror; it's specifically rooted in traditions that have been scaring children across the Philippines for generations. Santos-Concio brings heavyweight credentials to the project, having starred in Mike De Leon's "Kisapmata," which previously screened at Cannes, and more recently in Mikhail Red's "Eerie." Christopher de Leon has accumulated decades of collaborations with the country's most significant filmmakers, including credits in "Kakabakaba Ka Ba?," "Three Godless Years," and Eddie Romero's "Ganito Kami Noon… Paano Kayo Ngayon?"—the latter also Cannes-screened.
Tony Labrusca rounds out the ensemble following appearances in "Glorious" and "Dream Boi." This isn't a collection of random stars; this is a strategic assembly of actors with proven genre chops and international festival credibility. The project originated from creator Real Florido, who first unveiled "Knock Three Times" last year. It previously reached the finals of the EST N8 Horror Pitch at the Asia TV Forum & Market in Singapore—a significant proving ground that attracted industry attention before this Cannes announcement.
Anter "RJ" Agustin, CEO and president of CreaZion Studios, emphasized the studio's commitment to what he called "bold, filmmaker-driven works that elevate Southeast Asian storytelling—stories that are deeply rooted in our culture yet resonate far beyond our borders." Additional casting and production timeline details are expected in the coming weeks.
