This review may contain spoilers
Filipino Superstition Turns Deadly in Rosario
I have to start by admitting that Rosario was never supposed to be my kind of movie. Horror is not a genre I normally seek out, especially when it involves the devil, Catholic rituals, religious imagery or anything that starts with Latin chanting. So when I was invited to the premiere night, I was honestly hesitant. I still went because I like the cast, I wanted to support them, and I wasn't about to miss the opportunity to watch a movie with friends. What I didn't expect was to spend most of the film genuinely scared.
Rosario takes a familiar supernatural-horror story and makes it feel distinctly Filipino by centering the narrative on a funeral superstition involving a rosary. The belief is that when a rosary is placed in the hands of the dead, it must be cut before burial. If it remains whole, something bad can happen to the family. After Magda, James, Beth and Ave's mother dies, that ritual isn't properly completed, and the family soon finds themselves dealing with a terrifying series of supernatural events.
What I enjoyed most about the concept is how recognisable the beliefs are. There were several moments when I found myself thinking, "Ah, so that's why," or "We have that belief in our family too." These are the kinds of superstitions many Filipinos grow up hearing from their parents and grandparents, so seeing them incorporated into the horror made the story more relatable. I also liked that the film eventually explains where the belief stands in relation to Catholic teaching and makes it clear that the superstition itself isn't actually a Roman Catholic doctrine.
The horror is surprisingly effective. The opening immediately had me uncomfortable because of the Latin chanting, which was basically the film announcing that it knew exactly which buttons to push. From there, the movie builds tension through atmosphere, sound design and dark settings, while throwing in jump scares at just the right moments. Some of them genuinely caught me off guard.
Aubrey Caraan is one of my favourite parts of the film. Beth is loving, protective and willing to do almost anything for her family, and Aubrey gives her enough warmth and determination to make her easy to root for. Her scenes with Lance Carr are also a welcome change of pace. Their chemistry brings some lighter and sweeter moments into an otherwise frightening story and gave me a much-needed chance to breathe.
Jairus Aquino was my standout performer. He brings confidence and emotional weight to James and, for me, gives the strongest performance among the cast. He has a natural screen presence that makes his character believable even when everything around him becomes increasingly chaotic.
The cast isn't entirely consistent, though. Yumi Garcia's Ave has plenty of importance to the story, but I didn't think the emotional material was handled as strongly as it could have been. Her relationships, especially with the woman who raised her, needed more depth and stronger emotional exchanges. Meg Imperial's character also feels underwritten and doesn't get enough material to make a stronger impression.
Suzette Ranillo, however, has fun with her role as the sharp-tongued and easily offended aunt whose actions unintentionally help trigger the curse. Rose Van Ginkel also leaves an impression despite having limited screen time. I just wish the film had explored Rosario's backstory further because there was clearly more story there.
Where the movie loses some momentum is in the climax. Without spoiling the ending, some of the deaths feel more like consequences of characters making questionable decisions than the curse itself. That makes the final stretch a little frustrating because the film had built up such a strong sense of dread earlier.
Still, Rosario succeeds at what it sets out to do. It may not reinvent horror, but it creates an effective supernatural thriller by combining Filipino superstition, family drama and Catholic imagery. Roni S. Benaid clearly knows how to build horror around Filipino beliefs, and Rosario feels like one of his more polished efforts.
And here's the funny part: I kept saying that I hate horror movies, yet I have already watched Rosario three times. I saw it during the premiere and later attended a block screening, so apparently being scared hasn't stopped me from going back.
Would I call Rosario perfect? No. Would I recommend it to Filipino horror fans? Absolutely. Just don't expect me to volunteer for another movie with Latin chanting anytime soon.
Rosario takes a familiar supernatural-horror story and makes it feel distinctly Filipino by centering the narrative on a funeral superstition involving a rosary. The belief is that when a rosary is placed in the hands of the dead, it must be cut before burial. If it remains whole, something bad can happen to the family. After Magda, James, Beth and Ave's mother dies, that ritual isn't properly completed, and the family soon finds themselves dealing with a terrifying series of supernatural events.
What I enjoyed most about the concept is how recognisable the beliefs are. There were several moments when I found myself thinking, "Ah, so that's why," or "We have that belief in our family too." These are the kinds of superstitions many Filipinos grow up hearing from their parents and grandparents, so seeing them incorporated into the horror made the story more relatable. I also liked that the film eventually explains where the belief stands in relation to Catholic teaching and makes it clear that the superstition itself isn't actually a Roman Catholic doctrine.
The horror is surprisingly effective. The opening immediately had me uncomfortable because of the Latin chanting, which was basically the film announcing that it knew exactly which buttons to push. From there, the movie builds tension through atmosphere, sound design and dark settings, while throwing in jump scares at just the right moments. Some of them genuinely caught me off guard.
Aubrey Caraan is one of my favourite parts of the film. Beth is loving, protective and willing to do almost anything for her family, and Aubrey gives her enough warmth and determination to make her easy to root for. Her scenes with Lance Carr are also a welcome change of pace. Their chemistry brings some lighter and sweeter moments into an otherwise frightening story and gave me a much-needed chance to breathe.
Jairus Aquino was my standout performer. He brings confidence and emotional weight to James and, for me, gives the strongest performance among the cast. He has a natural screen presence that makes his character believable even when everything around him becomes increasingly chaotic.
The cast isn't entirely consistent, though. Yumi Garcia's Ave has plenty of importance to the story, but I didn't think the emotional material was handled as strongly as it could have been. Her relationships, especially with the woman who raised her, needed more depth and stronger emotional exchanges. Meg Imperial's character also feels underwritten and doesn't get enough material to make a stronger impression.
Suzette Ranillo, however, has fun with her role as the sharp-tongued and easily offended aunt whose actions unintentionally help trigger the curse. Rose Van Ginkel also leaves an impression despite having limited screen time. I just wish the film had explored Rosario's backstory further because there was clearly more story there.
Where the movie loses some momentum is in the climax. Without spoiling the ending, some of the deaths feel more like consequences of characters making questionable decisions than the curse itself. That makes the final stretch a little frustrating because the film had built up such a strong sense of dread earlier.
Still, Rosario succeeds at what it sets out to do. It may not reinvent horror, but it creates an effective supernatural thriller by combining Filipino superstition, family drama and Catholic imagery. Roni S. Benaid clearly knows how to build horror around Filipino beliefs, and Rosario feels like one of his more polished efforts.
And here's the funny part: I kept saying that I hate horror movies, yet I have already watched Rosario three times. I saw it during the premiere and later attended a block screening, so apparently being scared hasn't stopped me from going back.
Would I call Rosario perfect? No. Would I recommend it to Filipino horror fans? Absolutely. Just don't expect me to volunteer for another movie with Latin chanting anytime soon.
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