‘KMJS' Gabi ng Lagim: The Movie’ is a reminder that monsters exist everywhere

Halloween may be over, but “KMJS' Gabi ng Lagim: The Movie” is here to give you the horror long after the credits roll. 

The film presents three standalone yet thematically linked stories — “Pocong,” “Berbalang," and "Sanib"  — which explore the many faces of fear, from ancient folklore to the demons we keep hidden within.

Together, they form a chilling anthology that reminds viewers that evil does not simply exist in the monsters of myth, but often in the unseen, the unresolved, and the unspoken.

Part I: Pocong 

“Pocong,” directed by Yam Laranas, was inspired by the Indonesian ghost that resembles a person wrapped in a funeral cloth. In the story, we see Miguel Tanfelix play the role of Mark, a neophyte seafarer with an uncommon gift: a third eye that allows him to see what others cannot.

He encounters Pocong many times while on board the ship, and every time he sees its ghostly apparition, someone dies, either a crew member or a kin. 

As he finds a way to defeat Pocong, Mark realizes that death is inevitable, unpredictable, and often beyond our control. 

His encounters with Pocong symbolize how people sometimes sense danger or impending tragedy long before others do.

Mark's third eye also symbolizes not only the burden of seeing ghosts, but the burden of seeing the world beyond it.

Part II: Berbalang 

The Berbalang is a mythical creature from the Southern Philippines, often described as a type of aswang with cat-like eyes and bat-like wings. Known for their nocturnal hunts, they are believed to feed on human and animal corpses.

Dodo Dayao's “Berbalang,” which stars Sanya Lopez and Elijah Canlas, explores the horror of inheritance and how some people are born into pain or curses they never asked for. 

Kain’s (Elijah) struggle shows the fear of becoming something you never wanted to be, a Berbalang in the making. 

Kain was one of the last two Berbalangs in their town. Contrary to local rumors, he does not feed on human corpses thanks to his sister Delilah (Sanya), who protected him for years, sheltering him from the outside world and helping him resist the curse.

However, with an attack by a Berbalang in their town, Kain and Delilah are caught in the trenches, with people believing they were the cause of the chaos. 

The film shows how quick society is to judge based on fear, rumor, or difference. The idea that “another Berbalang” was responsible suggests that evil is often misidentified, and the ones who carry the burden are not always the true villains.

Part III: Sanib

King Mark Baco's “Sanib” explores the story of Angel, played by Jillian Ward, and how our emotional turmoil can turn into a haunted place for demons. 

In the film, Angel was possessed by a demon named Legion. More than a demonic attack, the possession is a manifestation of her unresolved trauma from her mother’s absence and the cruelty she suffered. 

The film suggests that the most vulnerable, those dealing with depression, loneliness, or deep wounds, are easiest for darkness to prey upon.

With the help of a group of exorcists, Angel was able to overcome the demon, showing us that even though the force of evil may be strong, it is possible to defeat it if we remain steadfast in our faith in the Lord. 

In the end, the “Gabi ng Lagim” reminds us of one truth: Monsters may take many shapes, but darkness thrives easily in the places we choose not to see.

As award-winning Kapuso journalist Jessica Soho said in her closing statement in the film, the demons we should fear are not the supernatural ones, but the darkness and evil that exist in society, and more importantly, within ourselves.

"KMJS' Gabi ng Lagim: The Movie," produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, premieres in Philippine cinemas on November 26. 

—CDC, GMA Integrated News