Julia Barretto, Charo Santos-Concio, Christopher de Leon, and Tony Labrusca have been set to star in “Knock Three Times,” the upcoming Philippine horror feature from director Jerrold Tarog, CreaZion Studios has revealed ahead of the Cannes Film Market.
The film follows a young woman returning from rehab who discovers her mother has fallen under the influence of a malevolent antique mirror. The story draws from Filipino urban folklore, specifically a childhood ritual involving mirrors, candles and three knocks that serves as the narrative’s foundation.
Created by Real Florido, the project was first unveiled last year and previously reached the finals of the EST N8 Horror Pitch at the Asia TV Forum & Market in Singapore.
Barretto is best known in genre circles for headlining Mikhail Red’s zombie thriller “Block Z.” Santos-Concio brings deep roots in Philippine psychological horror, having starred in Mike De Leon’s “Kisapmata,” which screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and in Red’s “Eerie.” Christopher de Leon, whose decades of work span collaborations with the country’s most significant filmmakers, counts among his credits Mike De Leon’s “Kakabakaba Ka Ba?,” Mario O’Hara’s “Three Godless Years,” and Eddie Romero’s “Ganito Kami Noon… Paano Kayo Ngayon?” – the last of which also screened at Cannes. Labrusca joins the ensemble following his appearances in “Glorious” and “Dream Boi.”
Anter “RJ” Agustin, CEO and president of CreaZion Studios, said: “This casting marks an exciting step forward for ‘Knock Three Times’ as we bring together an exceptional team of artists. At CreaZion, we are committed to championing 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 to be announced in the coming weeks.
