Directed by Chito Roño, the Metro Manila Film Festival entry Espantaho from Quantum Films, celebrating its 20th anniversary, boasts of a cast led by Judy Ann Santos and Lorna Tolentino and written by Chris Martinez. It’s a horror drama that winningly emphasizes both the horror and the drama - something rare to find, given that most in the horror genre will go the easy route and play the audience for the regularity of jump scares and visceral, bloody scenes. 

With Espantaho, the drama, the textured storyline, and the plot development are all just as important as the horror elements. While several references and salutes to past horror films are evident, it’s done with respect and with the effort to execute some tweaks and change it up, so it’s not an outright reboot or homage. Plus, you have two consummate actresses leading the cast in Judy Ann and Lorna, so how can we not have acting in the proverbial spotlight.

Judy Ann was MMFF Best Actress for Mindanao five years ago, and here, she takes on the central character Monet, the dutiful daughter in the second family of a substantial landowner in the province. Her mother, Rosa, is played by Lorna Tolentino. When we first meet them, they’re mourning the death of Pabling. When Pabling’s legal wife shows up, Adele (Chanda Romero), is accompanied by her children Roy and Andie (portrayed by Mon Confiado and Janice de Belen). At this juncture, the family’s darkest secrets, complications, and betrayals all appear and show how they impact the present situation. 

There’s the fascination with antiquities (something Direk Chito himself shares in), old paintings, and the pasiyam tradition that follows the death of a loved one, all playing a role in what transpires, how customs and tradition have dominion over our lives. There’s the ever-present black crow, a harbinger of sorrow and disaster. The title character of the scarecrow is another manifestation of how legend and representational art draw from and can influence real life. 

Chito Rono has long been a master of both drama and horror. He and Judy Ann last worked together on television in the 1990s, so something very special is rekindled through this film. And if we’re emphasizing the drama part of this horror offering, peruse the hand-picked cast Chito assembled for this Christmas offering. Besides Judy Ann, Lorna, Chanda, Mon and Janice; we have JC Santos, Eugene Domingo, Tommy Abuel, Nico Antonio, Donna Cariaga, and Kian Co. 

I was fortunate enough to catch a special screening for exhibitors, and Chito is in fine form coming up with the requisite jump scares. But what held me as the film progressed was the intricate plotting and the timing of the ‘reveals’. Even characters that seemed like throwaway roles or cameos come back to ‘haunt’ the storyline, adding to its texture and intricacy. You’ll discover why I call this review the scarecrow’s sixth sense. Still, more than the alliteration, Chito’s masterful handling of the material turns this into a rewarding dramatic exploration of the horror genre.