Gillian Vicencio opted for an edgy look as she attended the screening of the slasher film "Talahid," in which she played her first lead role.

During an interview at Gateway 2 Cinema in Araneta City on Sept. 5, Gillian decided to cut her hair short to get noticed with her new look finally.

"Feeling ko kapag naka-long hair ako, hindi ako nag-stand out. So I try to do the other na usually hindi ginagawa ng mga tao. So baka doon mag-standout ako," Gillian said.

Gillian added: "Sana magustuhan ng mga tao yung movie kasi every movie has a deeper meaning and message."

The actress expressed her belief that each project presents an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

"Hindi ko masasabi na comfortable ako sa kahit na anong project kasi bawat project is a challenge na hindi siya ganon kadali gawin talaga, kinikilala mo pa rin yung character," she added.

"Talahib" is one of the official entries to the 2024 Sinag Maynila Film Festival from Sept. 4-10. The awards night will be held at the Metropolitan Theater on Sept. 8.

Directed by Alvin Yapan, the movie also stars Kristoff Garcia, Joem Bascon, Jess Mendoza, Kate Alejandrino, Dax Alejandro, Angellie Sanoy, Timothy Castillo, Yam Mercado, Iyo Canlas, Mercedes Cabral, Sue Prado and Johnny Revilla. "Talahib' is produced by Feast Foundation and Est N8.

Synopsis

"Talahib" is a slasher film, in the tradition of the franchise A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), and other local massacre films. A ghost killer preys upon hapless victims who happen to pass by this talahiban (large weeds with razor-sharp edges) in an abandoned subdivision. 

Their bodies are always found asphyxiated before being disposed of in the same talahiban. The story is told from the point of view of PO2 Bong, the police investigator.

He does not believe in ghost killers; even though at one point he will have a close encounter with the killer, shooting him at close range, and slashing through the wild grass that bleeds. 

However, Bong begins to reassess his belief when he encounters a band of friends, all in their 20s or early 30s, conducting a spirit quest at the talahiban, or so they say.

The leader of the group is Mario. He is joined by Vernie, Paul, Patrick, Ria, and Joyce. As it turns out, this band of friends are children of a group of parents who killed the ghost killer (who used to be a hired assassin) and buried his body in the talahiban of that subdivision. 

Now, to stop the violence, the band of friends is trying to exhume the body. But the ghost killer, intent on continuing his killings even in the afterlife, will not let them. He enjoys killing too much. The band of friends will be killed off by the ghost killer one by one, leaving only Joyce behind. 

The movie will be mostly chase scenes among the bleeding grasses of the talahiban which seems to have a mind of its own.

To keep Joyce alive, Bong together with his police partner, PInsp. Roman, will encounter a mysterious character in Stephen, caught loitering in the talahiban. Bong thinks Stephen is only pretending to be mentally deranged to avoid suspicion. 

But as it turns out, Stephen is the son of a real estate mogul who used to hire the killer to do assassination jobs for him. Stephen will become the key to the origin story of the ghost killer.
The movie will be about the problem of forgiveness and the legacy of violence being passed on from parents to their children.