10 Aswang Movies You Need to Watch

Here are 10 aswang movies you shouldn’t miss!

Philippine horror films have always been a staple for movie goers. As much as foreign films, local horror movies have come a long way too in terms of cinematography and visual effects. However, the thing that sets local films apart from Hollywood movies is the richness in cultural themes.

In as early as 1932, Philippine cinema began to embrace horror films and many of which tackle native folklore. Filipino horror films almost always feature stories from local folklore like stories about aswangs, kapres, tiyanaks, and the like, which are part of Philippine culture and history.

Here are 10 aswang movies you shouldn’t miss!

Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B (2017)
​​Director: Prime Cruz
Starring: Ryza Cenon, Martin del Rosario, Cholo Barretto, Vangie Labalan

​Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B is one of the unique takes on the “manananggal” living within the busy streets of the city. Unlike all other Philippine folklore movies, the creature in this movie takes the role of the protagonist instead of the antagonist. It is one of the official film entries for the 2017 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
 
The story revolves around Jewel, a secretive young woman who lives in one run-down apartment. She meets Nico, a broken-hearted but kind and humble man who also resides in the same building. As their relationship turns to excitement, Jewel is now torn between loving him and saving him from herself.
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Maria Labo (2015)
​​Director: Roi Vinzon
Starring: Kate Brios, Rey 'PJ' Abellana, Jestoni Alarcon

In the early ‘90s, the urban legend of Maria Labo gained tremendous popularity especially in the areas of Iloilo and Capiz. Maria Labo is known as the scar-faced woman who wanders at night waiting to abduct children and eat them as meals. The popular urban legend was put into the big screen through the movie Maria Labo. ​
 
The story centers on Maria, a caring mother of two children who decided to work abroad as an OFW to support her family financially. In a tragic turn of events, Maria was returned to her family in the Philippines. However, she doesn’t seem to be herself anymore.

Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2 (2014)
Director: Erik Matti
Starring: Dingdong Dantes, Isabelle Daza, Joey Marquez, KC Montero, Lotlot de Leon

A sequel to the successful Tik-tik: The Aswang Chronicle, Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2 features a unique type of aswang known as “kubot.” A kubot is an aswang (usually female) who wanders in the night in the form of a large cluster of hair. With its long and thick hair, it strangles its victims and suffocates them by inserting the snake-like hair in the victim’s nose, ears, and mouth.

Armed with their thirst for revenge, a group of murderous creatures followed Makoy to the city to exact vengeance to the man who killed some of their kind.

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012)
Director: Erik Matti
Starring: Dingdong Dantes, Lovi Poe, Joey Marquez, Janice de Belen, Roi Vinzona

Read also: 10 Pinoy Horror Movies to Watch (Throwback Edition)

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles is probably one of the most successful aswang movies of all time. It grossed about P10,000,000 on its first day and secured the second spot on the Philippine box office on its premier showing. The film was particularly praised with its excellent cinematography, typical of an Erik Matti film, and the perfect cast to portray their roles.
 
Makoy travels to the province of her partner Sonia to woe her back. Discovering that she is pregnant, he is dedicated to convincing her wife to come back with him to the city. However, a group of hungry aswang has taken a liking to the pregnant woman. Makoy is now pushed to the edge to protect Sonia and her family from the ravenous aswangs.

Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang (2012)
Director: Richard V. Somes
Starring: Erich Gonzales, Derek Ramsay, Tetchie Agbayani

Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang is considered a period love story on Philippine folklore. The film is one of the top 20 grossing local films of 2012. Director Richard Somes started conceptualizing his idea of the movie after completing his first full-length horror script Yanggaw.
 
Set in the Japanese era in the Philippines, the movie centers on Corazon who, together with her husband, struggles to conceive a child. By joining a traditional rite dedicated to patron saints for fertility, she soon conceived. However, a terrible turn of events resulted in their child’s death. The town now faces the wrath of this mourning mother.
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Patient X (2009)
Director: Yam Laranas
Starring: Richard Gutierrez, Cristine Reyes, TJ Trinidad

Patient X portrays a not-so-typical storyline of an aswang captured by the police. Well, that’s a very interesting thing to witness. The movie provides ample jump scares and on-point musical scores that horror fans will be left screaming.
 
Lukas witnessed the murder of his family when he was very young. Now a fully-grown man and a doctor by profession, he returns to his hometown after 20 years to face his family’s murderers. He then discovers that these criminals are not even near the ordinary.
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Yanggaw (2008)
Director: Richard Somes
Starring: Ronnie Lazaro, Tetchie Agbayani, Joel Torre, Aleera Montalla

With a limited budget grant, Somes created a masterpiece drama-horror film that portrays a typical Filipino family faced with a not-so-typical ordeal: their daughter is turning into an aswang! Although working with so little budget grant, the movie has given a fresh interpretation to the local aswang belief. The film amassed a number of awards during the Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival 2008, including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Editing, Best Sound, and Audience Choice Award.
 
Set in a remote barrio, Yanggaw tells the story of a Amor, a girl who, for some reason, suddenly develops an unknown disease. As Amor’s family tries to heal her, strange occurrences happen in their neighborhood.
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Sa Piling ng Aswang (1999)
Directors: Peque Gallaga, Lore Reyes
Starring: Maricel Soriano, Gardo Versoza, Gina Alajar, Manilyn Reynes, Jason Salcedo, Junell Hernando

​Another one of those classic Philippine folklore films, Sa Piling ng Aswang stars the all-time horror queen Manilyn Reynes and the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano.
 
Determined to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her younger brother, Marines (Maricel Soriano) flies to the Island of Panay alone where her brother was last seen. On her way to a town, she runs into a group of students who are working on a research project to debunk witches in the town.
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Aswang (1992)
Directors: Peque Gallaga, Lore Reyes
Starring: Alma Moreno, Manilyn Reynes, Aiza Seguerra

​This movie seems to have the perfect aswang portrayal in a horror movie. The traditional aswang is given light in the form of shape-shifting, the primary trait of an aswang to lure its unsuspecting victims. A remake in this movie was made entitled "Aswang" in 2011 starring Lovi Poe and Paulo Avelino.
 
The story centers on Catlyn, a little girl who, with her yaya (nanny) and driver, travels to a remote barrio. As they were driving, they encounter strange happenings and brutal crimes only to find out that the barrio is actually attacked by a gore creature known as an “aswang.”

Shake, Rattle, and Roll 2: “Aswang”(1990)
Directors: Peque Gallaga, Lore Reyes
Starring: Manilyn Reynes, Ana Roces, Vangie Labalan, Rez Cortez

The Shake, Rattle, and Roll franchise has been the all-time favorite of Filipinos when it comes to horror films. The second installment in this anthology features three episodes in which the third episode tackles the Philippine folklore creature known as an “aswang.” The “aswang” episode strongly resembles, if not inspired, by the story of Teniente Gimo.
 
Portia was invited by her classmate Monica to celebrate a fiesta in a remote barrio in their province. She was treated with great hospitality until she discovers their gruesome secret.