Shake, Rattle, & Roll Extreme (dir. Jerrold Tarog, Joey De Guzman, and Richard Somes, 2023) – **** – Shake, Rattle, & Roll Extreme (2023) represents the latest installment in the enduring horror franchise, Shake, Rattle, and Roll. Continuing the tradition of its predecessors, it consists of three short films that explore various tropes within Filipino horror.
In the first segment, Glitch, viewers are introduced to the trope of demonic infestation and oppression. Departing from the conventional psycho-social interpretation, Glitch showcases a demonic entity capable of inflicting physical harm on both spaces and bodies. The demon lurks in the shadows, poised to attack any unsuspecting characters. One particularly intriguing aspect of this episode is its use of the internet as a conduit for encountering the demon. Drawing upon the concept of cursed websites (see discussion by Chief Catholic Exorcist Fr. Syquia), the film explores the digital realm as a gateway for demonic entities. However, the portrayal of the demon itself lacks depth, revealing a lack in the film’s research compared to James Wan’s Conjuring series, which depicts more convincingly Catholic demonic possessions.
The following episode, Mukbang, emerges as a stronger segment than its predecessor. With its contemporary flair, it resonates particularly well with Gen Z audiences. This segment offers a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes lives of social media influencers as they converge for a collaboration project in a house teeming with otherworldly entities. Drawing on underground dwelling mythology and the concept of body snatchers, Mukbang taps into one of the oldest folkloric elements—cannibalism. I think the downside for this episode is it did not sustain the mode of the creepiness of the dungeon, since it focused on the social media aspect of the story.
The standout episode, for me, is the zombie-slasher segment titled Rage, starring Jane De Leon. Drawing inspiration from Western folklore, Rage reimagines the zombie apocalypse with a virus of extraterrestrial origin fueling the zombies’ rage. Unlike the two other segments in Shake, Rattle, & Roll Extreme, Rage is different in its depiction of a dystopian world. Although Glitch and Mukbang concentrate mainly on supernatural themes set in contemporary contexts, Rage carries the viewers across a post-apocalyptic landscape built by the horrors of zombie infection.
On the contrary to these familiar environments that are associated with Glitch and Mukbang within which they occur, Rage takes place in a totally different reality marked by chaos, hopelessness and struggle for life. This shift enhances both horror genre’s inherent tension and dread as well as augmenting depth to the narrative.
In addition it is not just an imaginary backdrop of the story but it is an integral part of it too. Thus through dilapidated landscapes, deserted structures and remnants of a community lost, one can see how desperate their situation really was. The bleakness of the setting mirrors the internal turmoil experienced by the protagonists as they confront the existential threat posed by the zombie horde.
Shake, Rattle, & Roll Extreme (2023) continues the franchise’s legacy of exploring diverse horror tropes within the Filipino context. While each segment has its strengths and weaknesses, the anthology as a whole offers an engaging and thought-provoking viewing experience for horror enthusiasts.
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OMNITUDO 