Malas: Sumpa ng Buwan is based on an observation made following an analysis of the antagonists of Filipino Horror: why are the monsters almost always women? From love-scorned White Ladies to hungry Manananggals to otherworldly Engkantos, there's no shortage in female-coded monstrosities in the genre.
Our research led us to discover a pattern behind these tropes that goes beyond giving audiences a good scare, and finds itself rooted in Philippine History.
These female monsters exist prominently within our folktales such as the Sirena, Batibat, down to our local urban legends, like the White Lady. Yet, when women are discussed in film, they are often characterized as victims in the narrative.
Despite their beastly appearance, the monsters we see on the big screen are reflections of the reality we live. It takes reference from the real-world dynamics and roles that women are often expected to fulfill. And if our media portrays those who break the norm as monstrous, what does that say about the way we treat women in our own society?
