Mysterious resort haunts visitors in Star Cinema’s “Villa Estrella”

July 7, 2009 - PRLog -- On the occasion of TFC’s 15th and Star Cinema’s 16th anniversaries, ABS-CBN International’s Starry Starry Store brings to the U.S. four of the hottest and brightest young stars in the Philippines via Star Cinema’s teen horror flick for the summer called, Villa Estrella.

Starring Jake Cuenca, Shaina Magdayao, Maja Salvador (who were among the top celebrities in the recently held blockbuster Star Magic World Tour Concerts in California) and Geoff Eigenmann, the film will screen in San Francisco and San Diego starting July 10 and in Los Angeles-Cerritos starting July 17.

Encouraged by the enthusiastic domestic and international reception to previous thrillers like Feng Shui, Sukob and T2, Star Cinema decided to venture anew into the horror-mystery-suspense genre.  The film outfit found the perfect director to do the job: Rico Maria Ilarde.  The son of 60s radio and TV icon Eddie Ilarde, this De La Salle alumnus and California film school graduate’s filmography lists several horror-suspense-fantasy films that include Sa Ilalim ng Cogon which competed at the Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre Fantasy Film Festival, the Aquarium episode in the 7th edition of the long-running horror franchise, Shake, Rattle & Roll, and Altar which won Best Picture at the international film festivals in Rotterdam and Vancouver and just last June, topped Uruguay’s Montevideo Fantastic Film Festival which features science fiction and horror films.

What mystery surrounds Villa Estrella?  People who visited the place were never found again.

“The movie is actually the story of a woman disturbed by recurring dreams,” says Ilarde.  “The main thrust of the movie is trying to uncover what these dreams are all about.”

That woman is Ana (played by Shaina Magdayao) who has been bothered by nightmares about people being killed.  The twist begins when Ana and her friends, Alex (Jake Cuenca), Dennis (Geoff Eigenmann) and Giselle (Maja Salvador) wander into the dilapidated Villa Estrella, unknowingly diving into the resort’s web of mysteries.  They discover that the villa houses spirits, tormented souls from the past who are out to exact vengeance.  Will the four friends be able to escape unscathed or will they suffer the same fate of the spirits that lurk in the villa?

Highlights to watch out for in the movie include Ilarde’s unique treatment of the most terrifying moments and the breathtaking underwater scenes of Magdayao and Salvador which were shot in Pansol, Laguna.  The actresses had to undergo professional swimming lessons to be able to act while being submerged continuously.

“Summer is a season of action and thrills and these are what we are offering to all fans of Filipino films by way of Villa Estrella,” said Kerwin Du, ABS-CBN North America’s head of theatricals.  “This film is packed with enough suspense, twists and turns to keep moviegoers on the edge of their seats.”

Villa Estrella also stars John Arcilla, Ronnie Lazaro, Celine Lim, Empoy, Rubi-Rubi, with the special participation of John Estrada and Liza Lorena.

The screening schedule is as follows:

SAN FRANCISCO (July 10-16)
UA Stonestown Twin
501 Buckingham Way
San Francisco, CA 94132

SAN DIEGO (July 10-16)
UA Horton Plaza
475 Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101

LOS ANGELES-CERRITOS (July 17-23)
Cerritos Stadium Cinema
12761 Towne Center Drive
Cerritos, CA 90701

For more information, please visit www.abs-cbnglobalmovies.com or call 1.800.227.9676.

# # #

ABS-CBN International's flagship product is The Filipino Channel (TFC). ABS-CBNi’s portfolio includes teleport, telecommunication, retail, theatricals, money remittance, cargo forwarding services and community support. Visit www.abs-cbnglobal.com.