THE suspense-drama film “The Caretakers,” megged by director Shugo Praico and bankrolled by Lino Cayetano, Philip King and Praico’s Rein Entertainment, will be released in partnership with Regal Entertainment late this February.

The filmmakers are exceptionally proud the “The Caretakers” was one of the last projects approved by Regal matriarch Lily Monteverde before she passed on late last year.

Bringing the first partnership on the big screen of actresses Iza Calzado and Dimples Romana, the concept is very new for both, who are teaming up in a folk-horror flick.

“We do a lot of that, like ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ stories,” said Iza. “In ‘The Caretakers,” nature is a force that we really respect. Even as mothers, the power and all that energy, we can be proud about.”

At the recent media conference of director Shugo’s “The Caretakers,” there were noticeably sugar apple fruits (atis) on the table in front, where Iza Calzado and Dimples Romana recently met the entertainment press.

Curiously, the media people asked Iza and Dimples what’s the significance of the fruit to the story.

“I wish I can talk more about the atis, but it’s actually part of the mystery, the house and the story,” said Dimples. “Before there were other food around, our sustenance came from fruits. Those are our life.”

Without giving away the plot, Iza informed the fruit is part of the story. “I always call those fruits ‘nectar of the Gods,” said Iza. “Those are gifts of Mother Earth to us and we really enjoy it. That nourishes us. So it’s very symbolic in terms of taking care of us.”

Shot in a lush yet eerie backdrop of a rural property in San Miguel, Bulacan, “The Caretakers” centers on a fierce battle between two mothers – Audrey (Iza) and Lydia (Dimples) – over a piece of land.

Audrey, who hails from the city, arrives to claim the land that her family owns, while Lydia, the caretaker, fiercely protects the land her family owns for years.

What’s new about “The Caretakers,” when Iza and Dimples both started the project, it is the first collaboration of Rein Entertainment and Regal Films.

“Rein is knowns for internationally acclaimed content. They go outside the country and sell films abroad. Regal, meanwhile, is a legacy of a woman who was a visionary of someone telling stories about life.

“The Caretakers is the story of two mothers and what a better way to honor Mother Lily with a story like this,” said Iza. “She saw this before she passed on. This is a beautiful way to give tribute to Mother Lily.

“This is a collaboration of two producers – Rein Entertainment and Regal Films. The latter is one of the pillars in the industry. We know Regal to be making classic horror films in the industry that transcend generations.

“If you watch old Regal Films dating two or three decades, you will think they are still relevant to this day. Having a giant like Regal, with its tenure, taking the story by direct Shugo, with his fresh ideas.”

Direk Shugo has the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “Nananahimik ang Gabi” to his credit, with Ian Veneracion and Heaven Peralejo in the cast.

“I always look at the director with every film offer,” Iza admitted. “That’s a gamble. But when he has proven something already, you know the director can make the script come to life.”

Iza added, “I know Rein is very new, but it has proven its worth, not just being critically acclaimed. The company has been winning awards even abroad. The theme of this film touched my core. I still feel that this film has a way to tell the story of mothers.

“When I took on this project, I didn’t know yet that Regal was already part of it at that time when Rein Entertainment presented this to me. I was pleasantly surprised, thrilled and honored that Regal was on board since I had just done ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ with them last year.

“It’s really the collaboration that was new and exciting. We have new energy, new blood on the set at the helm of Regal Films. After the passing of Mother Lily, the ones taking charge of Regal now are Miss Roselle (Monteverde) and her son, Keith.

“Miss Roselle has been running the company for quite a while when Mother was no longer healthy and active. We all remember Mother Lily as a force of nature. This film is a way to honor Mother Earth, it’s a way to honor mothers and Mother Lily.

“When we talk stories about mothers, we forget the struggles and sacrifices that mothers do, all the protection, all the safety we think about. We want to elevate the quality of the content of Filipino films.”

Playdate of the film is slated February 26, the opening salvo of Rein Entertainment and Regal Films for 2025. Fresh stars join “The Caretakers” such as Althea Ruedas, Marco Masa, Ashley Sarmiento, Erika Clemente, Erin Espiritu, with Inka Magnaye and Jake Taylor introducing.

Rein Entertainment has fresh concept and ideas. Couple that with the legacy work of Regal Films. “The Caretakers” is an exciting film.

“They added content creators to be part of the film. They should not be a threat to us and we should not be a threat to them. We should be collaborating. I think we can learn from one another.

Last year, Iza had just completed “Shake, Rattle and Roll Extreme” for Regal. She has done a number of horror films in the past like her first with Yam Laranas’ “Sigaw” (“The Echo”) in 2004.

Iza was also in Topel Lee’s “Ouija” (“Séance”) in 2007 and “White House” (2010), Wenn V. Deramas’ “Maria Leonora Teresa” (2014) and Jun Lana’s “Haunted Mansion” (2015).

“I’m very grateful to be trusted again and again by Regal Films,” Iza said. “I’m very grateful to be working with Rein Entertainment with direk Shugo, who is now my director, director Lino Cayetano, Philip King and the whole Rein team.”

When Iza watched “The Caretakers” with her husband Ben Wintle, she remarked that the scoring is at par with other “world-class” horror films that she has seen from other countries.

“We need to be making more Filipino films for us to be better and be at par with the films of other countries,” Iza said. “We used to be the biggest in Asia. That is really my dream and that is really possible, if we are given the right budget.

“Economically, our budget versus Hollywood film is really night and day. I dream of us getting that kind of opportunity, perhaps government supported, but the public really needs to watch in the theaters. ‘The Caretakers’ is one of those films that is really a cinema experience.”

When it comes to the horror genre, Dimples, who is now a mother of three, is proud to be part of “The Caretakers.”

“When you are at this point in your life, you sort of shift priorities,” Dimples said. “You weigh everything. What will I trade with the time that I have with my family. When I saw the vision of director Shugo where he wants to take us and the film, with Regal, I believe in his concept.

“When it comes to this kind of genre, it’s always very important to take note I believe that our being Filipino adds up to this kind of stories. This is not something out of the ordinary when it comes to storytelling. The Filipino family is always included.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Leah C. Salterio