Banal 2019

Erika learns of a sacred mountain cure

Erika Villanueva learns from her friend Yella De Leon about a sacred mountain where devotees claim a miracle cure can heal all diseases. She worries about her terminally ill mother and resolves to seek the cure despite the danger. The revelation sets in motion a high-stakes quest with long odds.

Erika assembles her healing mission team

Erika convinces Richard Santos, Rithea Del Rosario, and Jesus De Andres to join the expedition. They agree, moved by hope for Erika’s mother and loyalty to Erika. The plan to trek toward the mountain begins to take shape.

The group begins the trek to the sacred mountain

The group sets out along rough trails toward the sacred mountain, driven by the belief that legends may be true. They face demanding terrain, uncertain weather, and the emotional weight of Erika’s urgent mission. The journey tests trust, stamina, and resolve.

Night possessions and violence strike the group

During the night on the mountain, the group is possessed by an unseen force except Erika. The possessed attack and injure Thea and Mac, leaving the others shaken and alarmed. The eerie event foreshadows deeper dangers awaiting them.

Yel goes missing; Mac and Thea are killed

The following morning, Yel disappears and Mac and Thea are found dead at the camp, victims of the mountain's malevolent forces. The tragedy raises the stakes and shatters the group's sense of safety. Erika and Rich are forced to confront a mystery and a growing threat.

Rich learns Erika's demonic role

Rich encounters a group of armed men who reveal Erika has been chosen as a demonic sacrificial offering to the God Ina, the Mother of Tumao. The revelation reframes their mission from a cure search to a fight against a perilous ritual. The group’s sense of purpose shifts in an instant.

Erika is captured by the cult and Yel reveals her affiliation

Erika is captured by members of the cult and learns that Yel is part of the cult and believes Erika to be 'pure' and worthy of sacrifice. The discovery deepens mistrust and raises the stakes for the remaining survivors. The ritual's looming deadline intensifies the urgency to escape.

The cult's conflict intensifies; Rich and Erika advance

Rich and Erika push toward the cult’s inner sanctum as armed factions clash around them. The confrontation disrupts the ritual and creates a chaotic battlefield on the mountain. Yel is injured in the fighting, signaling that the power struggle is tipping.

The decisive confrontation unfolds

A tense clash erupts between Erika, Rich, and the cult as the ritual nears its climax and rescuers arrive. They race to interrupt the rite and free Erika from the cult's control. Yel’s actions continue to complicate the outcome as she tries to control Erika's fate.

Erika sacrifices Yel to save her mother

Using a flare gun, Erika shoots Yel, burning her to death to prevent the sacrifice and to secure a chance to save her mother. The act is brutal and decisive, sealing the sacrifice’s doom and shifting the balance of power. Rich and Erika seize a fleeting moment of escape amid the chaos.

Erika and Rich are rescued by authorities

Authorities arrive and rescue Erika and Rich after the climactic confrontation. The survivors are taken to safety, but the cost of the mission is clear in their weary expressions and the missing friends. The mountain's hold remains, even as they begin the long process of recovery.