Mallari 2023

Shown in a nonlinear manner, the film tells the interlinked stories of three generations of the Mallari family: Juan Severino, Johnrey, and Jonathan, living in different time periods:

Juan Severino, accompanied by his mother Doña Facunda, arrives in Magalang to become its priest. While he is away, Facunda is turned into a manananggal by the church servants led by Maria Capac after she is lured into one of the latter’s clandestine occult rituals. When Severino discovers this, Maria tells him that Facunda is suffering from a terminal illness and can only be cured by consuming human flesh. Torn between damning himself and saving his mother, he agrees to become a murderer after his sinister alter ego urges him to rid society of delinquents. He then kills a corrupt landlord and two prostitutes and feeds their entrails to Facunda, who, unaware of her transformation and her son’s activities, recovers. As more murders occur, Magalang’s residents flee.

Later, a man resembling Severino appears to Facunda, claiming to be a future descendant. After warning that Severino will be remembered as a killer, he forces him to admit his murders and her being a manananggal. The man then scuffles with Severino before the Guardia Civil and a witness to the murders arrive and arrest Severino as the man suddenly disappears. In the commotion, Maria escapes with Facunda.

During the Hukbalahap Rebellion, Johnrey visits Magalang to make a documentary and stays at his ancestral residence. After encountering victims of an aswang attack which Johnrey’s boss dismisses as a CIA operation, he learns of a series of murders taking place in town. Suspecting a connection with his ancestor, Johnrey decides to investigate.

Johnrey dreams of going back in time to 1812 and encountering Severino, Doña Facunda, the ghosts of Severino’s victims, and a boy named Jonathan who claims he is his grandnephew from the future. Upon waking up and finding that he has in his possession Jonathan’s blanket, Johnrey realizes that they both have the ability of astral projection and time travel. Johnrey returns to 1812 to film Severino and Facunda, compiling two reels addressed to Jonathan.

Returning to his time, Johnrey encounters an elderly Maria Capac and his servant Conching, who is revealed to be her granddaughter, holding his wife Felicity hostage, along with an aged Doña Facunda, who refuses to eat human flesh since Severino’s arrest. Maria and Conching threaten to kill Felicity unless Johnrey agrees to become a vigilante and allows Facunda’s powers to be transferred to Felicity. After Facunda pleads with him to let her die, Johnrey swallows a black chick living inside her, while Facunda disintegrates into ashes. Johnrey transforms into a werewolf and kills Conching and Maria. Reverting to human form, Johnrey tells Felicity to bury him alive to end the curse. Afterward, Felicity makes a film to explain what happened.

After having premonitions about his fiancée Agnes, an adult Jonathan visits Magalang to try to prevent this from happening. He is accompanied by Lucas, the son of a family servant, and Lucas’ niece Amal, who tells Jonathan of his ancestors’ past. Following his arrival, a series of murders targeting delinquents are carried out by a figure dressed as a priest, raising suspicion on Jonathan. Jonathan confesses to Lucas that he suspects that it may be connected with Severino, and recalls his childhood dreams, adding that Lucas would soon attack Agnes.

Jonathan watches Johnrey’s films and learns about his psychic abilities. While helping Jonathan investigate his premonitions, Agnes learns that Lucas belongs to the occult-worshipping Alarcon family and that Lucas’ ancestor is Maria Capac. She later sees a blood-soaked Lucas flagellating himself before a statue of Severino, revealing him to be the killer. Fleeing to the Mallari residence, Agnes is stabbed by Lucas.

Jonathan returns to 1812 and scuffles with Severino, who denies his involvement in the future murders. Upon waking up, he is attacked by Lucas, who seeks to turn Jonathan into a vigilante in accordance with the Alarcon tradition. After killing Lucas, Jonathan comes across a dying Agnes as Felicity’s film plays, revealing that the chick remains inside Johnrey. Jonathan digs up Johnrey’s grave and, despite warnings from the spirits of Severino, his victims, and a still-living Johnrey against reviving the curse, decapitates Johnrey and transfers the chick to Agnes.

Sometime afterwards, Jonathan, Agnes, and Amal settle at the Mallari residence. Agnes chastises Jonathan for turning her into a monster, adding that she will be hungry at the full moon. Jonathan looks menacingly at the camera.