What Is Tiyanaks About?
The premise of Tiyanaks in 343 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the quiet outskirts of a Filipino town, a group of college friends sets out for a Holy Week retreat, eager to balance their academic lives with a traditional pause from the world. Their journey is shepherded by Professor Earl, a mythology scholar whose cautionary words about old legends linger like an unfinished prayer. As the convoy moves farther from the bustling campus, the landscape shifts into a hushed countryside that feels both sacred and unknowingly precarious, suggesting that the very soil may hold stories older than the rituals the students intend to observe.
Among the travelers are the outspoken Shiela, the thoughtful Rina, the skeptical Christian, and the pragmatic Kerwin, each bringing a distinct flavor to the tight‑knit circle. The group’s destination—a modest, isolated house—introduces two more inhabitants: Mildred, a weary mother whose demeanor hints at untold hardships, and her quiet son Biboy, a child whose calm eyes seem to watch the world from a different angle. The juxtaposition of youthful curiosity against seasoned restraint creates a subtle tension that underpins every interaction, as the friends grapple with the thin line between camaraderie and the unknown.
Nightfall brings unsettling dreams for Shiela, filled with the echo of a child‑like presence and the silhouette of a foreboding old woman. The atmosphere thickens with whispered folklore and the faint scent of incense, reminding the quartet that myth can seep into reality when the veil thins. The group’s collective excitement gradually yields to a lingering sense of dread, each creak of the old floorboards and distant rustle of foliage amplifying the feeling that something unseen watches their every move.
Amid this charged environment, the students find themselves questioning the very nature of the warning Professor Earl gave them. Their curiosity, paired with an instinctual need to protect one another, sets the stage for a series of choices that could demand more than just courage. In the shadows of the retreat, the line between belief and reality begins to blur, urging the group toward a reckoning that may test the limits of faith, friendship, and sacrifice.
What Happens in Tiyanaks?
The complete story of Tiyanaks, from the first scene to the last, in 207 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
A school organization sets off on a Holy Week retreat, led by their religion professor Professor Earl. As the trip unfolds, they realize they have been misdirected and, with few options left, must spend the night in a desolate house where only a mother, Mildred, and her son, Biboy, live.
The boy has three playmates who grow jealous when Biboy declines to join them in play, and their jealousy sharpens into a vengeful resolve. Nights later, the children reveal their true form as tiyanaks, beings with elemental powers of water, air, and earth, and they begin to attack the group, killing and disabling members one by one until only the professor, Mildred, Biboy, and a handful of students remain.
The mother dies when a tiyanak bites her while defending her son. The students manage to kill two of the tiyanaks with holy relics, but they cannot finish off the last one. The professor proposes a baptism-like solution, submerging the final tiyanak in the pool to end it.
Days later, the survivors host a small gathering; Shiela checks on Biboy, who has contracted a fever. When they seek answers, Biboy’s eyes flare with fire and his head becomes engulfed in flames, revealing that he himself is a tiyanak.
Tiyanaks Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
11 key events in the order they happen, from “Retreat kicks off” to “Biboy's true form revealed”. 11 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Retreat kicks off
A school organization departs for a Holy Week retreat led by their religion professor, expecting guidance and introspection. The group prepares for spiritual activities and bonding during the trip. However, they soon realize their direction or purpose has been misdirected, hinting at trouble ahead.
Where:School retreat site
- 2
Stuck at a desolate house
After wandering, the group ends up at a desolate house where they are told only a mother, Mildred, and her son Biboy live. With nowhere else to go, they decide to stay the night and regroup. The uneasy quiet sets in as they settle in for the unexpected lodging.
Where:Desolate house
- 3
Biboy's jealous playmates
Biboy is accompanied by three playmates who grow jealous when he declines to join their games. The resentment toward the newcomers escalates as they plot revenge. The tension foreshadows the danger looming over the group.
Where:Mildred's house
- 4
Transformation begins
Over the following nights, Biboy's playmates transform into tiyanaks, taking on elemental powers of water, air, and earth. The supernatural change marks a turning point as the hosts become targets for the threats. The group braces for what comes next.
When:Night 2 Where:Mildred's house
- 5
First encounters and casualties
The tiyanaks launch their assault on the group, picking off or wounding members one by one. The professor, the students, and Biboy's mother scramble to defend themselves, realizing they are outmatched by the supernatural attackers. The tension rises as the numbers dwindle.
When:Night 2 Where:Mildred's house
- 6
Mildred dies defending Biboy
Mildred sacrifices herself during the attack when a tiyanak bites her while shielding Biboy. Her death removes a shield of protection for the remaining survivors and deepens the group's resolve to fight back. The loss leaves Biboy vulnerable and unsettles the others.
When:Night 3 Where:Mildred's house
- 7
Relics kill two tiyanaks
The students manage to slay two of the tiyanaks using holy relics, offering a glimmer of hope amid the chaos. The remaining tiyanak continues to threaten the survivors, showing that the threat is not yet ended. The group presses on with a mix of faith and fear.
When:Night 3 Where:Mildred's house
- 8
Baptism by pool ends the threat
The professor proposes baptizing the last tiyanak by submerging it in the house pool, a ritual that proves fatal for the creature. The act of baptism is presented as the decisive method to end the haunting. With the pool drained of threat, the immediate danger subsides.
When:Night 3 Where:House pool
- 9
Quiet after the storm
Days later, the survivors try to return to normal life and hold a small party at the house. The memory of the attack lingers, but some sense of safety returns as they navigate the new reality. They attempt to restore routine amid the recent horrors.
When:Day 4 Where:Mildred's house
- 10
Biboy shows fever and strange signs
During the gathering, Sheila checks on Biboy, who has contracted a fever and seems unsettled. The group attributes his illness to the recent events, but concern grows as his condition worsens. The mood shifts from celebration to mounting unease.
When:Day 4 Where:Mildred's house
- 11
Biboy's true form revealed
As they try to understand what happened, Biboy's eyes flare with fire and his head becomes engulfed in flames, revealing him as a tiyanak. The horrifying reveal confirms that the terror endured was not over. The survivors face the final threat now embodied by the boy they took in.
When:Evening Where:Mildred's house
Who Are the Main Characters in Tiyanaks?
4 characters, among them Professor Earl (TJ Trinidad), Shiela (Rica Peralejo) and Biboy (Nash Aguas): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- PE
Professor Earl (TJ Trinidad)
Played by TJ Trinidad
The religion professor leading the Holy Week retreat. He guides the group through the crisis, balancing concern for students with the need to confront the threat. When the danger intensifies, he weighs drastic measures, including the pool baptism idea, testing his leadership and faith under pressure.
- 👨🏫 Teacher
- ✝️ Religious Leader
- 🧭 Rational
- S(
Shiela (Rica Peralejo)
Played by Rica Peralejo
A student among the group who shows concern for Biboy and the other kids. She becomes a stabilizing presence as fear grows, attempting to maintain calm and support within the group.
- 👩🎓 Student
- 🕊️ Compassionate
- B(
Biboy (Nash Aguas)
Played by Nash Aguas
Mildred’s son who is initially left out by his playmates. Jealousy drives the attackers, and Biboy’s character becomes central to the crescendo of danger. He is ultimately revealed to be a tiyanak, turning a child into the focal point of the horror.
- 🧒 Child
- 👹 Monster
- M(
Mildred (Lotlot De Leon)
Played by Lotlot De Leon
The mother living in the desolate house who defends her son. She sacrifices herself when a tiyanak bites her, illustrating maternal protection in the face of mortal danger.
- 👩🦰 Mother
- 🛡️ Protector
Where and When Is Tiyanaks Set?
Tiyanaks is set in Holy Week retreat site and desolate house (Holy Week). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Holy Week
The events unfold during Holy Week, a period marked by religious reflection and rituals. The retreat atmosphere amplifies the moral stakes as danger arrives under the cover of night. As the tiyanaks reveal themselves, the survivors must navigate fear, faith, and survival until the end.
Where
Holy Week retreat site, desolate house
A school organization travels for a Holy Week retreat and ends up staying the night in a desolate house inhabited by Mildred and her son Biboy. The isolated setting heightens tension as fear creeps in and the group confronts an unknown danger. The house becomes the battleground where tiyanaks emerge and terrorize the students and their guide.
- 🏚️ Abandoned House
- ⛪ Holy Week Setting
- 🌌 Isolated Location
What Are the Themes of Tiyanaks?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Survival, Monsters and Religious Ritual.
-
01
Survival
Characters are pushed to endure a lethal threat that erodes safety and trust. Resources are scarce and choices become a matter of life and death. The crisis tests leadership, courage, and the will to protect others, even in the face of overwhelming odds. The culmination hinges on decisive actions to outlast the danger.
-
02
Monsters
The tiyanaks are revealed as transformed children wielding elemental powers of water, air, and land. They silently infiltrate the group, attacking one by one and redefining threat as something familiar turned deadly. Their evolving threat drives the plot and heightens the horror. The final confrontations hinge on understanding their true nature.
-
03
Religious Ritual
Faith and ritual become practical tools against supernatural menace. Holy relics are used to kill two tiyanaks, showing sacred objects as sources of protection. The professor proposes baptizing the last tiyanak by submerging it in the pool, turning belief into a perilous method of resolution. The crisis tests what faith can endure when human life is at stake.
-
04
Family
Mildred’s protective bond with her son Biboy anchors the group’s resolve amid chaos. Her sacrifice—dying defending Biboy—underscores the cost of family loyalty. Biboy’s later reveal as a tiyanak intensifies the tension between kinship and monstrosity. The survivors’ efforts are framed by the struggle to protect family in the face of monstrous threat.
What Kind of Film Is Tiyanaks?
Dark in tone, with variable pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Variable
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
An intensely dark and claustrophobic horror film where a group's retreat descends into a desperate fight for survival against mythological creatures, marked by mounting paranoia and grim sacrifices.
- tense
- claustrophobic
- ominous
- fearful
- supernatural horror
- paranoid
- supernatural threat
- group survival
- filipino folklore
- religious ritual
Content notes: supernatural violence, child death, child endangerment, graphic death.
Quiz
How well do you remember Tiyanaks? Test yourself on the story.
