‘KAHALILI’ is a dark and mysterious movie about pregnancy and surrogacy that streams on Vivamax starting August 18.
This is directed by: Bobby Bonifacio, Jr., the multi-talented filmmaker who previously did “Tahan”, “Bula”, “Salamat Daks” and the series “Sex Hub”.
So how did he come up with the concept of surrogacy in “Kahalili”?
“I’ve always been fascinated by pregnancy at kung ano ang mga pinagdaraanan ng isang babaeng buntis,” he says.
“This movie is more of psychological horror since it works around the mind of Stephanie as the lead character, Martha. This is a dark film like ‘Rosemary’s Baby’.”
He has worked with Micaella before in “Sex Hub” and now with her older sister, Stepanie. So which one is better?
“Naku, actually, pareho silang mahusay. Si Steph was assigned to me by Boss Vic del Rosario.
"Noong una, nalilito ako, I keep calling Steph as Mica. But both of them really prepare for the challenges of their roles and they deliver.
"They exceeded my expectations.”
Stephanie plays Martha who works as a helper in the farm house of a rich couple, Rod (Sid Lucero) and Isabel (Millen Gal).
Martha is surprised when she is asked to play an even more important role in the couple’s married life.
They want her to be the surrogate mother of their child, with Sid impregnating her.
But this surrogacy job will be more ritualistic and organic than scientific and technological.
Rod is attracted to Martha, so getting into her bed is not just a task, but also a forbidden pleasure.
He is in his 30s, and despite his mysterious aura, Rod is obedient when it comes to his wife’s wishes.
Meanwhile, Isabel, who is also about the same age as Martha, looks meek and fragile.
She is a religious fanatic who believes that a wife must be submissive to her husband.
But the truth is that she is the one who calls the shots in their household.
As expected, Martha gets pregnant, but what they didn’t expect is for her to develop an attachment to the baby in her womb.
Martha then becomes suspicious and starts to have this nagging feeling that Rod and Isabel have a mysterious secret and a sinister plot against her and the baby.
Things get more and more weird, as only the mind of a multi-talented director and rowing expert like Bobby Bonifacio can conjure.
As she fears for her life, Martha also recalls her dark past which she intends to keep as a secret from Rod and Isabel, no matter what.
“Kahalili” also stars is Victor Relosa and Mercedes Cabral. Available for streaming on August 18.
