MANILA, Philippines – Despite heavy rains and an age-restricted rating, Star Cinema’s horror-suspense film "The Healing" is on its way to becoming only the third local movie to hit the P100-million box-office mark this year.
After its initial week in 140 theaters nationwide, the Vilma Santos-starrer has already earned P80 million at the box office, according to ABS-CBN’s film production arm Star Cinema.
The movie, which celebrates the Star for All Seasons’ 50 years in show business, managed to turn in a stellar financial performance despite heavy rains and being rated R-13 and R-18 (strictly for 13 years old and 18 years old, and above) by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
The Chito Rono-directed thriller also achieved the feat despite competition from the successful one-week run of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, as well as the much-awaited Hollywood film "The Dark Knight Rises."
In comparison, the Batman movie earned P98,865,593 during its first week in Philippine theaters, according to data from website Box Office Mojo.
Rave reviews
The Graded-A film by the Cinema Evaluation Board also received raves from industry personalities during its premiere.
“Kung ano ‘yung in-expect ko, ‘yun talagang na-deliver,” actress-host Kris Aquino said.
For her part, actress Angelica Panganiban said: “Ito talaga all the way, talagang gulatan. Hindi ko alam kung nakatulog ako nang maayos nung pag-uwi ko.”
“The whole time, ang-ingay nung mga tao. Tilian lang nang tilian. ‘Yung hinahanap nating gulat, takot, tili, quota,” host-comedian Vice Ganda said.
With only P20 million shy of reaching the P100 million mark, “The Healing” is poised to rank among Star Cinema’s “Unofficially Yours” and “Kimmy Dora: The Temple of Kiyeme” as the only local films to breach the achievement so far this year.
Starting July 27, “The Healing” will also be shown in theaters overseas for regular screening. Filipinos abroad can watch the suspense-thriller in North America, Guam, Canada and Papua New Guinea. – with a report from Gretchen Fullido, ABS-CBN News
source: abs-cbnnews.com
