When you hear a movie runs for two and a half hours, you usually worry it’s going to drag.
But Shake, Rattle and Roll: Evil Origins manages to avoid that trap.
It doesn’t feel plodding. It keeps your attention because it tries something new: for the first time in the franchise, there is a continuing story linking all three episodes.
It works because the treatment for each episode is distinct. You get different flavors of horror—from atmospheric dread to high-energy slasher to apocalyptic action.
Here is how the three stories stack up.
1775: A BROODING PAST
The first segment is "1775," a brooding tale about nuns in an isolated beaterio during the Spanish colonial period.
The premise is interesting.
The nuns are forced to deal with an unknown horror that weaponizes their own desires against them.
Carla Abellana anchors this segment. She is an SRR veteran who starred in top-tier past episodes like "Ulam" and "Punerarya," so she knows exactly how to handle this material.
However, this segment feels a bit incomplete. The script noticeably lacks a backstory for most of the characters. And without that connection, it’s hard to sympathize with them when they face their demise.
Despite that, the atmosphere is great and the death scenes are genuinely shocking,
The episode succeeds in scaring you, just that it doesn't make you hurt for the characters.
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2025: A BLOODY PRESENT
The second is "2025," a fast-paced slasher set in an underground club.
Here, a group of teens have to set aside their differences so they can escape a cult that wants to eliminate all of them.
This segment is the highlight of SRR: Evil Origins.
Everything here clicks. The music is pulsing and makes you want to dance, and the setting feels grand and larger-than-life.
The actors look like they are having fun. It features fan-favorite love teams JMFyang, JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith, and FranSeth, Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin.
They give enough fan service to make the crowd happy, and they also give distinct performances that let them stand out as individuals.
The supporting cast is just as good. Sassa Gurl leaves a mark as the comic relief.
Her jokes are always well-placed, perfectly easing the tension exactly when needed. Karina Bautista also has a surprising turn that you really have to see for yourself.
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2050: AN EXCITING FUTURE
The last segment is "2050," an action thriller set in an apocalyptic Manila ruled by monsters.
Here, a ragtag group of survivors has to work together to save the world.
This episode successfully goes for scale. The scenes of a rundown Manila, complete with dilapidated bridges and decomposing trains, are chilling.
It is unnerving to see the usually chaotic Metro Manila so empty.
The stark wasteland is the background for some intense action sequences featuring Richard Gutierrez, who portrays Rosdan.
Richard fits the role perfectly, continuing his journey as a stylish action star.
He has a solid team behind him with Dustin Yu, Ivana Alawi, and Matt Lozano.
All three manage to match Richard’s action prowess.
But surprisingly, there's another star who has the coolest action sequence. This SRR fights monsters here, and fans should see how she outsmarts many of them.
The Verdict
Ultimately, SRR: Evil Origins proves there is still so much life in this franchise.
It takes a big swing with its runtime and interconnected story, and for the most part, it connects.
It’s a bold experiment that manages to be a solid, entertaining return to form.
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