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But Were You Scared? 👻

@butwereyouscared

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🎥 Sure it was great, but were you scared? 👻
🎬 Spoiler-free unless otherwise stated
🙋🏻‍♀️ @justinedelrow

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INSIDIOUS: OUT OF THE FURTHER (2026)

If you're an avid fan of the franchise like me, you probably feel fatigued by the previous installments that did not live up to the first two. But let me tell you, this one did justice — and I mean JUSTICE — to the first two movies that made us fall in love with Insidious in the first place. MR. JACOB CHASE I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOUR GAME 🥵

Jacob Chase clearly took notes from James Wan, and I don't mind at all. Wan himself said, "It reminded me of what I kinda did on the first film." Before watching the movie, I couldn't believe it was possible. But now, I get it — and I couldn't agree more.

If you ask me if this is the best film of the franchise, the answer is a firm no — but only because nothing can take the place of the first two. BUT, this one is definitely in the top 3, which says a lot already.

I watched it during today's midnight screening and I still have so many feelings (feelings of joy, mostly), so let me write the rest of this review in bullet points:

• I found myself wanting it to be a 2.5- to 3-hour film because I was just having SO. MUCH. FUN. (Sadly, it's just 1h 46m long.)

• The dialogue!!! Of this film!!! Was so clever and witty!!! It even had some lines that only true fans of the franchise will get and appreciate.

• CREEPY CREATURES/CHARACTERS. FINALLY!!! Do you guys remember those creepy doll-like creatures in The Further in the first movie? We get those and more.

• The storyline! I didn't know what to expect from the concept of a woman who can bring things from The Further to our world, but it worked. And it worked so goddamn well.

• I felt genuinely, GENUINELY scared while watching.

• Throughout the franchise, I sensed that they regretted what they did with Elise in the first movie because there's so much she could've done in the real world. But this movie made her fate in the first film feel so properly justified.

The moment the credits started rolling (and even now as I write this review 😂), I kept thanking the heavens for bringing justice back to this franchise I love so much. Finally, finally, finally!!! HAY THANK YOU TALAGA LORD

(1/2. Continued in the comments.) by @butwereyouscared

HEART EYES (2025)

Heart Eyes follows two coworkers who are mistaken as a couple and are therefore targeted by a masked k1ll3r who k1ll§ couples on Valentine's Day.

I'm always game to watch a fun cat-and-mouse thriller. I didn't know what to expect from this movie, but I'm glad it did not disappoint. It was a fun little rainy afternoon movie actually!

I wasn't very impressed by the acting, specifically by Olivia Holt (who played Ally) and Gigi Zumbado (who played her friend Monica), but it's easy to get past that as you focus on the thrill. The mix of romance and comedy and thriller made this movie a pretty enjoyable watch.

My only concern is that the movie didn't really give me enough time to get to know the characters, so there wasn't much emotional weight behind the k1ll3r reveal. It just made me say "Ahhh, okay. Cool." 😂

Still, I had fun — which is really all I look for in a cat-and-mouse chase.

Heart Eyes is on HBO Max Philippines. by @butwereyouscared

LEE CRONIN'S THE MUMMY (2026)

Lee Cronin's The Mummy is about Katie (Natalie Grace), who gets abducted by a strange woman and is found eight years later.

If there's one thing this movie impressed me with, it was the prosthetics. The way Katie looked was so creepy that it was enough for me to say yes if you ask me if I was scared. The funny thing, though, is I wasn't very fond of most of the cast's acting. The prosthetics and effects were really what made this movie work.

I found myself saying "eww" and "yuck" several times during the film too, so that counts for something.

The ending wasn't as impactful as I'd hoped, but overall, it's a decent Friday night watch. Not terrible, but definitely not the best.

It's now available on HBO Max (Philippines). by @butwereyouscared

DARK WATER (2005)

This was a pleasant surprise — I can't believe I didn't watch it sooner. I guess I was a bit thrown off because many people referenced this movie while discussing a 2013 true crime case (which I won't mention here to avoid spoiling the film).

Dark Water is about Dahlia (Jennifer Connelly) and her daughter Cecilia (Ariel Gadel) who move into an old apartment and discover dark water leaking through the ceiling. I love movies with simple premises because they can focus their energy on compelling storytelling, which I think this movie did.

What I liked about Dark Water was the effective buildup. It didn't rely on corny jump scares or visuals (except for the water scenes at Cecilia's school, which might just be her imagination) but instead focused on subtle hints and eerie stories she tells.

A specific moment toward the end genuinely gave me the creeps, thanks to the unsettling tension before the full reveal.

Overall, Dark Water is a slow burn done right: atmospheric, understated, and surprisingly emotional. I recommend.

It's on Disney+ Philippines! by @butwereyouscared

In this episode, Grimcast talks to Justine of But Were You Scared? By day she does content and copy for an IT company and on the side, she’s also an improv artist with Gag Improv. Check out her reviews on all things spooky over on Instagram via @butwereyouscared 👻

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Happy Halloween my loves! I know it’s been forever and a half but good things come to ghosts and ghouls who wait. Welcome to Season ♾️ of Grimcast Manila: Grimcast Forever. For our 8th season, check out 8 episodes full of creepy tales from the most awesome guests @yvette_tan , @budjette , @psychocow , @butwereyouscared , @chelsea.jpec , @para_normalpodcast , @tsaiteelatte , and @thereddoorpodcastph . Listen to tales about ghosts making sexytime sounds (ikr), duwende tribes, the ghosts of Intramuros, creepy tales from Cavite, angry tree spirits, and doppelgänger officemates.

Let me know which stories are your favorite in the comments! Do you have any stories of your own or guests you wanna hear on the show? I’m cooking up something fun to tide you over between seasons so send over your personal experiences to grimcastmanila@itsabigbaby.com or DM me on ig @grimcastmnlpod and stay tuned.

Thanks for sticking around, you guys. I really appreciate it <3 Blessings to you and yours this All Hallows Eve 🎃

#grimcastmanila #horrorpodcast #ghoststories #ghosts #halloween #spookytales #manila #philippines #foryou #horror #horrorstories #creepy by @butwereyouscared

Happy Halloween my loves! I know it’s been forever and a half but good things come to ghosts and ghouls who wait. Welcome to Season ♾️ of Grimcast Manila: Grimcast Forever. For our 8th season, check out 8 episodes full of creepy tales from the most awesome guests @yvette_tan , @budjette , @psychocow , @butwereyouscared , @chelsea.jpec , @para_normalpodcast , @tsaiteelatte , and @thereddoorpodcastph . Listen to tales about ghosts making sexytime sounds (ikr), duwende tribes, the ghosts of Intramuros, creepy tales from Cavite, angry tree spirits, and doppelgänger officemates.

Let me know which stories are your favorite in the comments! Do you have any stories of your own or guests you wanna hear on the show? I’m cooking up something fun to tide you over between seasons so send over your personal experiences to grimcastmanila@itsabigbaby.com or DM me on ig @grimcastmnlpod and stay tuned.

Thanks for sticking around, you guys. I really appreciate it <3 Blessings to you and yours this All Hallows Eve 🎃

#grimcastmanila #horrorpodcast #ghoststories #ghosts #halloween #spookytales #manila #philippines #foryou #horror #horrorstories #creepy by @butwereyouscared

THE CONJURING: LAST RITES (2025)

It took a while before I could finish this review because I couldn't find the words (COULDN'T FIND THE RIGHT WORDS????).

While watching, I was trying to find the right balance between lowballing my expectations and setting them a little too high. But I love The Conjuring Cinematic Universe so much that I couldn't help but search for the magic that I saw in the first two The Conjuring films. Unfortunately, while I did find a little magic, it was only half-baked. I know — the first two were directed by James Wan, and I should have known better than expect this to be as polished as a Wan film. But this is the FINAL movie, and I wanted to give Michael Chaves a chance.

Don't get me wrong — if you ask me if I was scared, I'd still say yes. There were jump scares that took me by surprise, and a scene near the end had me all creeped out. Don't expect to see a lot of that though. If I were to put numbers to it, I'd say 60% of the scares were predictable, 10% were unpredictable, and 30% were just plain corny.

Nonetheless, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have my heart. Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy as Judy and Tony Spera were also a really nice touch. I was satisfied with the ending, and it even made me go "awww" and "OH MY GOD!!!! 😍" (iykyk).

I was scared, yes, but only briefly. Whether or not I recommend it depends on the kind of viewer you are:

• If you have a low tolerance and just want to get a decent scare: I recommend
• If you're a huge fan of The Conjuring movies, regardless of your tolerance: I recommend
• If you have a high tolerance, want a good scare, but didn't really follow the franchise: I suggest you skip it 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm grateful for the 12 years we've had with these movies. Now can we get a new James Wan-directed horror please?

P.S. I made a mini vlog?? reel??? about my experience watching the midnight screening. Check it out if you haven't yet! by @butwereyouscared

WEAPONS (2025)

If you're just here to know if it was good, let me save you some time: IT WAS SO GOOD. SO SO GOOD.

I remember seeing a teaser video a few months ago about the kids that went missing, but I didn't think the movie would be this big. What I appreciate about their teasers is they seem legit, but not *real* enough for you to think it's a real-life news report (I mean no one really wants the boy who cried wolf).

This movie was directed by Zach Cregger who also directed Barbarian, and both movies gave me the same thoughts: "I love this but it also means it's going to be so hard to find something this good again. 😩"

I usually can't stand slow-paced movies, but this one had so much thrill (Yes, it was slow AND thrilling) that you can barely feel the pace. Every scene was both an adventure and a puzzle piece completing the picture. As someone with a short attention span, I almost always lose focus when watching movies. But for this one, I COULDN'T LOOK AWAY. The scenes were really creepy, and the jump scares were so beautifully done. They weren't corny at all.

I loved seeing Sara Paxton (who's married to the director, apparently!) and Justin Long. They only had minor roles, but it was nice to see them as some of the familiar faces in this movie.

I'm not used to a full movie theater anymore, so I was a little annoyed when I saw a lot of people coming in. But watching in the cinema with a lot of people turned out to be a treat! People were screaming, laughing, and saying "oh my god," "oh sh*t," and "what the f*ck" 5 times a minute. 😂

Honestly, though, I can understand why some people didn't like it. The ending was a little abrupt, and there wasn't any outright explanation for why the antagonist did what they did or how they even got to that position. But I'm guessing that's just Zach Cregger's style. Some things don't need an explanation. They're just what they are — and for a movie with this much thrill, I don't really mind. Zach Cregger is a name I'm going to remember from now on.

Guys, don't miss this. Watch it on the big screen if you can! 💯 by @butwereyouscared

MIRRORS (2008)

Okay, first things first: This movie was pretty long. And slow. It really dragged in parts, especially for a story this straightforward. 😅 I wouldn't recommend this on a rainy weeknight after work. The plot was intriguing though — an ex-cop starts a security job at a burnt-down department store and discovers that the mirrors hold more than just reflections.

If I'd seen this as a kid, I probably would've been so fascinated by that ending. For an adult, it didn't hit as hard — but I can still recognize a good ending when I see one.

Only the mirror scene with Michael (Cameron Boyce †) actually scared me, but it was enough for me to say yes if asked if I was scared.

Would I recommend this? Sure — just make sure you have the attention span for it.

You can watch it on Disney+ Philippines :) by @butwereyouscared

LILIM (2025)

This wasn't my first time watching a film by Mikhail Red. Like the other Red films I've seen, this one hit the same three notes: madilim, mabagal, and visually maganda. 😂

I wasn't very impressed by most of the acting. I'm not sure if it's because it was set in the '80s and the actors had to act "old school," but the acting didn't feel natural for the most part.

The film was visually beautiful, but beauty alone couldn't carry a story. The connection between the orphanage and Issa's (Heaven Peralejo) life felt so forced, and the ending tried harder to shock than to satisfyingly piece things together. There's a good story buried there, but it never really found its footing.

The pacing was so slow, you could probably condense this into a 5-minute short film. Tbh, I watched it twice in one day because I fell asleep the first time. 😂

I finished the movie with more questions than answers, feeling unsatisfied to say the least. But! The reviews out there have been 50/50, so I won't discourage you from seeing it. Check it out and let me know what you think.

It's now streaming on Netflix! by @butwereyouscared

FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES (2025)

I'm a little late to the Bloodlines party, but WOW OH WOW what a great installment!

This new premise was such a refreshing take. It didn't follow the usual Final Destination formula where the survivors of an accident d1e one by one. It explores the bloodline angle which, I think, is really smart because it adds a deeper emotional layer to the story. Instead of just a group of survivors brought together by fate, the connection is rooted in family.

The suspense in this movie also had a playful edge. Just when you think *this* is the moment someone's about to d1e, it misleads you and hits you with something unexpected. That kind of misdirection kept me on my toes the entire time.

It was such a treat to see Tony Todd again. What stood out to me was how his character was written. Bludworth's appearance was meaningful, not just a cameo for nostalgia's sake.

There were also some clever little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the movie that longtime Final Destination fans will definitely appreciate. It was a nice reward for those who have been along for the ride since the beginning.

It might be a little too late to recommend this, but if it's still showing in cinemas, you should definitely catch it. It's 100% worth the watch on the big screen. 🫶🏻 by @butwereyouscared