Why Rico Ilarde is called The Horror Director

It was Jaws, the Steven Spielberg classic breath-taker, that changed the course of his life.

“I was a kid when I saw it,” recalled Rico Ilarde, director of Villa Estrella, the suspense-thriller that marks Star Cinema’s 16th anniversary which is opening today nationwide, “and it left a great impact on my life. I told myself, ‘When I grew up, I will have the pleasure of scaring people just like Spielberg’.”

So instead of following in the foosteps of his father, former Sen. Eddie Ilarde, to an “on-cam” career (spanning radio, television and movies) and later politics, direk Rico opted to take another path — that is, pursuing an “off-cam” career “scaring” people. 

“I look at movies as a public nightmare and the sheer terror of waking up gives you a different kind of pleasure,” admitted Rico as a way to explain his penchant for doing horror films and his love for scaring moviegoers out of their wits, such as what he’s doing in Villa Estrella, written by Joel Mercado, Adolf Alix Jr. and JP Abellana, and starring four of today’s hottest young stars: Jake Cuenca, Shaina Magdayao, Geoff Eigenmann and Maja Salvador.

“I don’t remember the first horror film that I saw but I did grow up on suspense-thrillers,” continued direk Rico, “and I find them very cathartic. You come out of the two-hour experience cleansed, feeling light, even if it means being frightened. That was how I felt when I saw Jaws even if I hardly slept a wink after I saw it. For a while, I would dare go near the sea.”

There was no stopping Rico from becoming like Spielberg and his other favorite directors — Alfred Hitchcock, Brian de Palma and Roman Polanski. “I’ve seen almost all their films.”

After graduating from La Salle High School, he went to the California College of Arts and Craft (now simply known as California College of Arts) in Oakland, California, to take a course in Film-Video.

He embarked on a directing career in 1999 with the Regal Films action-horror flick Dugo ng Birhen, starring Monsour del Rosario and Klaudia Koronel, followed in quick succession by the surreal-horror adventure Ang Babaing Putik, also with Klaudia Koronel and Carlos Morales; the indie film Sa Ilalim ng Cogon, starring Julia Clarete and Yul Servo, which competed at the Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre Fantasy Film Festival in Argentina; the seventh edition of the long-running Regal franchise Shake, Rattle & Roll (the Aquarium episode starring Ara Mina and Ogie Alcasid); and another indie film (for Cinema One), Altar, starring Zanjoe Marudo and Dimples Romana, which won Best Picture at the filmfests in Rotterdam and Vancouver (and later shown at the Montevideo Fantasy Film Festival).

According to direk Rico, Villa Estrella is another dark journey into the unknown. It’s about four friends — Jake, Shaina, Geoff and Maja — who wander into a villa which is wrapped in mysteries. Villa Estrella is the latest addition to the roster of Star Cinema suspense-thrillers that also include Feng Shui and Sukob, both topbilled by Kris Aquino; Wag Kang Lilingon; and T2 (starring Maricel Soriano).

“I enjoy working with young actors because they are fresh,” said direk Rico. “They are like a clean slate on which you can write anything.”

Here’s what he said about Villa Estrella’s four young stars:

• Jake: “A pleasure to work with. He has been getting good reviews for his work in the ABS-CBN soap Tayong Dalawa. Villa Estrella will confirm his acting prowess.”

• Shaina: “She has so much range and flexibility. Her role is very physical and she comes up to the challenge.”

• Geoff: “He has the pedigree and obviously he inherited not only his parents (Gina Alajar and Michael de Mesa)’s good looks but also their immense acting talents.”

• Maja: “The film’s core is built around her character and her fans will be happy with the result. Like Geoff, may pinagmanahan siya, she being a Salvador (daughter of the late Ross Rival).”

Villa Estrella also stars John Arcilla, Ronnie Lazaro, Celine Lim, Empoy and Rubi Rubi, with the special participation of John Estrada and Liza Lorena.

Another letter from Election Lawyer Romy

Dear Ricky,

I received a lot of calls and e-mails from friends and relatives after you published my letter and pictures of my 27th wedding anniversary which my wife and I celebrated in Vancouver.

Our friends in Vancouver — Danny and Gloria Custodio — also received calls and e-mails from their friends and relatives who learned about the wedding of their daughter Hannah to Dave Ballantyne. Those who have not seen Hannah were quite intrigued because of my description that she is a Lea Salonga look-alike.

Since your readers might also be curious about it, I am sending you a picture (as “exhibit A”) of Hannah and Dave, together with Hannah’s parents Danny and Gloria. Their wedding took place on June 13 at the beautiful garden of historic Hatley Castle located at the grounds of Hatley Park and Royal Roads University in Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. The Hatley Castle was built in 1908 and since then a significant portion of the place has been opened for weddings and tourism opportunities in Victoria. Over four million tourists visit the place every year.

Thank you again and best regards.

— Atty. ROMY MACALINTAL

Election Lawyer

Vancouver, Canada

Briefly noted

As it did everybody, the untimely passing of Michael Jackson left his colleagues in a state of shock. Here are the reactions of three Sony Music artists:

• Whitney Houston (photo): “It is so hard to express in words that what Michael Jackson meant to me. He was my friend. He was one of the reasons I got into the music business. He inspired me. He taught me. He laughed with me. He paved the way for African artists to be played on MTV which was huge. My heart is full of grief for his family and his children, and I pray that they take solace in the incredible legacy of his music and art.”

• David Cook (photo): “Artists like Michael Jackson come along once. He represented the idea that pop music can be more than just music. He showed it could be an agent of change and hope.”

• Alicia Keys (photo): “There is no one in the world like MJ. NEVER will be! We all know him in one way or another. In some way he touched us, the voice of one of our sweetest memories. And what a wonderful, genuine, compassionate and soft-spoken GIANT, so full of LOVE and excitement. He created one-of-a-kind moments in a mundane world. I can‘t believe he won’t be with us here on earth anymore. But long from now, when we are all dust, he will still NEVER be forgotten... To the best that ever did it! MJ, you are loved, admired and respected forever.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])