I've always had an interest in the dark mythology of Filipino monsters and creatures - its part of my identity. I feel it was one of my more underated works, but it is definitely one of my personal favorites this year.

The mananannggal is a vampiric or demonic looking monster that masks itself as a human woman by daytime, and separates herself from her own torso in the night to hunt for her prey - pregnant women and particularly the fetuses growing within. I feel like the monster was inspired by the fearful vulnerability of pregnant women, infidelity, of violation, and personally to me even represents the rage of reproductive abuse, or abuse of women in general. Concepts and grievances I think still carry with their meaning today. It raises a violent mirror to the spanish La Llorona.