Regal Entertainment’s MMFF 2026 entry sends an ensemble cast into a cursed 1986 carnival for the third installment in its “Haunted” franchise — and the teaser’s biggest flex is that none of the ’80s nostalgia running through it is AI-generated.
“Haunted Carnival” is one of the first four entries confirmed for the 52nd Metro Manila Film Festival, announced July 7 alongside “2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7,” “Amir,” and “The Greatest Showdown.” It’s Regal Entertainment’s third film in its “Haunted” franchise, following “Haunted Mansion” (2015) and “Haunted Forest” (2017), and it opens December 25 as part of MMFF 2026’s official lineup.
What’s the Story
The film is set in the Philippines in 1986, inside a rundown perya — a traveling carnival, a fixture of Philippine town fiestas built around games, rides, and food stalls — where a group of strangers has to survive and find a way out. The attractions are run by a mysterious figure called a Salamangkero, a folk term for a sorcerer or illusionist, and the film blends that kind of homegrown supernatural folklore with a structure closer to the “Final Destination” franchise: ordinary carnival rides and games turned into sources of danger.
Where the Fear Comes From
Director Joey de Guzman, who also helmed the “Evil Origins” segment of 2025’s “Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme,” built the film’s tension on a simple reversal. “The carnival should be fun, not horrifying,” he said of his approach. “So that’s where the tension comes from.” He’s also drawn openly on a common childhood fear, clowns, to make the fairground feel threatening.
The Cast
Maricel Soriano, John Arcilla, Julia Barretto, and James Reid lead an ensemble that also includes Fyang Smith, RK Bagatsing, Joaquin Arce, Charlie Fleming, and Prince Carlos. Arcilla, who plays one of the film’s antagonists, said he looked for “something interesting and something human within the character so that it will naturally connect” with the audience rather than playing pure menace. It’s his second major festival entry this year — he’s also part of Beast at Puregold CinePanalo 2026, which opened in September. Bagatsing, for his part, framed the carnival setting as a showcase for Philippine horror on its own terms, noting that a perya already comes with built-in thrills before anything supernatural gets added.
No AI, Just Nostalgia
Regal released a 35-second teaser on September 14 built around the cast in period-accurate ’80s outfits, dancing to an ’80s track. The studio was specific about one thing in its own caption: “The fits. The lights. No AI. Just pure ’80s Pinoy nostalgia.” At a time when AI-generated throwback images are everywhere online, the teaser relies on actual costuming and production design.
Where and When
“Haunted Carnival” opens December 25, 2026, as part of the 52nd Metro Manila Film Festival’s official lineup, with cinema tickets capped at ₱299 for the festival period.
Part of ElysPlanet’s ongoing MMFF 2026 coverage — updated as new entries are confirmed.