(SPOT.ph) The requirements for playing a ghost in Philippine cinema are fairly simple: pale, ashen skin; long, unkempt hair (gray streaks a bonus); and the ability to walk through walls, teleport, or levitate. Uniforms are to be kept in shades of white, gray, or black (faded is acceptable). Burns, walking in fast forward, ear-splitting shrieks, an ax in the head, dilated eyes and whatnot are welcome add-ons. Gender-wise, women are more preferred than men. The final requirement? Beauty. Yes, beauty.
The emphasis on beauty in the Philippines is so pronounced that it’s ingrained in the country’s filmic supernatural preferences. A gorgeous young woman who turns out to be a deadly monster (or in this case, ghost)? That’s a certified hit right there. In the spirit of Halloween, we’re honoring the haunting good looks of Pinoy cinema's prettiest femme fatales who rock the bruha 'do and under-eye circles best. Trust us: there are loads more where they came from.
10. Susan Valdez LeGoff
Ghost filmography: Itim (1976) as Rosa
Fatale factor: Dubbed by director Quark Henares as one of the scariest horror films in the Philippines, Itim and all its elements had the right amounts of nail-biting, spine-chilling, and hair-raising. As for the model-turned-actress, well, the séance scene where she possesses her sister (played by Charo Santos-Concio) gave us the skeevies! Who would do that to their own sister?
