Kris competes in Metro film festival

After months of quiet, Kris Aquino is again back in the limelight big time.

Months after helping her brother get elected to the highest post of the land and afterwards, announcing the breakdown of her marriage to basketball player James Yap, Kris is visible once more, promoting her Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “Dalaw.”

She’s back to familiar territory – horror – where she headlined the successful Star Cinema projects, “Feng Shui” (2004) and “Sukob” (2006), both directed by Chito Rono, according a Malaya report.

Kris salutes Star Cinema for succeeding in its goal of elevating film making in the Philippines especially in terms of storytelling. “I think Star Cinema has elevated film making in the Philippines and that’s why ‘Feng Shui’ and ‘Sukob’ we’re such big hits. Talagang binubusisi at pinapaganda ang story, ginagawang unique, pati ang approach sa characters.”

Malaya reported that after doing “Sukob” in 2006, Kris also starred in the TV remake of the horror film “Patayin sa Sindak Si Barbara” shown in ABS-CBN in 2008. Now audiences are highly anticipating the return of Kris in the genre where she had made an indelible mark. “As a performer you would know where you shine best. And I got to work with the best.”

What does she think is the reason behind her success in the genre?

“I’m giving a simple answer ha,” she started, “They say walang makatili katulad ko. It’s the scream. The scream has brought more than P350 million to the coffers of Star Cinema, and I pray that with ‘Dalaw,’ it’ll become P500 million.”

Kris candidly admitted that she knows she faces tough competition in the box office this Christmas. “I just want to be number 3,” she says, “Most likely Bossing and Sen. Bong will be number one. Ai Ai has a track record na. Kung number 3 kami, thank God.”

The “Horror Queen” says she does not get easily scared. In fact, she wants her mom, the late President Corazon Aquino, to “visit” her.

“I’ve only dreamt of her twice, once before the election and once before I bought the unit “Dalaw,” produced by Star Cinema, Cinemedia and MJM Productions, has Kris playing a widow, Stella, who longs to give her son, Maliksi Morales, a father figure. She reconnects with an old love, played by Diether Ocampo, and they marry. But before she could live a quiet life with her family, Stella is haunted by an angry ghost. However, writer Joel Mercado says “Dalaw” is not a predictable horror movie. “Ang kwento ng ‘Dalaw’ hindi sya ‘yung simpling horror story kasi marami twists and turns. Unti unti-unti ninyong malalaman na meron palang ibang dahilan ng pagdalaw kay Stella. ‘Yun ang mystery ng buong movie.”