“Whoever tries to hinder the devil’s schemes will face death.” This premise sums up the plot of Maligno, the second sineserye from the Susan Roces Cinema Collection. In her comeback television project, Claudine Barretto plays Angela Cortez, a well-known newscaster who is forced to give birth to a demon child. Although she tries to escape, destiny catches up with Angela who only then realizes that her son is doomed to become a satanic cult’s chosen one.
Judging from the preview shown to the media last April 16, Maligno promises to be a worthy follow-up to the success of the first sineserye from The Susan Roces Cinema Collection, Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara. For lead actress Claudine, there’s the added pressure of knowing that the original Maligno gave Susan Roces her first Best Actress trophy in 1977. She says that she stopped herself from watching the whole film to ensure that her portrayal wouldn’t be a mere copy of Ms. Roces’s stellar performance. When asked if she got scared while taping the sineserye, Claudine admits that she constantly met with the pastor of Victory Christian Fellowship to help her overcome any negative thoughts. “At the end of the day, it’s just a role. What’s important is how strong your faith is,” she adds.
 Her co-stars Diether Ocampo and Rafael Rosell also didn’t watch the movie in its entirety so that they can use their own acting styles in their respective roles. They needn’t be worried though; Queen of Philippine Cinema Susan Roces is more than happy with their performances and the fresh inputs in the production.
Get ready to be scared out of your wits with Maligno, starring Claudine Barretto, Diether Ocampo, Rafael Rosell, Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, DJ Durano, Arlene Tolibas, Empoy, Carlo Lanas, and Ms. Susan Roces with the special participation of Ms. Rio Locsin. Directed by Wenn |