Despite being famously matatakutin, Yassi Pressman is taking on her biggest scare yet—her first horror film, Isolated.
Produced by Viva Films and Lonewolf Films under the direction of Benedict Mique, the film opens in cinemas nationwide this April 30.
At the press conference held on April 8, Yassi candidly admitted that she doesn’t normally watch horror films—“baka bangungutin ako,” she joked. But when she read the script and found out she’d be acting alongside veteran actor Joel Torre, she changed her mind. “I wanted to challenge myself. This role is very, very different from everything I’ve ever done before,” she said.
The horror didn’t stop on set. Yassi shared a spine-chilling story from their shoot: while sharing a room with her stylist Maja during what was supposed to be a lock-in shoot, Yassi left the room briefly to get the Wi-Fi password. Moments later, Maja came out of the bathroom and told her not to force the bathroom door open—only, Yassi hadn’t touched it. Spooked, she skipped the lock-in altogether and went home that day.
“Nagsha-shower ako ng isa lang ‘yung mata nakadilat,” Yassi laughed. “Ayaw ko ‘yung moment na huhugasan mo mukha mo tapos pagtingin mo sa salamin may nasa likod mo.”
Still, the actress admitted she eventually warmed up to the genre. “Sa totoo lang, kahit nahirapan ako, tumapang din ako. Sobra talaga akong nag-enjoy,” she shared. “It’s such a different challenge from rom-coms. I felt like I grew as an actress.”
Director Benedict Mique praised Yassi’s performance, saying she carried the film from start to finish. “Horror is physically exhausting,” he noted. “Pero kahit pagod, lumalabas pa rin ang ganda at sexiness ni Yassi.”
Yassi said she prepared intensively for the physically demanding role. “Close-up lahat, so you have to be fit. There’s a lot of running, and I had to be ready,” she said.
After filming wrapped, Yassi said she needed to “detox” from the experience. “Nagpahinga po talaga ako. I went home to CamSur, nag-retreat ako. Kailangan ko munang tanggalin ang character at ‘yung lugar sa isip ko,” she explained.
Isolated follows the chilling story of Rose, played by Yassi, whose encounter with an isolated place unravels terrifying secrets. Joining her in the ensemble cast are Joel Torre, Candy Pangilinan, Wilbert Ross, Yayo Aguila, Gwen Garci, and Denise Esteban.
Whether it’s her first and last horror project remains to be seen. But with her newfound love for the genre, Yassi might just surprise herself—and audiences—all over again.
‘Isolated’ opens in Philippine cinemas on April 30.
