Rising actor Rabin Angeles pushed himself to extraordinary lengths for his lead role in ‘A Werewolf Boy’, the upcoming Philippine adaptation of the 2012 South Korean classic.
While the film marks a major career milestone for both Rabin and co-star Angela Muji, it is Rabin’s astonishing physical and psychological transformation that has become the most talked-about aspect of the production.
Filmed in lock-in format in Taal, Batangas and directed by Crisanto B. Aquino, the project demanded that Rabin inhabit a feral, largely non-verbal character—a role that required total immersion.
“Pag lock-in, kailangan mo talagang mag-lock-in sa character,” Rabin explained. “Ilang araw ko siyang dala-dala. Ang hirap kasi hindi ka nagsasalita masyado, at lahat ng galaw kalkulado—lakad, tungkod, pagkain, lahat.”
Rabin revealed he lost weight intentionally to achieve the wild, gaunt look associated with the werewolf character. But more than the physical transformation, he committed to living like his character between takes.
“Ilang araw akong nakapaa… hindi ako naka-tsinelas,” he shared. “Kapag kailangan ng dumi sa eksena, ako na mismo dumudumi sa sarili ko. Kinakaskas ko pa—kung saan-saan.”
Angela Muji, who witnessed the transformation firsthand, couldn’t help but tease him, saying he looked like “a real werewolf boy” with his mud-caked feet and untamed behavior.
“Parang naging taong-werewolf po talaga siya,” she joked. “Wala siyang arte!”
The intensity of Rabin’s immersion affected him even after filming wrapped. When he returned to his series ‘Mutya ng Section E’, he admitted he struggled to shake the character off.
“Noong first day ng Mutya, nahihirapan po ako—dala-dala ko pa si Boy,” he said.
Director Crisanto B. Aquino praised Rabin’s commitment, saying such dedication is rare among young actors.
With the Philippine remake highlighting rural Filipino settings and emotional family dynamics, Rabin’s method transformation may become one of the most remarkable young-actor performances of the year.
