MULTI-AWARDED Director Chito Roño chose to do the 14th outing of the successful horror franchise Shake, Rattle & Roll over a string of other projects Regal Entertainment offered him this year, because he was promised—and duly given—his wishes by the mother-daughter tandem of producers Lily and Roselle Monteverde.

Practically taking on three film assignments in one for the trilogy of episodes in Shake, Rattle & Roll 14: The Invasion! (SRRXIV), the Monteverdes gave Direk Chito full control of the project.

First timers and seasoned writers alike were commissioned to work SRRXIV’s three episodes, “Ang Pamana,” “Lost Command” and “Unwanted,” namely Ricky Lee, Rody Vera and Roy Iglesias.

Each episode boasts of state-of-the-art sets, production design, and special effects. This early, film experts predict that the horror trilogy is destined to make film history with a lone director in charge of the trilogy for the first time.

With every episode filled with ingredients of a full-length movie, Direk Chito made sure each one had a distinct look and feel to it, while completing the project in just over two weeks. This, notwithstanding the fact that big name stars comprise the movie’s cast.

In “Ang Pamana,” Direk Chito put together the stars of the episodes of first SRR—Janice de Belen, Arlene Muhlach and Herbert Bautista. The episode is set in the ‘80s when the lead stars were the most sought after young actors of their generation. Also in the cast are Dennis Padilla, Dimples Romana, Fabio Ide, Empress, Ivan Dorschner, Gerald Pesigan and Eri Neeman.

“Lost Command,” meanwhile, was shot in the lush forest of Subic, and stars three of today’s hottest actors from the two major TV networks of ABS-CBN and GMA. They are Dennis Trillo, Martin Escudero and Paulo Avelino. The episode is action-packed with plenty of combat and chase scenes between civilians and soldiers, and also feature JC Tiuseco, Alex Castro, Rommel Padilla, Ella Cruz, AJ Dee, Makisig Morales, Kenneth Salva and Ronnie Lazaro.

Finally, Vhong Navarro and Lovi Poe’s “Unwanted” episode gives a futuristic appeal, as the pair encounter alien creatures after being trapped in the rubble of a building. Joining them in the line-up are Carlo Aquino, Eula Caballero and Albie Casino.

Needless to say, Regal’s SRR XIV is, to date, the biggest and most expensive in the horror franchise’s history—the only way Direk Chito will have it. As he says, the Metro Manila Film Festival is synonymous with Shake, Rattle & Roll, so much so that the movie should grow in scale with the successful festival

“Parang Christmas light ang Shake, Rattle and Roll na tuwing dumarating ang Pasko, lagi itong ikinakabit ng mga tao. Gaya sa festival, hahanap-hanapin talaga ng publiko ang horror franchise dahil puwedeng magkaroon ng ending ang bawat movie pero hindi ang Shake, Rattle and Roll!” he proudly adds.

SRR 14: The Invasion opens nationwide on December 25.