Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins (2025) Movie Review

Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins (2025) Movie Review: A Mixed Bag

It's been a while since we last watched a Shake, Rattle & Roll film. The franchise was a staple of our childhood, but its recent entries haven't really piqued our interest. With Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins arriving on Netflix, we decided it was finally time to revisit the latest entry in the series. Unfortunately, the magic that once made the franchise a part of our childhood feels largely absent, resulting in an anthology that delivers a lukewarm and rarely frightening experience.

Evil Origins takes viewers across three different eras in an alternate Philippine history, all connected by an evil entity known as Malum. In 1775, a mysterious chest arrives at a convent unleashing sinister events among the nuns. The story then jumps to 2025, where a Halloween rave turns into a bloodbath as masked killers hunt down the partygoers. Finally, the film leaps to a dystopian 2050, where humanity struggles to survive in a Philippines overrun by aswangs.

On paper, the concept is one of the anthology's strongest ideas. A horror story spanning centuries and linked by a single malevolent force promises a richer mythology than previous installments. Sadly, the film barely scratches the surface of Malum's origins or motivations. Beyond establishing it as an ancient evil that gradually extends its influence through time, the narrative offers nothing else. As a result, the connections between the three stories feel superficial, making the anthology seem more like three loosely related stories than one cohesive experience. 

At least, each segment embraces a distinct identity, with the first leaning into supernatural horror, the second becoming a full-fledged slasher, and the third attempting a post-apocalyptic zombie-esque film. The quality of these stories varies considerably. The 1775 segment starts with an eerie premise and an atmospheric setting but ultimately abandons its suspense in favor of a dumb down killing spree. The 2025 chapter is easily the standout in the anthology delivering the strongest narrative, entertaining slasher elements, and the film's most effective use of gore. Unfortunately, the 2050 finale is a disappointing conclusion with weak performances, unconvincing action, and horror that's just missing.

As a whole, Evil Origins has an intriguing premise and flashes of creativity but it rarely capitalizes on its potential. Instead of crafting a compelling mythology that unites its three timelines, it settles for a collection of uneven stories that only occasionally entertain. 

Rating: 2 reels