The Killer Bride
The Killer Bride is a 2019 Philippine drama television series starring Maja Salvador in the title role, together with Joshua Garcia, Janella Salvador and Geoff Eigenmann. The series aired on ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida evening block and worldwide on The Filipino Channel from August 12, 2019 to January 17, 2020, replacing Sino ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa.
The Killer Bride | |
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Genre |
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Created by | Arah Jell G. Badayos |
Written by |
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Directed by | Diosdado "Dado" C. Lumibao |
Starring | |
Opening theme | "Halik sa Hangin" by KZ Tandingan |
Ending theme | "Bawat Daan" by Zephanie Dimaranan |
Country of origin | Philippines |
Original language(s) | Filipino (primary/main) English (occasional) |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 115 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Ann D. Guimbangunan |
Producer(s) | Myleen H. Ongkiko |
Editor(s) |
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Running time | 27–41 minutes |
Production company(s) | RCD Narratives |
Release | |
Original network | ABS-CBN |
Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
Original release | August 12, 2019 – January 17, 2020 |
External links | |
Website |
Premise
Las Espadas is a town steeped in local legends and superstitious culture. Its inhabitants are sophisticated and genteel wealthy landowners and the farmers who serve them for many generations.
One of its popular folklore is that of the Killer Bride. Many residents have stories of encountering Camila dela Torre, wearing her blood-spattered wedding gown, wandering the town seeking revenge on the persons who framed her for a murder she didn't commit and killed her. Arrested at the murder scene, Camila is tried and convicted in 1999, and is eventually shunned by her own rich, prominent family and fiancé Vito dela Cuesta who testifies against her. Despite her proclamation of innocence, she is sentenced to life imprisonment. After giving birth to a beautiful baby girl in prison, a sudden freak fire encompasses the entire prison facility. Crying, desperate and unable to locate her newborn daughter, her last words exact revenge on every person who falsely accused her, all whilst her body burned in the flames.
18 years pass and urban legend fuses into reality as a group of teenagers headed by Elias Sanchez again tell the story of Camila. Playfully, they claim that on the day of the blood moon eclipse, the ghost of Camila will possess a new body and kickstart her vow for revenge. As if fulfilling the prophecy, a girl from nowhere, Emma Bonaobra moves to the town. Securing a job as the town's mortuary cosmetologist, she is told of the tale of The Killer Bride but disbelieves it. Lo and behold, Emma wakes up possessed, gatecrashing her family's grand party event claiming that she is the long-dead Camila, The Killer Bride. The entire town begin to question her motives. Is this a haunting chronicle that connects the rival dela Torre vs. dela Cuesta families who battled for land and politics—or is this simply a tale of The Killer Bride destined to curse the town?[1]
Cast and characters
Main
- Joshua Garcia[2][3][4] as Elias Sanchez[lower-alpha 1]
- Janella Salvador[2][3][4] as Emma Bonaobra/ Emma Sharon Serrano/ Vida dela Cuesta[lower-alpha 2]
- Geoff Eigenmann[3][4] as Vito dela Cuesta
- Maja Salvador[2][3][4] as Camila dela Torre[lower-alpha 3]
Supporting
- Malou de Guzman as Marichu "Manay Ichu" Sagrado
- Lara Quigaman[4] as Alice Montero-dela Torre / Belladonna
- Cris Villanueva[4] as Luciano dela Torre
- James Blanco[4] as Mayor Juan Felipe dela Torre
- Ariella Arida[4] as Tatiana dela Torre
- Jobelle Salvador as Antonia dela Cuesta
- Aurora Sevilla[4] as Guada dela Torre
- Loren Burgos as Tessa Cruz-dela Cuesta
- Mara Lopez as Agnes Dimaguiba / Agnes Sagrado
- Viveika Ravanes as Ornusa Lim
- Miko Raval as Fabio Serrano / Edmundo
- Sam Concepcion[4] as Mayor Luis dela Torre
- Alexa Ilacad[4] as Luna dela Cuesta
- Pamu Pamorada as Tsoknat Tumulak
- Pepe Herrera as Iking Isip
- Neil Coleta as Intoy Ilagan
- Keanna Reeves[4] as Ingrid Sanchez
- Eric Nicolas[4] as Aran Sanchez
- Vivoree Esclito as Mildred Domaloy
- CK Keiron as Mario Sandoval
- Soliman Cruz as Andres "Manoy" del Pilar
- Melizza Jimenez as Sonya Guerrero
- Maricel Morales as Aurora Bonaobra
- Manuel Chua as Matias Gonzales
Guest
- Eddie Gutierrez[4] as Jacobo dela Torre
- Dominic Ochoa as Javier dela Cuesta
- Tanya Gomez as Agot
- Mario Capalad as Omar
- Maila Gumila as Atty. de Leon
- Sammie Rimando as Belinda dela Torre
- Akihiro Blanco as Armando dela Cuesta
- Angelo Ilagan as Renato dela Torre
- Marco Masa as young Luis
- Lilygem Yulores as young Luna
- Karla Pambid as Sharon Serrano
- Angelica Rama as young Emma
- Yñigo Delen as young Elias
- Kyle Velino as Jorge Faeldonea
- Aldrin Angeles as Benjamin Perez
- Jessica Marco as Kayla Salamanca
- Mickey Ferriols as Amalia Gonzales
- Mike Lloren as PMaj. Alejandro dela Cuesta
- Alex Castro as young Jacobo
- Ingrid dela Paz as young Guada
- JJ Quilantang as young Juan Felipe
- Luke Alford as young Luciano
- Angelo Patrimonio as Ivan Muñoz
- Ilonah Jean as Marciana Campos
- Matt Evans as Drunk Man
Broadcast
The Killer Bride premiered on ABS-CBN on August 12, 2019.[5] It aired weeknights at 9:15 PM PST on the network's Primetime Bida evening block and worldwide via TFC. The show concluded on January 17, 2020 and was replaced by A Soldier's Heart beginning January 22, 2020.
An extended version of the series, The Killer Bride: Killer Cuts, streamed exclusively on iWant and ran concurrently with the series. Killer Cuts showed the primetime series’ unrated and uncensored scenes.[6]
Production
Series lead Maja Salvador was supposed to do another series which would have been the follow up to the wildly successful Wildflower.[7] However, as the series was to tackle marital infidelity, which she has already done in The Legal Wife, she turned down the role to pursue The Killer Bride.[7][8] Maja Salvador landed the role in May 2019 when, while doing iWant Originals Hinahanap-hanap Kita with The Killer Bride co-stars Geoff Eigenmann, Pepe Herrera and Pamu Pamorada, she convinced Business Unit Manager, Roda C. Dela Cerna to let her audition for the role.[7] Although there was trepidation on the part of Dela Cerna as she knew Salvador was supposed to do another series, she nevertheless allowed Salvador to audition because the original actress tapped for the role ultimately turned down the part of Camila.[7]
The project Salvador turned down was Ang Lihim ni Ligaya, with Ivana Alawi taking over the lead.[8]
The show and the cast was first announced by ABS-CBN on June 28, 2019.[9]
The project serves as a reunion project for Maja Salvador and leading man Geoff Eignmann, who has just returned from his stint in the GMA Network.[10] The two have previously worked together on the film Villa Estrella and was also set to star in the teleserye Moon River that was shelved and ultimately did not push through after Eigenmann's move to GMA Network.[10]
The series would also see many "firsts" for series lead Janella Salvador. The series would mark the first time she would work with real-life aunts, Maja Salvador and Jobelle Salvador.[11][12] The series would also see her being paired for the first time with Joshua Garcia, who was previously paired with perrenial loveteam partner and ex-girlfriend Julia Barretto.[10]
Reception
The Killer Bride has been well-received by viewers and netizens alike with the show's episodes not only obtaining good ratings but also making for top trending topics.[13]
The show has been praised for its writing, its twists in particular being cited for subverting the horror genre.[14][15] These twists in the story have themselves become top trending topics on their own.[16] The show has likewise been praised for integrating a measure of social commentary on its scenes and its dialogue.[17]
Ratings
From its pilot episode, The Killer Bride proved itself as a hit by recording a high pilot episode rating of 23.1%.[18] In the same month as its debut, the show was pitted against a new rival which it managed to beat in the ratings and also saw the show registering its highest rating, 25.6% for its August 30, 2019 episode.[19] This was notable because its timeslot normally sees a steep decline in ratings.[19] While its finale rating is noticeably smaller as compared to its peak and its pilot rating, its finale rating of 19.3% is still considered a success in comparison to the show it was pitted against as shown by it being the fifth most watched program on the day of its finale.[20][21]
Pilot Episode | Finale Episode | Peak | Average |
---|---|---|---|
23.1% August 12, 2019[22] |
19.3% January 17, 2020[23] |
25.6% August 30, 2019[24] |
18.1% |
Notes
- Elias' birth name is Elias Gonzales. He carries the last name Sanchez because he was legally adopted by Aran and Ingrid Sanchez
- Emma is the name given by the prison guard Aurora Bonaobra to the young Vida dela Torre-dela Cuesta when she took the child and raised her as her own. After Camila took Emma under her care, Fabio formally adopted Emma and gave her the name Emma Sharon Serrano, her second name being in honor of Fabio's deceased sister.
- Camila used the alias Alba Almeida in her casino business as Camila dela Torre was already believed to have perished in the fire in the womens' correctional.
References
- "About The Killer Bride".
- Matalog, Patricia (May 31, 2019). "Maja, Joshua + Janella, to star in new teleserye!". Star Cinema. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
- "'Mas wild!' Maja Salvador is The Killer Bride in gothic romance series". ABS-CBN News. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- "Maja, Geoff, Janella, and Joshua are taken over by love and fear in The Killer Bride". ABS-CBN Corporate. July 26, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
- WATCH: ‘The Killer Bride’ Full Trailer. ABS-CBN Entertainment. July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
- "Maja, Geoff, Janella, Joshua fight for their lives in "The Killer Bride" finale". ABS-CBN Entertainment. December 14, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- Bonifacio, Julie E. (October 1, 2019). "TOTOO BA: Maja Salvador was not first choice as lead star of The Killer Bride". PEP. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- Anarcon, James Patrick (January 14, 2020). "Was Ivana Alawi's upcoming teleserye originally intended for Maja Salvador?". PEP. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- Miguel, Dumaual (July 1, 2019). "'Mas wild!' Maja Salvador is 'The Killer Bride' in gothic romance series". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- Anarcon, James Patrick (May 30, 2019). "Joshua Garcia gets new leading lady; Maja Salvador gets follow-up series after Wildflower". PEP. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- Bonifacio, Julie E. (July 27, 2019). "Jobelle Salvador surprised when she learned she will join Maja Salvador and Janella Salvador in The Killer Bride". PEP. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- Cruz, Marinel R. (December 30, 2019). "Why Maja Salvador finds role in 'The Killer Bride' her most challenging so far". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- Henares, Tim (August 29, 2019). "8 Low-Key Reasons Why 'The Killer Bride' is a Massive Hit". 8list. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- Miguel, Dumaual (August 29, 2019). "WATCH: As Maja-Janella twist unravels, 'Killer Bride' tops worldwide trends". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- Dumaual, Miguel (January 11, 2020). "'Killer Bride' shocker: Camila dies, becomes ghost in paranormal twist". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- Anarcon, James Patrick (August 29, 2019). "Netizens react to Maja Salvador plot twist in The Killer Bride". PEP. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- Malasig, Jeline (October 1, 2019). "Some clips of ABS-CBN primetime show 'The Killer Bride' are going viral. Here's why". Interaksyon. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ""The Killer Bride" records high pilot ratings". ABS-CBN Corporation. August 15, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- "Ratings: 'Killer Bride' scares 'Better Woman' with back-to-back record". ABS-CBN News. September 2, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- "Ratings: 'The Killer Bride' slayed rival until very end". ABS-CBN News. January 20, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- Anarcon, James Patrick (January 20, 2020). "The Killer Bride finale vs. One of the Baes: who wins in the ratings game?". PEP. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- "National TV Ratings (August 9–12, 2019)". ABS-CBN Corporate. August 13, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- "National TV Ratings (January 17–19, 2020)". ABS-CBN Corporate. January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- "National TV Ratings (August 30 – September 1, 2019)". ABS-CBN Corporate. September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.