A nursery rhyme has never sounded this terrifying.
Taiwan’s No. 1 supernatural horror blockbuster, Mudborn, is set to send shivers through Philippine cinemas beginning March 18. Brought to local audiences by Encore Films Philippines, this horror-mystery-thriller sensation promises a gripping cinematic experience that echoes long after the final scene.
Because sometimes, the scariest stories start with a song.
A Doll That Should Have Been Left Behind
At the heart of Mudborn is Hsu-Chuan (Yo Yang), a VR game developer who unknowingly carries home more than just a souvenir from a haunted attraction—a broken clay baby doll.
What appears harmless at first quickly turns unsettling.
His pregnant wife, Muhua (Cecilia Choi), an artifact conservator with a meticulous eye for restoration, becomes increasingly captivated by the doll. Piece by piece, she repairs it. Crack by crack, she restores its fragile form.
Yet with every careful touch, something ancient and sinister seems to awaken.
Soon, inexplicable events begin to plague their home. Shadows linger too long. Whispers echo without source. A presence—unseen yet undeniable—tightens its hold on their lives.
Desperate and terrified, the couple seeks the help of a psychic exorcist to uncover the truth. What they discover is far more horrifying than they imagined: a forbidden curse bound to a haunting nursery rhyme and a malevolent spirit desperate to claim a human host.
Watch the Trailer here:
The Sinister Secret Behind the Rhyme
Director SHIEH Meng-ju found inspiration in an unlikely place—a familiar children’s rhyme. When asked whether a mysterious story lay hidden within its lyrics, the idea immediately fascinated him.
As he examined each line more closely, the innocence began to unravel.
“The clay baby doll has eyes but doesn’t blink” and “It’s actually not a real doll”
Suddenly, the words felt different—darker, heavier, more disturbing. From this eerie reinterpretation, SHIEH shaped Mudborn into a chilling tale told through the perspective of a clay baby doll possessed by an evil spirit seeking rebirth.
By transforming something nostalgic into something nightmarish, the film taps into a deeply unsettling fear: what if the things we once trusted were never truly harmless?
A Haunting That Lingers
Blending supernatural horror with psychological tension, Mudborn builds dread with precision. It is not merely about what is seen—but what is sensed, what is whispered, what is waiting.
Atmospheric and relentless, the film delivers powerful scares while exploring themes of obsession, motherhood, and the unseen forces that bind the living to the dead.
And when the lights come back on?
The rhyme remains.
Horror fans across the Philippines are invited to witness Taiwan’s most talked-about supernatural blockbuster when Mudborn opens in cinemas nationwide on March 18.
Prepare for a chilling experience where innocence turns ominous—and a simple rhyme becomes a curse.
For more chilling updates and releases, visit Encore Films Philippines on Facebook and @encorefilmsph on Instagram.
