After being revealed as one of the stars headlining the 2026 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Haunted Carnival, Julia Barretto admitted that accepting the project will prove to be a different kind of acting challenge for her since she is a scaredy-cat in real life. The 29-year-old actress said she was eager to start working on the film during the official cast reveal event by Regal Films.
“Sobrang takot ako sa horror (laughs). Super takot ako kaya nga naaaliw ako na yung mga opportunities na dumarating is horror. But it’s more of overcoming your fear. Pero iba naman when you’re shooting it na eh. Parang mas nag-go-grow na ngayon yung love ko for horror. Mas matapang ako nung bata. Tapos yung mga favorite ko Shutter, The Ring, yung mga ganun.
"Pero parang pag tumatanda ka, mas dumadami yung mga fears mo. Nag-ma-manifest siya sa dreams! But I’m looking forward to this. Excited ako dito kasi madami siyang inspiration na films, slasher, horror, suspense. I don’t want to spoil it. Ang dami ko ng na-she-share (laughs),” she said.
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The Haunted Carnival actress also admitted she was looking forward to finally getting to work with Maricel Soriano for the first time onscreen. The Diamond Star is also a close family friend of Julia’s mom Marjorie.
“Sobrang lambing ni Ms. Maricel. Super lambing, very, very malambing. Here we’re going to build a separate relationship kasi nagkasama kami ni Ms. Maricel through my mom. Si mommy ang love na love niya and love na love din ni mommy si Ms. Maricel. So kahit hindi kami magkakaroon ng bond. I’m excited to start working with her and to build a relationship with everyone na makaksama namin.
"There were already a couple of opportunities na dapat magkatrabaho kami ni Ms. Maricel noon, but it’s always about the right project and the right timing. And this film I believe is the right one for both of us,” she explained.
Although Julia is not new to doing horror, having made her horror acting debut in the 2020 action-horror film Block Z by director Mikhail Red. She also starred in director Brillante Mendoza’s 2022 film Bahay na Pula.
“Siguro yung biggest challenge is creating a world that does not exist. So yung imagination, yung pagkabuo mo nung nababasa mo sa script na kailangan mo i-visualize in real life kahit wala doon, I think that’s challenging. Aside from that, pag horror ang taas ng emosyon. Ang taas palagi ng emosyon and yung emotions sa horror there’s always fear so you have to embody it.
"Pero yun din yung pinaka-gusto ko sa trabaho namin, you become a different person, you step into a new character, you step into a different world, which I think Haunted Carnival is a spectacular world. Ma-cha-challenge talaga kami lahat dito kasi ang saya din na we’re an ensemble cast so kakailanganin namin ang isa’t isa para maging maganda yung pelikula,” she added.
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With the film already included in the official lineup of entries for this year’s MMFF, Julia said she is already gearing up for another busy holiday season.
“My first MMFF was 2016 Vince, Kath, & James. And then last, last year also nagka-entry tayo with direk Jason Paul Laxamana. So I’m excited to be working this Christmas again. I’m super, super excited. Working on Christmas day is always a blessing. Hindi ako pa ako masyado nakakagawa ng maraming horror. So when this opportunity came, I was super excited about the concept. I’m happy about the theme.
"And then, even more excited about the casting. I believe it’s my first time working with everybody in this cast so I’m really looking forward to it. Ang dami kong matututunan dito,” she shared.