EXCLUSIVE: Los Angeles-based sales, production and finance company EST N8 has acquired international sales rights for Philippine eco-horror film The Caretakers.
The film is written and directed by Shugo Praico (A Silent Night, Bagman) and produced by Regal Entertainment and Rein Entertainment in the Philippines.
Starring Iza Calzado (The Echo) and Dimples Romana (Viral Scandal), the eco-horror film follows a young mother Audrey (played by Calzado) who takes her two children to fix up an old estate belonging to her husband’s family. Upon arrival, she discovers that there are many sinister secrets in the hallowed walls of the house, including the foreboding warning of the estate’s caretaker, Lydia (played by Romana) to respect the local nature and keep the house intact or face what dwells in it. As darkness consumes them, and the horrors push them to their limits, they must confront the evils within before it destroys them and their families.
The film premiered theatrically in the Philippines on February 26 this year.
The deal was brokered by Tenten Wei, Sophie Shi, and Cathy Ni of EST N8.
EST N8 is a partnership between LA-based EST Studios and New York- and Bangkok-based N8 Studios, representing a slate of Asian films at global markets. EST Studios was founded in 2022 by Jaeson Ma (Stampede Ventures, 88rising) and Eric Tu (Vice, Anonymous Content).
In addition to The Caretakers, EST N8’s sales titles include Indonesian horror films Pabrik Gula, Sorop, Hutang Nwaya, Perewangan, and the upcoming The Hole and Korean thriller 30 Minutes, among others.
“We’re proud to share this haunting and heartfelt story—a powerful blend of supernatural folklore and raw human emotion,” said Jaeson Ma, chairman of EST Studios. “It’s a film that explores legacy, motherhood, and the sacred bond between land and spirit.”