A scene from the shoot of 'Near Death' 

MANILA -- Director Richard Somes “handpicked” Charlie Dizon, Xyriel Manabat, and RK Bagatsing to top-bill his upcoming horror flick “Near Death,” which he co-wrote during the pandemic.

“For me, as a filmmaker, I need to be excited by my actors. Right from the lead, Charlie, while still planning, she was already on my mind. I love her acting prowess and look. I know her acting has so many layers,” he said.

 “I’ve worked with RK and I know his caliber. He is one of the best male actors. He is a thinking actor. He is able to give everything we talk about… I've been watching her since she was a kid,  Xyriel is really such a revelation,” the director added.

Also part of the cast of the film produced by Diamond productions are Marela Torre, Lotlot de Leon, and Sol Cruz. Somes also teased several big names will be making cameos in the film.

“We were able to put good together a good lead. We also have the best supporting cast too. We got them because they are so ready,” he said.

"Near Death," as the title suggests, will delve into the experience of individuals who have come close to death but managed to return.

 “I came up with the idea of a new horror genre, if you experienced a certain moment of death and there are malevolent spirits in the other world that followed you,” he said.

Dizon described “Near Death” as not your “typical horror movie” as it will tackle pressing issues as well.

 “It talks about mental health. You can see how people heal with their issues and how they help themselves. I think it is timely and relevant,” she said.

 Somes hopes that this fresh new concept will entice Filipinos to go back to the cinemas.

 “It is timely. There are a lot of issues all over the world suffering from -- loneliness, depression, especially from the pandemic and instability. Are the malevolent spirits real or just in your head?” he said.

“It will be relatable for all walks of life. As filmmakers, writers, it is nice to challenge ourselves to come up with something new and to be excited about. It is nice to send a message to the audience as well through an eye-opening story,” he added.

The lead actors said the scenes pushed their boundaries as actors as it demanded emotional depth.

“The whole shoot was challenging. That's what drives you. The way to go about it is collaboration. We help each other,” Bagatsing said.

“Every day we are drained, because it really is not an ordinary film. It is deep,”  Dizon added.

The stars shared that the well-put-together set, which the cast and crew claim exudes an eerie atmosphere, helped them get into character and effectively convey the story.

“Very proud of the production design. It was all built from scratch. It was well planned,” Manabat said,

"It helps us create the world for the story. When you enter, you really feel it,” Bagatsing added.

Somes hopes to release “Near Death” in theaters by the end of the year.