A little glam, a little gore: Inside ‘The New Nocturnals’

Hollywood had nothing on Manila for one night as celebrities traded their usual red-carpet looks for larger-than-life characters, sinister alter egos and cinematic fashion fantasies at the fifth edition of The New Nocturnals.

Held on 29 October at The Peninsula Manila, Silver Screen: The Director’s Cut turned the black carpet into a fashion spectacle where Halloween got a haute couture makeover. Think movie villains, fantasy icons and a few familiar faces looking almost unrecognizable.

The evening was made even more special as it coincided with The Peninsula Manila’s 50th anniversary, bringing together five decades of hospitality and a night of fashion, creativity and after-dark revelry.

Moving beyond the usual Halloween costumes, guests were challenged to bring their favorite silver-screen characters to life through dramatic ensembles and high-fashion interpretations.

“Nocturnals has always been more than a party — it is a living canvas where fashion, art, and self-expression take center stage,” said Mond Gutierrez, founder and co-producer of The New Nocturnals.

And the stars certainly understood the assignment.

Andrea Brillantes went classic as Charlie Chaplin, while Francine Diaz went down the rabbit hole as the Mad Hatter. Kyline Alcantara turned heads as Robot Maria. Richard Gutierrez embraced his villain era as Doctor Doom, with Barbie Imperial bringing poisonous glamour as Poison Ivy. Meanwhile, Michelle Dee served up wicked elegance as Cruella.

The fantasy continued with Alexa Ilacad as Lava Girl and Darren Espanto as Fire Boy, while Belle Mariano brought theatrical drama as Satine from Moulin Rouge. Maris Racal took a Rihanna-inspired fashion route, and Lovi Poe gave everyone a reason to look twice with her Pennywise transformation.

Taking the evening to another universe, Leila Ford and Joaquin Arce arrived as Chani and Paul Atreides from Dune.

From charmingly eccentric to downright terrifying, the black carpet had its fair share of scene-stealers.

If Halloween is about becoming someone else for a night, these stars certainly made sure no one went unnoticed.