FOR MANY teenagers, growing up may seem like being in a horror movie. Finding the right balance between the need to conform and to express oneself could be a challenge. Add to this the fact that the onset of puberty brings about physical transformations that can be upsetting.

As part of its annual October #MCADFilmScreamings, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) presents four recent horror movies premised on coming-of-age themes, with different protagonists finding themselves on a journey of self-discovery amid strange and even deadly circumstances.

All screenings will be held at the MCAD Multimedia Room on all Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays of the month, with two showings each day, at noon and 3 p.m.

First up on Oct. 4, 6, and 7, is the dramatic vampire story Let the Right One In, based on the highly acclaimed novel by Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist. Directed by Tomas Alfredson, it focuses on the relationship between Oskar, the bullied new boy in town, and Eli, a vampire forever trapped in a 12-year-old’s body. They form a bond that has a profound effect on Oskar’s life.

Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning Pan’s Labyrinth will be shown on Oct. 11, 13, and 14. Set during the Second World War, Ofelia and her mother move to live with her stepfather, a cruel military officer leading an army regiment in a faraway place. The young girl discovers a secret world in the town’s ancient maze where she is welcomed by a faun who reveals she is a legendary and lost princess. To regain the crown, she must complete three dangerous tasks.

The Korean horror blockbuster A Tale of Two Sisters will be presented on Oct. 18, 20, and 21. Based on a folk tale that has been made countless times into movies, it follows two sisters who return home after an extended stay at a mental institution. Since their mother died and their father remarried, things have not been the same at home, and nobody else knows.

A tale of cannibalism and women power, Julia Ducournau’s Raw has been hailed as a modern-day masterpiece of the genre. It has the notorious distinction of being one of the few films where moviegoers have fainted during a screening. Justine, who comes from a family of veterinarians and strict vegetarians, yearns for the unexpected after being forced to eat raw duck kidney at a university initiation rite. It will be shown on Oct. 25, 27, and 28.

The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design is located at the DLS-CSB School of Design and Arts Campus, Pablo Ocampo Ave., Malate, Manila. It is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.mcadmanila.org.ph.

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