Jodi Sta. Maria leads P70-M horror spectacle 'Untold'

Jodi Sta. Maria proves, yet again, why she remains one of the country's most fearless actresses. In her upcoming horror-suspense film "Untold," directed by "Mallari's" Derick Cabrido under Regal Entertainment, the award-winning Kapamilya star puts her physical and emotional limits to the test — earning nothing but admiration from her director and team.

Sta. Maria plays Vivian Vera, a celebrated investigative journalist haunted by a dark past that begins to disturb her present. As chilling as the film's premise sounds, the behind-the-scenes stories are just as gripping.

"There was a scene where Jodi had to jump from the fourth floor of a building," Cabrido shared during the film's media conference. "She didn't ask for a double. She did it herself. And she did it four times."

Jodi Sta. Maria’s director proudly shares the actress refused to use a double, even for the most physically demanding scenes. PHOTO FROM REGAL ENTERTAINMENT

The scene required her facial expressions to be clearly captured, ruling out the use of a stuntman. "She was completely game. No complaints," Cabrido said. "That's when I saw how incredibly dedicated she is to her craft."

In another harrowing sequence, Sta. Maria had to descend into a deep pit despite being claustrophobic. "She agreed to do it anyway," the director revealed. "Her scream in that scene — it wasn't acting. The shaking, the panic, it was all real."

While the pit was cleared to ensure safety, no covering or padding was added, keeping the set raw and unsettling. "Jodi even said, 'There's a frog inside!' Sure enough, there were frogs and all sorts of insects. The pit was real, deep, and uncomfortable — but she went down without hesitation."

Filming conditions pushed the production team even further. "There were times it would rain, and then suddenly the sun would come out. The weather was unpredictable. At one point, the set even got flooded and partially destroyed. It was one of the hardest shoots we've done," Cabrido admitted.

Despite these hurdles, "Untold" was completed with a compelling production with a budget of no less than P70 million. The film, rated R-13 with no cuts, also stars JK Labajo, Joem Bascon, Gloria Diaz, Lianne Valentin, Sarah Edwards and more and opens nationwide on April 30.