Spooky Nights is a Philippine television comedy horror anthology series broadcast by GMA Network. It premiered on March 26, 2011. It was replaced by Spooky Valentine in February 2012. On March 10, 2012, Spooky Nights returned. The series concluded on April 28, 2012.
The story begins when Brix, Nancy, Tricia, Vanessa and Macmac win a weekend treat in a resort from a radio text promo. Unknown to them, their supposedly fun summer adventure could turn ugly and even scary as they encounter the vengeful ghost of a woman named Sad-ako.[2]
Emily is a woman who manages a carnival that she inherited from her mother. Living with her half-sister Marvi, she keeps from everyone a dark secret about what she becomes when darkness falls: a "manananggal". As horrid as she may seem, Emily is actually the type of "manananggal" who is too nice to harm anyone. However, things get a little complicated when Stella enters the scene and introduces herself as Emily and Marvi's other half-sister. Unknown to Emily, Stella has long been aware that she is a "manananggal" and that the latter is determined to keep the family business to herself, whatever the cost. Learn about sisterly love and valuing family heritage and find out if one's kindness can save her from the ills caused by a condition she is born with.[6]
An actress in the 1970s, Mommy Glo has always decided on anything that concerns Bongbong—from the food he eats to the women he dates. She always justifies her meddling by saying that she only wants the best for her son. So far, none of the women that Bongbong dated seem good enough for her. When Mommy Glo dies, Bongbong finally gets the chance to be independent and choose the woman he will love. However, Mommy Glo loves her son so much that she cannot rest her soul. She decides to go back as a ghost and continues to interfere with her son's lovelife. After a while, Bongbong notices that something weird happens to the women he dates—Anna (Michelle Madrigal) gets scared stiff and ends up in a state of trauma; Karen (Andrea Torres) also winds up shocked in fear. At this point, Bongbong realizes that his mother frightens these poor women. He confronts Mommy Glo and tells her to leave him alone and just rest in peace.[7]
It is about Rody's struggle to raise his children as a single father, maintain his macho image for his mother and keep his biggest secret—that he is a homosexual. Recently parted ways with his wife, Rody goes back to live with his mother, Felicia, and takes along with him his twin daughters: the mischievous Bembem and the well-behaved Jenjen. Rody's presumptuous and nosy mom believes that there is a dark secret behind his breakup with his wife. Thus, Felicia tries everything to trick him into confessing but Rody never admits until a magical creature comes out of his closet and makes him come clean. Meanwhile, Bembem finds herself a new playground in the old and big house of Felicia. She ignores her grandmother's instruction never to enter a certain room and accidentally frees an evil hag, who has long been staying there. The hag searches for someone to live with her in the world of shadows and soon aims for Jenjen to be the one.[8]
The story recounts the struggle of a newly-wedded couple against a vengeful spirit of a woman who committed suicide. Belle and Paolo elope to a province after their recent wedding to escape Belle's disapproving father. Incidentally, the couple moves into Paolo's old house where Elsa, a woman who was in love with him, died. Believing that Paolo abandoned her, Elsa killed herself in his room and she is now determined to make him pay for it by possessing Belle and making her kill herself too.[9]
A story about a vengeful tiyanak terrorizing a community where a pregnant woman named Maria lives. Upon conceiving her child with Hector, Maria knows that her mother, Aling Cecil (Tanya Gomez), will disapprove of her circumstance: pregnant out of wedlock. True enough, Aling Cecil wants Maria to abort the child but the latter disagrees. As Maria decides to keep the baby, Aling Cecil locks her up and stops her from working and talking to anyone except her childhood friend, Nimfa. During Maria's pregnancy, she is constantly haunted by cries of a baby and by a bloody child who keeps on appearing to her. Later, the town experiences a series of scary events that leads them into concluding that a tiyanak creeps around them to take vengeance. It first attacked the abortion care provider, Madam Ora, and then victimized many others. After some time, it is revealed that Aling Cecil has something to do with the haunting tiyanak.[10]
As Christmas nears, Aya her daughter Frances and Elmer return to their hometown to pick up their Tatay Danny, who is now paralyzed. Tatay Danny had a heart attack when Carol abandoned him and her husband, Hector for some unknown reasons. When they get to their home, Elmer sees his childhood friend, Gengeng, and hears from her that unusual and mysterious things have been happening in their house since Carol had gone. Their family's abode further turns into a haunted house when Frances finds the lantern made by Aya and Carol a long time ago. When they hang it, they begin hearing cries for help. A disturbed soul also makes its presence felt in their house and this causes Aya, Elmer and Gengeng to investigate all these mysterious happenings.[11]
It tells the story of two lonely people who rediscover the meaning of Christmas when they meet an orphan named Alice. Jackie has been fooled by too many men that she has lost her faith in love. Now, she disguises herself as a boyish woman to discourage men from courting her. On the other hand, her friend Jilmer is a soft-hearted man who always ends up being brokenhearted because women take advantage of his kindness. Jackie meets Alice because of an incident in the carnival that she manages. Upon knowing that the girl is an orphan, Jackie decides to take her in despite Jilmer's warning that Alice might be a part of an illegal syndicate. Unknown to the two adults, Alice is worse than a syndicate. She has a very dark past and her desperate need for parental love becomes a psychotic obsession that makes her kill the people who disappoint her.[12] Eventually, Jackie and Jilmer learns of Alice's true nature. In the end, as they drive away from the carnival, Alice spooks Jackie and Jilmer in Jilmer's car that they collide head on with a truck and the screen fades to black, leaving their fate unknown.
According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Mega Manila household television ratings, the pilot episode of Spooky Nights earned a 20.7% rating.[13] While the final episode scored a 17.4% rating.[14]
