The Rites of May
Itim
Synopsis
During a return to his provincial home, a young man gets involved with a woman who is ultimately possessed by her sister's spirit, paving the way to revealing the painful truth about her unsolved disappearance.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Mike de Leon
- Screenplay & Story
- Gil Quito, Clodualdo del Mundo Jr.
- Original Score
- Max Jocson
- Original Title
- Itim
- Country of Origin
- Philippines
- Spoken Languages
- Tagalog
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Production Studios
- Cinema Artists
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Mike de Leon
Gil Quito, Clodualdo del Mundo Jr.
Max Jocson
Rody Lacap
Ike Jarlego Jr.
Department Leadership Roster
Mike de Leon
Director
Gil Quito
Screenplay
Rody Lacap
Director of Photography
Clodualdo del Mundo Jr.
Screenplay
Ike Jarlego Jr.
Editor
Mel Chionglo
Production Design
Max Jocson
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Rites of May.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Rites of May.
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Oct. 2026 Collection: Directed by Mike De Leon
One of the defining figures of Philippine cinema, Mike De Leon brought a razor-sharp formal precision, fierce political intelligence, and subversive edge to a remarkable array of genres. From the claustrophobic domestic horror of KISAPMATA to the harrowing college-hazing drama BATCH ’81 to the wild rock-opera satire WILL YOUR HEART BEAT FASTER?, his rigorous, intensely psychological films deploy potent symbolism and provocative allegory to attack patriarchy, abuse of power, and the authoritarian brutality of the Ferdinand Marcos regime.
Oct. 2026 Collection: Possessions
These boundary-pushing visions of total takeover examine the terror and transgressive thrill of losing oneself to a host of uncanny forces. Ancient demons (THE OMEN), AI gone rogue (DEMON SEED), alien parasites (LIFEFORCE), and adolescent bloodlust (JENNIFER’S BODY) turn the body into a battleground in tales of physical and psychic invasion that explore the primal anxieties and provocative possibilities of transformation from within.
Movies I have made edit contributions to
Asian Horror Mix
Asian horror films that I like not including films from Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand or South Korea because I have made separate lists for them. (Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar)
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Rites of May
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Rites of May about?
During a return to his provincial home, a young man gets involved with a woman who is ultimately possessed by her sister's spirit, paving the way to revealing the painful truth about her unsolved disappearance.
Who directed The Rites of May?
The Rites of May was directed by Mike de Leon.
Who stars in The Rites of May?
The principal cast of The Rites of May includes Charo Santos, Tommy Abuel, Mona Lisa, Mario Montenegro, Sarah K. Joaquin.
When was The Rites of May released and how long is it?
The Rites of May was released in 1976 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.
Who composed the musical score for The Rites of May?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Rites of May was composed by Max Jocson.