Mention Alex Medina’s name when chatting with a gay friend and chances are your chum will show all signs of being totally smitten.
Indeed, the ruggedly handsome actor and lead star of the horror-comedy film, “Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil,” has been the object of the local gay community’s sexual fantasies in the past few years, earning him the moniker “kilabot ng mga beki” or “gay heartthrob.”
“I like it,” Alex, the son of acclaimed actor Pen Medina, unabashedly admits. “If my being a gay heartthrob catches on, eh di sige, okay. I am comfortable with the way I am, which is why I’m fine with it. Nakaka-flatter s’ya actually.”
Medina relates that he used to receive numerous “indecent proposals” from gay fans on social media. However, such rabid attention eventually declined when he became more visible in movies and television.
“Dati ang dami-dami kong natatanggap na ganung messages, pero lately wala na halos. How did I respond to these? I would nicely but candidly tell them, ‘Sorry po, that’s not my thing,’ ” he says.
In “Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil,” Alex takes on the role of Carlo, a sweet-tongued and charismatic gigolo who was possessed by a gay spirit after the death of his lover Kristoff (John Lapus). The film, which likewise top-bills Callalily vocalist Kean Cipriano as Father Nick, was directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Lemuel Lorca and was written by Jerry Gracio.
“Doing the role of Carlo was both fun and challenging. Mahirap ang role, lalo na the physical side to it because I had to play various personas at the same time,” he recounts.
Alex even shares that he was initially more afraid of the so-called “curse” that reportedly afflicts those who work on the filming of horror movies than being typecast for such offbeat roles as the one he did for “Echorsis”.
“Yes, I’ve heard stories that the cast and production crews of horror films occasionally experience real-life scary episodes,” Alex claims. “They say that the process inadvertently summons the dark forces that bring about the ‘curse’. Mas lalo akong kinabahan nang may naramdaman kaming mga unexplainable incidents sa set sa Bulacan. Sabi ko, baka ito na yun!”
Such quirky sidelights notwithstanding, Alex is upbeat about the commercial success of “Echorsis”.
The actor believes that while it is expected to get the support of the pink market, the widely anticipated film will attract an even bigger audience, especially those who are looking for an out-of-the-box and intelligent narrative.
“Echorsis is about love and forgiveness. Matatawa ka ng husto pero lalabas ka sa sinehan realizing na ni-respeto ka ng pelikula bilang isang matalinong manonood,” Alex stresses.
Even now, a few weeks prior to its April 13 opening in cinemas nationwide, the highly anticipated movie has become the talk of the town. Echorsis’ trailer has gone viral, receiving close to two million views.
Completing the ensemble cast of “Echorsis” are Alessandra de Rossi, Chokoleit, Kiray Celis, Mich Liggayu, Ruby Ruiz, Negi Negra, Bekimon, Nico Antonio, Francine Garcia, Odette Khan, and 1:43’s Yuki Sakamoto, Anjo Resurreccion, Gold Aquino, and Yheen Valero.
“Echorsis” is supported by BellaVita Land Corp. and McJim Classic Leather.