Movie Review: 2 Valid IDs

2 Valid IDs follows Sylvia, a poor farmer who needs to claim money sent by a relative for the medical treatment of her husband, Ramon, who is suffering from severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). But there’s one problem: she doesn’t have a single valid ID, let alone the required two. What seems like a simple requirement becomes an impossible challenge, forcing Sylvia to seek help from a fixer while dealing with exhausting lines, bureaucracy, hunger, and dwindling resources. As her husband’s condition worsens, Sylvia is pushed to confront the limits of her faith, conscience, and humanity.

Movie Review: Ganggang

Ganggang is a simple but meaningful film that has an important story to tell, especially for those who feel oppressed and those who continue to fight and rebel against the things they believe are wrong. What I appreciate about the film is how it presents these serious issues in a light and accessible way. It does not feel overly heavy or preachy, yet underneath its simple story is a message about oppression, resistance, having a voice, and standing up against those who abuse their power.

Movie Review: Hand of God

Hand of God shines with its message about the victims of war and the division of faith in the southern part of the Philippines. Set in a remote village scarred by years of conflict, the film follows a military lieutenant who sets up a football post to gain the trust of the community. What begins as a tactical strategy eventually becomes deeply personal when he forms a bond with the children, especially ten-year-old Khaleel, a child soldier who finds an unexpected refuge in football.

Movie Review: Tirik

Tirik follows Paring Bert, a weary but steadfast priest, and Santos, a parishioner and taxi driver haunted by his past, as they embark on a gritty journey to make peace with their moral conflicts while trying to elude an assassination attempt. Set against the backdrop of Manila’s unforgiving streets during the height of the drug war, what begins as an ordinary funeral visit turns into a day-long odyssey filled with guilt, redemption, moral reckoning, and questions about faith, justice, and vengeance.
 

Movie Review: Kaka Sa Yawan

Kaka sa Yawan is a coming-of-age story that brings us to Mindoro and introduces us to the friendship between Niko, a young boy from Manila, and Ayan, a Tadyawan-Mangyan boy with big dreams. Through their bond, the film explores friendship, childhood, grief, identity, and the promises we carry even as we grow older.

Movie Review: Mag-Iina

Absurd is one word I would use to describe Mag-Iina, but that absurdity is also its weapon, allowing the film to shine among the entries of Cinemalaya 2026.

Movie Review: Animal

A seemingly ordinary day in a small, unnamed province in the Philippines takes an unexpected turn when Lily, the mayor’s daughter, returns home with a compromising video involving the governor. As the mayor scrambles to protect his longtime ally from scandal, tensions begin to rise within his own household. His wife, Ofel, sees an opportunity to expose the truth to the governor’s wife, while Lily threatens to make the video public unless the governor gives her his beloved dog.

Movie Review: Tayo Lang ang Nakakaalam

Tayo Lang ang Nakakaalam champions its story through the ensemble acting of its four leads—Martin del Rosario, Yayo Aguila, Jeffrey Quizon, and Miguel Odron. What could have been a simple story about a family facing a difficult situation becomes something much more emotionally layered because of its strong screenplay, natural dialogue, and thoughtful storytelling.

Movie Review: Status: Rejected

Virginia "Biring" Divinagracia (Ruby Ruiz) is a 69-year-old widow who has spent her life caring for her daughter and granddaughter while holding on to one dream—to reunite with her son in America. After her fourth U.S. visa rejection, an old friend introduces her to the digital world, where she meets Steve, an American stranger who makes her feel seen and loved again. As her hope of finally reaching America grows, the line between dream and reality slowly begins to blur.

Movie Review: Spider-Man: Brand New Day

After erasing himself from the memories of everyone he loves, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) now lives a completely isolated life, dedicating himself to protecting New York City as Spider-Man. As loneliness and overwhelming pressure begin to take their toll, Peter faces an unexpected threat that challenges both his body and mind while confronting a mysterious new enemy capable of controlling others. To protect a city that no longer remembers him, Peter must overcome his greatest battle yet—his own isolation. 

Movie Review: The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey brings Homer's timeless epic to life on an astonishing scale. The film follows Odysseus (Matt Damon), King of Ithaca, as he embarks on a perilous ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he faces mythical creatures, powerful gods, and impossible trials that test not only his strength but also his intelligence and determination. From the Cyclops and the Sirens to Circe, Scylla, Charybdis, and Calypso, every obstacle pushes him closer to discovering what it truly means to find his way home.

 

Movie Review: Disclosure Day

If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? This summer, the truth belongs to eight billion people. We are coming close to ... Disclosure Day.

Disclosure Day delivers on its promise of being one of the year's most ambitious and highly anticipated big-screen experiences. From its gripping mystery and breathtaking spectacle to its thought-provoking narrative, the film keeps you invested from beginning to end. It's refreshing to see a quality sci-fi film like this again—one that fully embraces the cinematic experience and reminds audiences why some stories are
meant to be seen on the biggest screen possible.

Movie Review: Project Baby

Sandy is your alpha millenial woman – ambitious, successful, knows what she wants. There is nothing more that she needs to complete her life... that is, except having a baby. But she wants one thing clear about this – she only wants a baby. She doesn't want any complication that comes along with having a baby...like having a husband. So as her 31st birthday looms, Sandy plans to perfection her “baby project.” Question is, where will she find a man who will give her what she needs without giving her problems? Enter Migo – a handsome, athletic, artistic man. Migo agrees to have sex with Sandy. They are lucky enough to succeed on the first attempt. As her pregnancy develops, Sandy's world starts to know Migo more. Her family, especially her mother, loves Migo. Even her friends love Migo. But Sandy does not allow herself to be distracted. She only wants a baby; she does not want a husband; she does not want a family. But for how long can she stay away from Migo's charm and sincere concern for her. Will she be able to uphold her plan to be single, successful, independent mother? Or will she realize that what she really needs is something she never really planned for?

 

Movie Review: Backrooms

Backrooms follows a therapist searching for her missing patient after he disappears into a strange alternate dimension hidden beyond reality — an endless maze of yellow hallways, buzzing fluorescent lights, and distorted spaces that feel both empty and terrifying. What starts as a rescue mission slowly becomes a disturbing journey into the unknown, where every corner feels like a puzzle waiting to be solved.

Movie Review: Tayo Sa Wakas

“Tayo Sa Wakas” beautifully captures the painful yet heartfelt reality of growing together while slowly growing apart. The film follows Cisco and Cheska, played by Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, a longtime workplace power couple whose relationship begins to struggle as their ambitions start leading them in different directions. What starts as a promised “breakup trip” becomes an emotional journey filled with honest conversations, buried frustrations, sacrifices, and realizations about love, career, and maturity.

Movie Review: Obsession

Obsession is one of the most surprising and emotionally disturbing horror films of the year. The story follows Bear, a lonely yet kind-hearted young man who secretly wishes for his childhood best friend Nikki to finally love him back. But when his wish mysteriously comes true, affection slowly turns into dangerous obsession, leading both of them into a dark and terrifying nightmare.

Movie Review: In The Grey

In The Grey follows a covert team of elite operatives who live in the global shadows, as comfortable wielding power and influence as they are automatic weapons and high explosives. When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission. What begins as an impossible heist gets much worse, spiraling into an all-out war of strategy, deception and survival. 

Movie Review: Midnight Girls

Midnight Girls is a moving and beautifully written modern OFW story set in Nagoya, Japan, following four Filipina entertainers who form an unexpected sisterhood while facing the emotional cost of chasing their dreams in a foreign land. The film explores how far they’re willing to go and what they’re willing to sacrifice for a better future.

Movie Review: Almost Us

Almost Us brings back that classic kilig feeling while giving it a fresh, Gen Z twist. The story follows RR, who has always been secretly in love with his best friend Janine. But Janine is head over heels for Kenzo—the dreamy “prince charming” from her own fan fiction. When RR finds a way to bring her closer to Kenzo, he’s faced with a painful question: is he willing to sacrifice his own happiness just to make hers come true?

Movie Review: Mother Mary

Mother Mary is a film that leans heavily into mood, atmosphere, and artistic expression, offering a unique viewing experience that won’t be for everyone—but will definitely leave an impression. The visuals, tone, and overall feel of the film truly stand out. Anne Hathaway is absolutely radiant here—like a true goddess on screen .