Delusyon (2025) Movie Review – Where to Watch Online
“Delusyon” (2025) is a gripping Filipino drama that explores the harsh realities of poverty, crime, and moral corruption. Unlike many films on Vivamax, which often focus on explicit content, this movie delves into the unsettling world of poverty porn—a term used to describe films that exploit human suffering for dramatic impact.
Directed by Carby Salvador, with a screenplay written by Gboy Pablo and Zane Mendoza, Delusyon presents a bleak yet intriguing narrative of desperation, power struggles, and emotional turmoil. Starring Apple Dy, Ardy Raymundo, Gboy Pablo, and Racquel Enriquez, the film attempts to deliver a thought-provoking experience but struggles to fully develop its themes.
If you’re wondering where to watch Delusyon (2025) online, the movie is available exclusively on Vivamax. You can stream it here.
Plot Summary
The story revolves around Esme (Apple Dy), a woman whose life takes a tragic turn when her husband, Noli (Ardy Raymundo), is shot during a failed robbery attempt. Desperate to find financial aid, Esme turns to Kap (Gboy Pablo)—a man who has always been interested in her. What begins as a plea for help spirals into a dangerous affair that jeopardizes their relationships and exposes the grim realities of power and survival.
Throughout the film, themes of abuse, corruption, and desperation take center stage. Sex is portrayed as both a form of escape and a tool for power. Government aid is depicted as unreliable, and crime becomes an accepted means of survival. The film unflinchingly showcases the grim side of society, leaving audiences with an unsettling yet reflective experience.
Performances & Character Analysis
Apple Dy as Esme
Apple Dy delivers a compelling and emotionally charged performance. She successfully captures the vulnerability and internal conflict of a woman caught between love, survival, and moral decay. Her portrayal of Esme brings depth to a character that could have easily been one-dimensional.
Ardy Raymundo as Noli
While Ardy Raymundo has moments of genuine emotion, his performance lacks consistency in crucial scenes. His portrayal of Noli feels authentic in the quieter moments but fails to carry the necessary intensity during pivotal emotional sequences.
Gboy Pablo as Kapitan Francis
Gboy Pablo embraces his role with confidence. His performance as Kap is unsettling yet engaging, making him a convincing figure of power and manipulation.
Racquel Enriquez as Rica
Racquel Enriquez plays a supporting role, but her character could have been given more depth. Her presence adds to the film’s atmosphere but does not leave a lasting impact.
Direction & Cinematic Execution
Carby Salvador’s direction attempts to highlight the brutal realities of poverty and exploitation. However, the film suffers from narrative stagnation—it introduces powerful themes but fails to develop them fully.
One of the biggest flaws in Delusyon is its uneven pacing. The emotional shifts between scenes feel abrupt, and certain moments that should carry significant weight lack the depth required to make a lasting impact. The film had the potential to be a social critique, but instead, it lingers in exploitative storytelling, focusing on suffering rather than resolution.
The cinematography successfully conveys grit and realism, using dim lighting and raw, unfiltered shots to amplify the feeling of despair. However, certain awkwardly directed scenes disrupt the overall flow of the film.
Themes & Social Commentary
1. Power and Exploitation
The film explores how power dynamics shape relationships, particularly in desperate situations. Kap’s ability to manipulate Esme’s vulnerability highlights the exploitation of the powerless.
2. Poverty as a Trap
The movie reinforces the idea that poverty is not just an economic condition but a psychological trap. Many characters, including Esme and Noli, cling to delusions (delusyon) that things will improve, even when their situation remains hopeless.
3. Crime as a Survival Mechanism
Rather than portraying crime as a choice, the film suggests that it becomes a necessity in a broken system. The failure of government assistance is emphasized through chaotic scenes of people struggling to make ends meet.
Criticisms & Missed Opportunities
While Delusyon brings up important issues, it ultimately falls short in delivering a deeper message. The film could have expanded its narrative to address systemic poverty, corruption, and social injustices, rather than just depicting them.
Another major drawback is its lack of fully developed characters. While Apple Dy’s Esme is given emotional weight, the other characters remain underexplored. Noli’s struggles could have been examined in greater detail, and Kap’s motivations deserved a stronger backstory.
Additionally, the film’s reliance on shocking imagery—such as disturbing scenes of cigarette butts being put out on a woman’s body—feels gratuitous rather than meaningful. This overemphasis on suffering detracts from the film’s potential as a powerful social commentary.
Final Verdict
Delusyon (2025) attempts to be more than just another poverty-driven drama, but it falls into the same traps it seeks to expose. While the film’s raw portrayal of desperation is commendable, its execution lacks the finesse needed to deliver a truly impactful message.
That being said, if you enjoy dark, thought-provoking dramas with raw performances, Delusyon is still worth watching. Apple Dy’s performance stands out, and the film offers a harrowing, if flawed, exploration of poverty and power.
Where to Watch Delusyon (2025)
Delusyon is available exclusively on Vivamax. You can stream it online here: Vivamax Streaming Link.
If you’re interested in Filipino indie films that tackle raw and controversial themes, Delusyon might be worth your time. Despite its shortcomings, it presents a harsh yet thought-provoking look at the struggles of those trapped in poverty.
Have you watched Delusyon? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Would you like to see more films that explore these kinds of themes? Let’s discuss!
