Salawahan (2024) Movie Review
Directed by: Jeffrey Hidalgo
Cast: Angeli Khang, Albie Casiño, Sheila Snow, Van Allen Ong, Itan Rosales
Story & Screenplay by: Raquel Villavicencio
Presented by: Vivamax, Great Media Productions
Release Date: February 2, 2024 (via Vivamax)
Salawahan (2024), directed by Jeffrey Hidalgo, is a film that attempts to explore the darker aspects of human relationships and desires but falls short due to its muddled execution and lack of coherent storytelling. The film centers on Angeli Khang’s character, who finds herself entangled with three men, each with his own problematic behavior. While the premise hints at an intense and thrilling narrative, the movie struggles to deliver any real tension or depth.
Plot and Character Overview
The story revolves around Angeli Khang’s character, who is pursued by three different men, each with a distinctly unpleasant personality. Albie Casiño plays a domineering and controlling figure, Van Allen Ong takes on the role of a creepy and unsettling stalker, and Itan Rosales embodies the stereotypical “maniac.” Despite the film’s attempt to delve into these toxic dynamics, the relationships come across as shallow and unconvincing.
The supposed “love” or “affection” these men claim to have for Angeli’s character is far from believable. There’s no real connection or chemistry between the characters, and even when betrayal or danger arises, the lack of emotional investment makes it difficult for the audience to care about their fates. The absence of genuine tension or stakes renders the film’s dramatic moments ineffective, leaving viewers detached and uninterested.
Performance and Characterization
The performances from the male leads are underwhelming, particularly in the more intimate scenes. The actors appear awkward and unconvincing, as if they were uncomfortable with the material. They come off as more concerned with maintaining their image than fully committing to their roles. This results in sex scenes that feel superficial and lack the intensity or raw emotion that the narrative demands.
Angeli Khang, on the other hand, tries to bring depth to her character but is ultimately let down by the weak script and direction. Her character’s interactions with the men feel forced and lack the complexity needed to make the story compelling. Sheila Snow, who plays a supporting role, also fails to leave a significant impact, as her character is not given enough material to work with.
Themes and Execution
Salawahan tries to tackle a range of heavy issues, including infidelity, suicide, murder, drug use, stalking, and dark pasts, but it barely scratches the surface of these themes. The film introduces these elements in a way that feels more like ticking off boxes than offering any real exploration or commentary. The issues are presented and then quickly brushed aside, leaving the audience with the impression that the film doesn’t really care about the weight of the topics it brings up.
The film also includes a few attempts at philosophical conversations among the characters, where they try to sound insightful or profound. However, these moments feel hollow and disconnected from the rest of the narrative. The film’s ending tries to tie back to these early conversations, but because the middle of the film is so heavily focused on repetitive and gratuitous sex scenes, the connection feels flimsy and ultimately meaningless.
Cinematography and Atmosphere
Visually, Salawahan offers little to write home about. The cinematography is functional but uninspired, failing to elevate the material or create a memorable aesthetic. The film lacks a distinct atmosphere or mood, which could have helped in making the darker themes more impactful. Instead, the visuals feel generic and fail to add any depth to the story.
The music and sound design are similarly mismatched with the film’s tone. The songs and background score do not complement the scenes, often creating a jarring contrast that further detracts from the viewing experience. This inconsistency in tone contributes to the overall sense that the film is unsure of what it wants to be or say.
Where to Watch
For those curious about Vivamax’s latest releases, Salawahan is available for streaming on the platform, but it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression. If anything, it serves as a reminder that not all experiments in storytelling are successful, and that sometimes, less is more.
Conclusion
Salawahan (2024) is a film that attempts to juggle multiple themes and ideas but ultimately fails to deliver on any of them. The characters are poorly developed, the performances lack conviction, and the narrative is disjointed and unsatisfying. Despite the film’s potential to explore the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of toxic behavior, it ends up being a superficial and forgettable entry in the Vivamax catalog.
The title Salawahan, which loosely translates to “fickle” or “unfaithful,” is ironically fitting for the film itself. It wavers between trying to be a serious drama and a provocative thriller but ends up being neither. The movie’s inability to commit to a clear direction or tone makes it a frustrating watch, with little to offer in terms of meaningful content or entertainment.
