Hugot

Granted, given this 2023 Filipino movie's cover, I wasn't really harboring a whole lot of expectation to writer and director Daniel Palacio's movie, especially since the last couple of Filipino movies that I have sat through have been nothing more than the directors and writers excuse to show off lewd nakedness and sex scenes.

And guess what? "Hugot" from writer and director Daniel Palacio was another one such movie. Yeah, sure, it was wrapped up in a basketball-themed storyline, but it was essentially just about infidelity and showing off sex scenes.

I managed to suffer through 55 minutes of the 99 minute runtime, then I just gave up on "Hugot", being bored to tears and finding no enjoyment in the movie. The storyline was boring, uneventful and rather monotonous. And the flaccid - pardon the pun - character gallery in the movie just didn't help to make anything in the movie any more exciting.

Needless to say that I wasn't familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list here, nor were I impressed with what I witnessed on the screen. But to be fair, then the actors and actresses weren't really given a whole lot to work with. And it seems that the young women on the cast list were cast solely for their willingness to get naked and participate in make-believe sex scenes on camera.

Yeah, "Hugot" was by no means top cinema in any way or form. And believe me when I say that I have zero intentions of returning to watch the rest of the movie, because I just didn't care about the contents that writer and director Daniel Palacio managed to spew out here.

My rating of "Hugot" lands on a two out of ten stars.

This movie had a lot going for it, featuring complex characters and shifting tones based on the characters' desperation, which I enjoyed. It felt reminiscent of "Requiem for a Dream," with an air of inevitable doom. However, similar to "Squid Game," the American portrayal was the film's weakest aspect. I watched this movie with the understanding that hurt people tend to hurt others; everyone in it was being treated badly, treating others badly or being used. Stephanie Raz stole the show for me; she was searching for love but was ultimately used by everyone. (Happy birthday) The message about fear and loss preventing one from achieving their destiny was powerful, and I thought the ending was beautiful. Revealing one from achieving their destiny was powerful, and I thought the ending was beautiful.