Alagwa (2012) is a gripping Filipino drama-thriller about a father (Jericho Rosales) desperately searching for his kidnapped son (Bugoy Cariño). The film starts off feeling almost like a daytime soap, but once the son goes missing in a mall, the tone shifts dramatically. Some scenes evoke the raw, gritty realism of Dante Mendoza, while others carry the emotional, dreamlike atmosphere of Wong Kar-Wai. The performances by Rosales and Cariño are exceptional, anchoring the film's emotional depth. The ending is its strongest asset-raw, heartbreaking, and guaranteed to bring tears. I know this firsthand, having watched it as a new father myself over a decade ago. However, the film's visual quality hasn't aged well, much like another Filipino digital classic, Pa-Siyam. It could've benefited from a better shooting format, as its look feels dated today. Despite these technical flaws, Alagwa remains a powerful emotional journey that resonates long after the credits roll.