THE LOVED ONE (2026) Review
Directed by Irene Emma Villamor
Let me start by saying that what I appreciate most about Irene Villamor’s latest romance film is how it presents its two leads as truly three-dimensional characters. You get to know them, love them, and hate them, but you also understand them. Ellie and Eric are complex, but Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales, under Irene Villamor’s writing and direction, portray them with nuances that allow them to own their roles truly.
I feel like The Loved One isn’t for everybody, but most people will likely connect to the film in one way or another. Some of the problems and solutions may only feel relatable to the middle to upper classes. You will get to understand those, but the non-linear narrative might make it harder to accept those problems and solutions.
The feel of the film is what makes it best. It feels like any second, you’re ready to get your heart broken. But it also presents the cute-meet moments and the moments when you know that these two, Ellie and Eric, are perfect for each other and should end up together. Until they’re not.
Using Cup of Joe’s Multo is not only perfect for its themes, but it also sets the vibe of the film. The cinematography perfectly catches the beauty and pain of Ellie and Eric, and how their environment shifts from a warm, nostalgic glow to a cold, stark reality as their love begins to be questioned.
It’s an Irene Villamor film. If you’re expecting deep talks about relationships and life, you’ll get it all and more. It’s actually how the story was built. While visually, Curtis and Jericho played their part really well, it’s the conversations that tell the story. The lines, the meanings behind their words, how they hold back from saying things and how they let it all out when it was all they have left.
There’s a lot to take away from The Loved One, but one thing that really stood out is how relationships can be perceived differently by the people involved in them. You may think that you’re the lover, but the other person can also think that way. You may think that your good intentions will have a good impact on your loved one, but isn’t always the case. The film tackles these problems and situations elegantly. You may think you’re ready for the heartbreaking moments, but you’re not. It creeps as the story progresses and once you get there, it’s like you’re part of Ellie and Eric’s relationship that you have invested in how they would end up.
3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
‘The Loved One’ is now showing in cinemas from Cornerstone Studios and Viva Films. Rated R-13 by the MTRCB.