Joyce Bernal's Last Night defies convention in risky ways

Right from the get go, Last Night doesn't feel like your usual Star Cinema production. It's filmed in lush night colors, often capturing the beauty of Old Manila, and its score is anything but  light and preppy. Its main story is also atypical in the rom com scheme of things, as it is about two people bonding over suicide. Mark (Piolo Pascual) is in the middle of jumping off Jones' bridge when he meets Carmina (Toni Gonzaga) who apparently was trying the same thing but hit a snag (literally and figuratively.) Over the next few days, the two try to find ways to kill themselves together, eventually learning something about each other in the process.

It's a darker place than we're used to when talking about a contemporary Star Cinema film. That in itself is interesting, but Last Night goes further: the story begins to evolve in the film's second half, a change that I found really refreshing. To its credit, this film is trying to push the boundaries of its genre. While it doesn't always succeed in doing that, kudos to them for trying. There are some hints along the way so the shift doesn't feel too jarring, either.

The film isn't perfect, and some of the risks the film takes do not pay off. The dialogue at the beginning of the film can sound awkward, and the film stretches its ending a bit too much in some parts, while ignoring closure in others. Toni Gonzaga at the beginning of the film is far too plucky and cheerful for me to believe she's someone who's trying to kill herself. It takes a while for chemistry to form between the two, the film choosing not to linger in specific moments that could have developed their relationship further.

That said, the film has one or two really beautiful moments that aren't just romantic, they tackle the film's focus on suicide and confront it in an interesting way. The film is wonderfully shot, both DP and production designer painting the frame with an interesting palette. The soundtrack is fantastic, with some songs in particular enhancing some of the movie's most dramatic moments.

Last Night takes a lot of risks. Ultimately it's something more different than anything Star Cinema has released this year. Granted, the results don't always pay off, but I think the filmmakers deserve credit for the parts that do work.