The story is about Woody who traveled around the world searching for the perfect home. His latest move was in Japan, where he met Lynlyn and her siblings who are making a living by selling squid. Lynlyn is revealed to have an ability to know if that person could bring joy or pain just by touching them. This ability would also lead to some trouble but will also bring Woody into their lives. At first, there was no reading if it was positive or negative however it will eventually change, as they get to know more about each other.
Set in my favorite country of Japan, her story and ability are linked with the culture and supernatural entities of the country. Though it can also be adapted to any place with that situation, yet the Japanese aesthetic just made it better but not the story. The actors are great with the performances however it suffers from the lack of establishing connection and emotion.
It feels like any other story with the same formula, but with added Japanese culture and experiences. They used to many Japanese references like Kintsugi, Isekai, and many more. The yokai lore was too shallow and felt forced just to justify the mystical power. The sensation clip looks like a TV commercial for a shampoo or loperamide. Thus, brought out the ick for the film.
The best thing from the movie was the cinematography and location which Japan never disappoints. The love story would have gone better with a non-mystical route and better went with kintsugi aspect which shows that broken people can still be fixed and made more valuable just like adding gold to mend the broken pieces. In the end, the romance just fell short and feels more of a travel vlog.
Hold Me Close is showing in PH Cinemas for the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival.
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