- Directed by: Roman Perez Jr.
- Genre: Erotic Drama, Psychological Thriller
- Streaming On: Vivamax
- Starring: Janelle Tee, Azi Acosta, Rash Flores, Rob Guinto
Filipino cinema offers a revealing take on relationships with Salisihan (2024), a uniquely steamy psychological thriller airing on Vivamax, directed by Roman Perez Jr. In the film, betrayal, longing, shifting alliances are examined through the backdrop of relationships. Salisihan, a Filipino word which means “to switch or to steal,” combined with the seductive elements of the film hints at the more to the story of infidelity, physical and emotional deception, being explored within the confines of seduction, intrigue, and suspense.
📝 Plot Summary
The protagonist is Leah, played by Janelle Tee, a confident and successful woman who resides in the city with her long term boyfriend Marco, portrayed by Rash Flores. Marco faces an array of psychological challenges as a result of his struggles with self-esteem issues. Their relationship begins to show signs of fatigue—distance, routine, and growing suspicions cloud their emotional connection.
Things take an interesting turn with the arrival of Leah’s old friend Nina (Azi Acosta) who is coming to stay with them temporarily. Unbeknownst to them, Nina’s presence transforms the group dynamic completely, invigorating suppressed hatred and desires. And Marco falls for the emotionally complicated Ruby (Rob Guinto), a captivating ex who has resurfaced when he’s most vulnerable.
The movie proceeds to show how each character is enacting their concocted version of betrayal through shifting perspectives and secret meetings. By the time everything is revealed, trust is gone, and each participant suffers the fallout of selfish, emotionally manipulative decisions.
🎭 Main Characters
Leah (Janelle Tee) – Emotionally complex and exceedingly self-reliant and intelligent. Initially Leah is cast as the stabilizing partner in the romantic dyad, but her struggle with love and control shows how underneath vulnerabilities lurk.
Marco (Rash Flores) – Leah’s jealous and insecure boyfriend who eventually, and without betrayal, shifts focus to other sources of attention. His slow moral descent is crucial.
Nina (Azi Acosta) – Leah’s seductive friend, the magnetic presence whose disturbance to the chaotic household is inexplainable. A sultry past and captivating flirtation make her the emotional imploder.
Ruby (Rob Guinto) – Marco’s ex-girlfriend who reignites dormant feelings stir for him. She plays her part as a skilled manipulator undermining emotional enablement and uncertainty.
🎥 Direction and Visual Style
Salisihan benefitted from the distinctive sultry realism of Roman Perez Jr. The direction is intense and intimate with dim lighting, close-quarters interior shots and silence filled with layers that say so much. Tight framing is a stylistic choice in the film that adds emotional pressure, especially in moments where numerous characters whisper secrets to one another.
Mirrors, doors, and shadows are symbolically charged imagery that symbolically depict duplicity and emotion-induced prison. Perez walks the thin line of eroticism and psychological weight precisely, creating tension from not just desire, but betrayal.
🎵 Music and Sound
Moody, slow-tempo instrumental music dominates the soundtrack, simmering in the background or silencing to amplify confrontations or moments deemed off-limits. In Salisihan, music is more of a passive observer: never intruding, but always there.
Sighs, whispers, and ambient sound design contribute equally towards discomfort and tension, especially in scenes that are more about action than dialogue.
🔍 Themes and Messages
Chronic infidelity that transcends the physical – Cheating as presented in the film is far deeper than a mere physical transgression. It lies in the emotional betrayal and deception of intent.
Desire and guilt – Salisihan examines the coexistence of attraction and regret, and how characters emotionally justify their betrayals under strain.
Possession vs. Love – It interrogates if the characters actually love one another or are trapped seeking control, solace, and affirmation.
Trust as a Fragile Currency – Trust alters the fundamentals of all connections in life when broken, and even with forgiving, trust does not restore the original state.
Temptation as a Test – It demonstrates how mere commitment, once offered to temptation, leads to certain disaster.
🎞 Reception and Audience Salisihan attracted attention for its character-driven tension and bold narrative choices. Enthusiasts of Vivamax movies commended Janelle Tee and Azi Acosta for their portrayal of characters’ emotional and sensual intricacies as they performed with great subtleness.
Some viewers were caught off guard by the depth of the film’s psychological commentary, as they expected merely a passionate plot, but instead were confronted with modern relationship satire. Others found the unnerving realism of the plot—to be more impactful than typical erotic dramas.
📚 Lessons and Reflections The silence within loyalty is far more revealing than the noise of loyalty claimed.
The consequences of fleeting desire are often engrained in the facade.
The denial of trust often yields deeper injuries than physical betrayal.
In the majority of the cases, it is not in the act, but in the concealment which yields real injury.
🌟 Final Thoughts
Salisihan (2024) masterfully navigates themes of intimacy, love, vulnerability, and heartbreak—all within the constructs of modern dating. While it’s easy to think of betrayal as a physical act, this film portrays how it can begin with coldness and stillness.
The film is both entertaining and thought provoking, especially with its premise that compels viewers to reconsider the depth of their intimate relationships. The narrative serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences that stem from minor decisions and oversights in love.
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