18th Rose Review
Director: Dolly Dulu
Date Created: 2026-04-10 03:10
3.5
18th Rose Review: Directed by Dolly Dulu, this Filipino coming-of-age romantic drama stars Xyriel Manabat as Rose and Kyle Echarri as Jordan, alongside Nikki Valdez, Cris Villanueva, Yayo Aguila and others. The movie has a runtime of 2 hours and 11 minutes.
18th Rose Review
Netflix’s 18th Rose focuses on Rose, who is an ambitious young lady who spends time preparing for her ideal coming-of-age party. However, her life becomes complicated when she meets Jordan, who is a shy and reserved Filipino American struggling to fit in. The relationship between the two develops from a simple connection to a more complex one as they struggle to grow up.
Based on the trailer of the Filipino movie 18th Rose, I expected that it would be both an emotional film and a predictable one. Despite the fact that it is quite a conventional film, it still succeeds in keeping you hooked despite some flaws. This is a movie that sometimes fails to convince you, but, at the same time, manages to arouse your interest.
Xyriel Manabat has a lot to do as Rose in the film, and on most parts of the movie, she plays her role very well. The actress seems authentic in her performance, and it becomes more apparent in quiet, introspective scenes, where we can sense the vulnerability of her character. But sometimes, Rose’s story makes it hard for us to relate to her. She is so obsessed with having a perfect debut that at some points, what happens to her is annoying rather than being sympathetic to me. Nevertheless, Manabat tries to make her character believable despite how the script was written.
Jordan, played by Kyle Echarri, is a much quieter character, but a character who serves to enhance the movie, at least for the beginning part. He has a very calm demeanour when acting the role, which provides an interesting contrast to Rose, whose persona is more assertive. But after further watching the movie, it can be seen that Jordan, despite being silent most of the time, is actually bearing an immense amount of emotional burden. Although Echarri is quite effective in portraying the character, there were instances wherein I wanted to know more about what he was really feeling.
Miscommunication plays a significant role in the Netflix film 18th Rose, and it’s at this point where repetition begins to creep in. In most cases, misunderstandings do not stem from challenging situations, but rather from a lack of communication. This aspect may be considered realistic up to a certain point, although it has been exaggerated to an annoying degree. On several occasions, it was clear that a particular confrontation was coming down the pipe, and there wasn’t any surprise left in the equation.
Also Read: The Miniature Wife Review: Clever, Messy, and Surprisingly Honest Take on Marriage
However, there are some strengths of the film, including the style. From an artistic point of view, Netflix Filipino movie 18th Rose is very attractive. The setting contributes to the creation of atmosphere, while the opening scene shots are really well-crafted. The director’s camera manages to lift up some rather unemotional scenes. There is a certain pattern followed throughout the entire movie that makes viewing the film a pleasure despite its slow pace at times.
In terms of the dialogue, this is also a bit of a mixed bag. It contains several instances when the dialogue rings true because it conveys an honest sentiment from the characters, which makes it very enjoyable to watch. However, at other times, the dialogue seems contrived in order to sound more profound than it actually is.
However, what I did enjoy about the film was its approach toward exploring the theme of expectations, whether social, family, or even personal. It is quite clear that when Rose wishes to have complete control of her debut because she fears being imperfect, there is more to her desires than meets the eye. However, although such parts of the movie are intriguing, they are not always given enough time.
Though there are some negatives, one cannot really deny that it was not fun to watch the 18th Rose. There is definitely something entertaining about the movie despite the frustration it sometimes elicits. The actors certainly have a lot to do with this, but so do the visual aspects and the sheer desire to know what happens next.
Netflix 18th Rose Review: Summing Up
In the end, I want to say that 18th Rose is an acceptable coming-of-age film that has good intentions but fails to follow through on some of them. The film is delightful, at times profound, and aesthetically pleasing, but it is inconsistent with its narrative and pacing. For me, this film is a middle-of-the-road experience – enjoyable but forgettable.
Also Read: Bandi Review: Compelling and Emotional, Even When It Feels Uneven
