In general, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The plot was well developed and kept the watcher engaged in the film. This film was unlike traditional American films, which was very refreshing to watch. It helped to give another perspective on the world and especially third world countries. This film discussed issues such the roles of women and crime in the Philippines. In the end, Oscar has to make a difficult decision in order to save his family and he ends up giving up his life for his family to have a better life. If I were in his shoes I think it would be hard to make a decision, but knowing my sacrifice will help my family live the life they deserve I would also give up my life. Overall, This movie is a must watch due to the fact that it gives you a different perspective on the world and has and intricate and interesting plot that keeps the watcher on the edge of their seat.

I really enjoyed this film because although majority of the film wasn't action, which is something I usually prefer, there was still this weight that you could feel sitting on Oscars shoulders throughout the entire film as he battled to support and care for his family. I really enjoyed how the constant feeling of desperation forces Oscar's hand in many decisions and eventually ends with his demise.

I liked the parts of the film that show the raw imagery and graphic content of the evil and good of humans throughout the whole world. Moreover, like the scene of the woman just looking down at her phone and a second later she is being kidnapped within 50 feet away of the Ramirez family and disappearing within seconds. The definite elements of the film that indicate that the film is not American is that the film is filmed with a more realistic and unedited camera with a raw kind of vivid imagery in which HD is not needed and it makes you feel emotionally and intact in the film, as if you were there first hand experiencing it and walking throughout the whole movie with the characters themselves. Another indicator of it not being an American film is that there was n o flashiness or capitalistic kind of aspect to the film, no flashy cars, no mansions, no perfectly cut grass etc. The only part of the film that I did not understand was the clocking out of the armored truck drivers for each other and if there were any precautions for them potentially getting in trouble with their boss "laughing Buddha". What elements in the film indicate that the film is not American? The Global perspective elements that i saw in this film, was that status and social class still played a big factor and role in a urban city like Metro Manila. Ong, Oscar's partner, says to Oscar that if the boss were to know that Oscar is living in the slums, he would be fired immediately. If I were to put myself into Mai's shoes i would have not taken my children to a bar or club, because the dangers of kidnapping and or human trafficking of her children would have been very high in an Urban city and she did not have an eye on them for any time. Consequently, I would not change the ending at all to be honest because i think it is a perfect fit for the movie.I believe that the USA could be relevant to the culture that Sean Ellis portrays Metro manila because since the the birth of America everyone comes to America for the American dream and some people don't find work in America and become unemployed or in a financial disaster in which leads to poverty. Hence, in Metro Manila, Oscar Ramirez and his family give up living in the Banaue Province because of the possibility of starvation and poverty and move to Metro manila in order to escape that and find a new opportunity with their new hopes, but just like many immigrants who came to America with hope of escaping famine, wars, and or poverty, the Ramirez family find themselves living in poverty anyways and housing in the slums. The role of women in this film is portrayed in a sexual and demeaning kind of way in which you see in the the opening scene of the entrance of Metro Manila city with a woman on a billboard that is about half the size of a skyscraper, half nude. This shows that the value of women is second hand to men and they are not treated with the amount of respect that a man of her equal would be treated. They are also not held to the code of conduct such as men, for example, the bar manager "Charlie", tells Mai (Oscar Ramirez's wife) that she is not earning enough money in the bar and that her nine year old daughter will have to start working too. There was no respect or humane value shown in Charlie's morale.

great mirroring of the social problems in the Philippine's,a dark ride into a heavy drama ,corruption criminality poverty all is in the cake,and i don't want spoil anything,just watch this great movie and get drowned into the mind games and suffering of the Philippine's escpialy in manila, Sean Ellis made a great job at directing,great cinematography shots and the great soundtrack....the actors been amazing, the cast is truly well chosen,Jake macapagal did play very on point,as well as althea vega,john arcilla is the type of filipino u don't want encounter, hes the perfect villain in this gem and plays it out the ryt way... give this movie a chance...and hey manila is a rough place...