"Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus" Movie Review - An Ode to the Hormonals

A mysterious Aileen strolls the arid streets of Manila and with it comes an entanglement with four men, urged by their desires and frustrations.

Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus
- Photo from IMDb

The smell of the populous and crawling avenues of Quiapo, as it breezes its tainted odor from the mixture of dirt, decomposing food scraps and the bulk of sweaty citizens either trying to cross the streets or adamantly bargain for that coveted meats and produce, as Ted Ito's Ikaw Pa Rin hums in the background, all the while introducing us to a school-uniformed young lady who blended well with the crowd and yet manages to cut through the overhwelming number of people, inviting the audiences' attention with her mesmeric beauty as she slowly enters the scene. 

And much like its setting, Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus is as mysterious and intriguing as the people that colors this thriving city, and that young lady, who was later named as Aileen (Iana Bernandez) is at the center of it all, serving as a junction of different perspectives, weaving a clever narrative all tapping into the depths of our desires, fantasies, and frustrations as the movie, bit by bit, explains her purpose and what she actually represents.

The movie wants us to follow Aileen and fall in love with her, same goes for the men that was captivated by her. 

There was Caloy (Nicco Manalo), an apparel and memorabilia vendor at a local thrift shop, a secret admirer of Aileen who wags his tail at the sight of her but wasn't brave enough to declare his feelings for her. Lando (Soliman Cruz), a widower for 12 years who, despite his age and an admirable loyalty to her wife, is still desperate to scratch his sexual itch. A highschooler Alex (Dylan Ray Talon), who represents any pubescent teenagers who finds his new zing with Aileen after a breakup. And then there's Obeng (Anthony Falcon), a lonesome street thief and a burden of the society who you'll know the name of when you search for his character online largely because he never really uttered a single word and most of his scenes only revolve around him and Aileen. 

For these men, Aileen is the answer to the void, the personified ideal that fills the gap of their seemingly endless hunt to pepper their bland and mundane lives. 

And this is where the movie actually excels — a shrewd analysis to the human psyche and a character study that aims not to just objectify a person but a reminder that our lustful desires doesn't always mean a cure to our chase for satisfaction.  Add to the fact the film's cinematography is just tasteful. Director and writer Dwain Baltazar isn't stingy with vibrance as his film masterfully meshes colors and tones to uplift a mood that the scene is trying to convey.

Overall, the film challenges its audience to think outside the box. It wants the viewers to question the movie, to question its intentions, to ponder upon the message of the film without really giving much and thus giving us the opportunity to still think about it even after the credits starts to roll. 

Let's Be Reel

Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus is a pseudo-romantic film that doesn't rely on hugot or cheesy one-liners. At the core, Hypothalamus is a somber film that manages to become playful with its own simple premise without losing its sincerity and the gravitas of the narrative. 

A highly recommended film.

9/10

Reel Points

---