The Time That Remains (2025) Movie Review

The Time That Remains (2025) Movie Review: Twilight It Ain't

It’s easy to dismiss The Time That Remains as a localized version of Twilight and that’s understandable. The basic premise does share familiar beats with that franchise: a love story between a mortal woman and an immortal supernatural being. But while the film struggles to fully mold its many elements together, it still delivers a visually satisfying and complex story about love and sacrifice.

When an elderly woman (Bing Pimentel) is accidentally shot and her assailant mangled, the police begin to suspect there’s more to her story - one that links back to a serial killer they’ve been tracking for decades. We soon uncover the truth behind the killings and how a young woman (Jasmine Curtis-Smith) and a supernatural being (Carlo Aquino) shares a love that transcends time itself.

There’s a lot going on in The Time That Remains. On one hand, it tries to present itself as a procedural crime thriller as the police investigate a string of mysterious murders. On the other, it plays as a romance drama exploring the heart of the story. It even attempts to weave in societal themes like police corruption and extra-judicial killings and some. The problem is that none of these threads are fully developed — each idea is introduced as an interesting entry point but rarely explored in depth. As a result, the nearly two-hour runtime can feel uneven, and it’s difficult to form a deeper connection with its narrative or characters.

Visually, however, the film is a feast. From its cinematography to the visual effects that bring the “aswang” mythology to life and The Time That Remains is often breathtaking as its setting in Baguio City. The cast also delivers strong performances, with Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Carlo Aquino bringing subtlety and restraint to their roles, though their efforts are pretty much limited by the writing. Ultimately, The Time That Remains presents an intriguing premise and ends on a note that feels both tragic and satisfying. Yet the journey getting there is too fragmented and cluttered to make a lasting impact.

Rating: 3 reels