🎬 Overview & Premise
Derned by Jacqueline R. Carlos and released on the 14th of February 2025 in the Philippines, Online Selling is a sharp erotic thriller with a runtime of 90 minutes that delves into the insidious realm of underground selling. The movie revolves around two women: Melissa (Arah Alonzo) and Osang (Aria Bench), who run a side business of selling sex toys over the internet—complete with “promo services.” Things get complicated for them when one of Melissa’s ex-lovers decides to become her client, forcing her to deal with the tangled web of business and intimacy, as well as revenge.
🎭 Cast & Characters
Arah Alonzo (Melissa): Portrayed with both vulnerability and grit, she anchors the story in a role which grapples with being sucked back into a chaotic past.
Aria Bench (Osang): Plays as Melissa’s partner in corporate dealings as well as friendship serving as both confidant providing levity and emotional support throughout disentangled their operations.
Other cast includes Andrew Gan (Alvin), Marc Capilador (Jugs), Tommy Samonte (Renz) rounding out the universe of clients and complicating matters for the duo.
🔍 Themes & Tone
Online Selling fully embraces its erotic nature. It tackles the commodification of pleasure dealing with autonomy, intention, and the power relationships between seller and buyer. But the movie is more than an erotic drama; it becomes a thriller when some past emotional entanglements arise—raising tension and stakes to what started as mere transaction. The atmosphere is raw street-level realism with a sense of danger and immersion.
✅ Strengths
- Bold Concept & Representation
Focusing on women who manage their sexuality and work in a taboo underground market celebrates sexual agency while challenging social norms through cinema.
- Provocative Tension
The arrival of Melissa’s former lover turned customer evolves into an intimacy–betrayal standoff, transforming the film from erotic sensationalism to emotionally dynamic suspense.
- Central Performances
Melissa Alonzo and Osang Bench portray deeper character layers than one expects from such roles. Alonzo’s guarded confident demeanor along with Bench’s empathic supporting role provide backbone strength to the narrative.
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Narrative Underdevelopment
Critics seem to be uniformly silent about this film which could indicate that it focuses on a provocative premise without developing plot or character arcs enough in detail or depth.
Risk of Shallow Characterization
The absence of sophisticated backstories or psychological analysis means sometimes characters appear more plot devices than they do authentically motivated individuals.
Tone Imbalance
It is challenging to blend erotic drama with thriller components. Unless the emotional stakes are heightened convincingly, the thriller aspect might feel more like an afterthought instead of integrated into the narrative naturally.
📝 Critical Takeaway
Online Selling is an unapologetically provocative exploration of sex, power dynamics, and revenge. The film’s standout component is Melissa’s character as she navigates her past, revealing a moral tension that shapes her present. Nevertheless,depending on how the writer develops the characters in conflict within the story, narrative cohesion and depth might emerge as struggle areas for this movie.
⭐ Estimated Rating
6/10 – The movie features an interesting premise and captivating performances from leading actors; however, it seems shallow due to lack of character development which undermines depth.
🎯 Who Should Watch It
Fans interested in viewing female-centered erotic thrillers where sex serves as a transaction.
Fringe realism enthusiasts who appreciate emotion-laden grit.
Individuals open to morally ambiguous characters pursuing longing intertwined with peril.
🚫 Who Might Skip It
Those prioritizing complex plots with detailed character arcs will bypass this film.
Viewers who find intimacy framed as a transaction uncomfortable or outside their sensibilities may also look elsewhere.
Viewers who prefer intricately structured thrillers to introspective, mood-centric dramas.
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