Dew – Movie Review

It's the year 1996. Dew is a teenager who moves to a small town with his mother. He befriends Pob, a student who goes to the same school as him. Pob gives Dew a ride on his motorcycle, but they crash into the basis and get their school uniforms dirty. This accident forms the basis of their friendship as they continue to stay in touch afterwards. Pob and Dew become close friends, spending all their alone time together.

Dew and Pob enter an essay competition. The winners can travel to New Zealand and enjoy bungee jumping, an appealing prospect for the two teens. In addition, Pob teaches Dew how to ride a motorcycle. However, these lessons frustrate Dew, causing an argument between them. Pob apologizes later that night, as the two friends share an intimate moment in a telephone booth.

Dew and Pob become romantically involved. However, they are cautious about navigating their feelings in this small town. Pob's family is closed-minded, especially his stern and homophobic father. Pob starts alienating himself from Dew to avoid suspicions. Their rift upsets Dew, who confronts him in a heated argument at school. Unfortunately, their public exchange lands them in trouble.

Soon afterwards, Pob's relationship with his dad deteriorates quickly. His situation at home spirals, leading to many tears and arguments. Unable to cope with the tension any longer, Pob wants to run away from home with Dew. That night, the two teens must make a momentous decision between choosing their families and each other.

Dew is divided into two prominent storylines. The movie's first half focuses on a young gay couple in a small town. As their feelings blossom, the leads are soon confronted by bigotry, scandals, and emotional turmoil. This heartbreaking film highlights the tension, trauma & tragedy in their forbidden romance. The early part of the narrative portrays a depressing love story meant to tug at your heartstrings.

Maybe other viewers will respond better to this couple. Personally, I'm not enamoured with them because their storyline seems rushed and abbreviated. Dew and Pob share a few enchanting scenes, especially the iconic kiss at the peak of their relationship. However, the BL content isn't nearly enough. The narrative is two hours long, yet the filmmaker dedicates a limited portion of time to developing the adolescent romance. As much as I sympathize with their circumstances, I'm not invested in the two star-crossed lovers.

There are numerous instances where Dew feels cheesy, sappy, whiny, or emotionally manipulative. This movie milks every ounce of angst from its overwrought melodrama. Between the intense confrontations and tearful accusations, the constant theatrics aggravate me. Perhaps these exchanges would resonate better if they were written elegantly, but the dialogue is dreadful. My least favourite line is when the mom cries, "You can love any man you want! But can I be the only woman you love!?" Oh my god, I cringe so much from second-hand embarrassment.

Dew doesn't have a terrible start. It builds the adrenaline compellingly in the first half. Once the plot jumps forward years later, the rest of the movie goes downhill. The film's second half feels dreary and longwinded, undoing all the previous momentum. The storyline suddenly switches tracks, as the sensitive teen romance deviates into a scandalous love affair. This new couple is offensive and glorifies a predatory dynamic, but their relationship scenes dominate the narrative. Every interaction between them is icky, irritating, and wildly inappropriate.

As the convoluted drama unfolds, the characters' actions become irrational and inexcusable. Yet, the film justifies the despicable behaviour by pretending it's a part of ~destiny~. I hate how Dew interprets this problematic pairing and equates it to a tragic gay romance. The movie's second half resembles nothing like BL, no matter how much the story wants us to think otherwise. The ending pretends to have poignant symbolism, but I find everything trashy and ridiculous. Worst of all, the conclusion promotes irresponsible messages about the grisly fates of LGBT couples.

The Dew movie is packed with star power. The cast consists of handsome heartthrobs, such as the dreamy Ohm and the foxy Weir. The actors give poised performances, especially the lead who portrays Pob (Nont). In addition, the director is an experienced filmmaker who has told successful gay stories (i.e. Love of Siam) throughout his career. These credentials set up my high expectations going into the film. Instead, Dew is a massive disappointment. I don't enjoy the disastrous storytelling, distasteful romances, disturbing tropes, or disgraceful ending.