Heavenly Touch

By: Amos Lassen

"Heavenly Touch"

Inside the Massage Parlor

Amos Lassen


Joe Lamangan, the director, looks at what goes on inside an all-male massage parlor run by the syndicate. Jonard (Joash Balejado) is having troubles financially. His mother suffers from depression and both he and his sister have to quit school to take care of her. Unexpectedly one day, Jonard meets up with his friend Rodel (Paolo Serrano) who introduces him to the wonders of massage parlors. Rodel teaches him to massage and takes him to Heavenly Touch, a massage parlor under syndicate control that caters to the gay population of the Philippines. Jonard finds comfort in his new surroundings and he begins having feelings for Rodel. However, when he cannot pay the rent on his family's house, he finds himself doing things that he had never thought of.
The movie is actually a series of small movies. Lots happens but there happenings are not connected so that it is hard to follow this film. We really do not get to know the characters very well and unfortunately what could have been an interpreting film falls flat. There is a lot of nudity in the movie and for that alone it is worth seeing.