‘Tell Me Softly’ (2025) Movie Review - Sexy, Spicy, and Fascinating Idea, But Bad Execution

The film opens by establishing the present-day life of protagonist Kamila "Kami" Hamilton, a high school senior at Carsville International School, who is portrayed as a confident cheerleader with a strong social media presence and a carefully curated image. Directed by Denis Rovira van Boekholt and written by Jaime Vaca, "Tell Me Softly" (Dímelo Bajito) is an adaptation of Mercedes Ron's young adult novel of the same name. The story follows Kamila "Kami" Hamilton (Alícia Falcó), a seemingly put-together young lady whose life unravels when her childhood neighbors, the moody Thiago Di Bianco (Fernando Lindez) and the kinder Taylor Di Bianco (Diego Vidales), return after a seven-year absence. Thiago, who gave Kami her first kiss, represents intensity and unresolved rage, while Taylor, her former best friend and guardian, provides stability, resulting in a classic sibling rivalry love triangle amidst high-school drama, parties, and buried secrets.

The movie begins with Kami waking up on the first day back to school after summer break, filled with dread and ruminating on her recent decision to quit a destructive relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Dani, an arrogant jock type. This creates a sense of underlying tension and personal instability. The action shifts rapidly to the boys' locker room at school, where Dani meets Kami in an attempt to reconcile, but his behavior becomes demanding and violent. Taylor Di Bianco, a new student, intervenes to defend her during the confrontation. During this time, Dani observes triangle-shaped scars on Taylor's and Kami's wrists, implying a similar background but not providing a specific explanation. The action shifts to a joint football and cheering practice on the field, where the team and cheer squad (including Kami's friend Cata) meet Thiago Di Bianco, Taylor's older brother, who has returned as the new assistant coach.

The cheer squad gossips about the brothers' sudden return after seven years away, revealing that Kami, Thiago, and Taylor were once inseparable childhood neighbors and friends. Subtle flashbacks are interwoven here, showing the trio as kids embarking on adventures, intentionally burning matching triangle scars on their wrists as a symbol of their eternal bond, and highlighting key moments like Thiago giving Kami her first kiss while Taylor acts as her loyal protector. 

Back in the present, the introduction shifts to a sex education class, where Taylor and Kami are paired for a project, giving her an excuse to visit the Di Bianco home. There, she engages with their mother, Chiara, and enjoys a touching moment with Taylor that almost leads to a kiss, only for Thiago to interrupt in a rage, demanding she leave and emphasizing the broken dynamics. No key dialogues are reported in detail across sources, but exchanges highlight Thiago's icy accusations (blaming Kami for past incidents) and Taylor's warmth in attempting to reconcile, while Kami deals with perplexity and resurfacing emotions.

The film's plot begins in the middle of the story, presuming familiarity with the characters' backstories, which can be confusing for non-book readers. It alternates between intense confrontations, delicate moments, and subplots concerning secondary characters such as Kami's friend Cata (Eve Ryan) and a sinister figure named Jules (Fernando Nagore), but the execution is frequently inconsistent. 

Pacing is a common issue: some scenes drag with extended brooding looks and recurrent confrontations, while major disclosures feel hurried or underdeveloped, resulting in a "confusing mess" that leaves viewers scratching their heads at the end. The plot recycles common tropes, enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, and childhood crushes, without introducing new twists, resulting in a narrative that feels like "nothing really happens" despite the emotional stakes. Book fans particularly lament the omissions and changes, noting that the movie starts "halfway through the book" and fails to capture its depth, turning complex emotions into superficial drama.

Performances are a mixed bag, with the young cast giving their best amid a confusing script. Alícia Falcó's portrayal of Kami is strong at quiet times, but her character's indecisiveness and lack of clear drive make her feel like a "tease" or inconsistently constructed. Fernando Lindez's Thiago is intensely moody, nailing the bad guy archetype with genuine wrath fueled by prior suffering, but it borders on overkill, bordering on unexamined toxic masculinity that the film fails to thoroughly address. Diego Vidales shines as Taylor, offering the most empathic and engaging performance, often smoothing over the film's tough spots with genuine warmth. Supporting characters, however, fall short: Cata's portrayal is described as "painfully bad," with a lack of emotional range, while others, such as the parents (Patricia Vico as Anne, Celia Freijeiro as Chiara), appear underdeveloped. Overall, the actors give their utmost, but bland characterizations (e.g., Thiago's constant wrath, Kami's lack of personality) prevent deeper connections.

"Tell Me Softly" addresses serious issues such as power abuse, sibling rivalry, and trauma processing, but it frequently glamorizes red-flag behaviors in the name of passion, which can be uncomfortable. Sex sequences are spicier than most American teen films, combining social-media-friendly aesthetics with daring setups, but they come across as titillation without emotional depth, similar to glib porn scenes. Visually, the Spanish locations in Galicia provide a moody backdrop, with party sequences and intimate close-ups contributing to the feeling, yet the direction occasionally feels unfocused. It's a melodramatic love triangle rife with teenage clichés, engrossing as a guilty pleasure for Wattpad readers but tiring in its repetition. The film's fascination with sibling love triangles is consistent with a bigger Hollywood trend, following triumphs such as Ron's "Culpables" trilogy, although it does not break new ground.

In summary, "Tell Me Softly" is a beautiful but imperfect teen romance that favors drama over substance, making it best suited for die-hard fans of the genre or book series who can overlook pacing flaws and cliches. If you want heartfelt chemistry or original storytelling, avoid it and go for the novel instead. Ultimately, it goes down as a fascinating idea, bad execution, with potential redemption in the sequel.

Final Score – [4.5/10]
Reviewed by: Greg Becker