Molina and Yuson became best friends at a young age, because they both felt like underdog outsiders and shared an interest in Yuson’s grandmother’s tales of mythical creatures. Lola Fatima claimed she once visited Nakali after finding the magic sand dollar, so the two girls always promised to visit together if it ever choses either of them.
However, after graduation, it is clear the two girls are going in opposite directions, but Yuson just refuses to see it. Molina has the grades and the resources to attend the elite American university, whereas Yuson has no ambition and no real future. Feeling sorry for herself, Yuson guilts Molina into sneaking out for one last hang at the beach, but it is super-awkward until the sand dollar appears, whisking them off to Nakali. The next thing they know, they wake up the next morning, with no memory of the previous night’s partying. They are also missing the magic sand dollar, alarming Molina, who has a flight to catch.
Raww, a werewolf boy, assures them they met last night and partied like it was 1999. He is a basically a nice kid, despite his periodic transformations and embarrassing canine behavior, so he tries his best to help. However, Batiba, the Memory Batibat (or demon), could restore their blackout memories, but the cost would be high: their memories of their friendship. Adding further urgency, the dreaded Mananaggal is hunting for Molina, because she stole the creature’s wings. Initially, she is rather freaked out by her new appendages, but they will come in handy.
Technically, Forgotten Island never depicts underaged drinking, but the whole Hangover vibe is conspicuously pronounced. Regardless, the film never creeps us out with discussions of the girls’ sexuality. Refreshingly, they just let Yuson and Molina be kids.
The extensive Filipino folklore also helps distinguish the film, in a good way. Many creatures will either be new to viewers (even though they often share archetypal similarities with other monsters from world mythology), or presumably gratifying to finally see in a big-budget animated movie. Amusingly, the film also lovingly embraces the 1990s setting, particularly the greatest hits soundtrack. Of course, they probably had to set the film pre-2000, because nobody would believe Millennial kids would be resourceful enough to survive the dangers of Nakali.
