She has proven to be more than able to deliver in well-directed, well-written and layered roles, for example Kaidan Botan Doro 2019. Since those characteristics are absent in romcoms save for a few ones, deploying her too often in such shows could simply squander her potentials.
The strong point of this movie is that it shows more grounded perspective into a family of cult followers. It doesn't even blatantly demonize these characters (particularly the parents and even the cult organization) and instead it chooses to see through more neutral viewpoint, which is very different than other shows with similar theme (for example WOWOW's 'Eerie'). For example, Mana-chan's character development is very gradual - no sudden head-butting against her parents who are fervent believers of the cult. Mana-chan herself does really well, I think it's her acting that keep everything together and could've fell apart if the lead choice wasn't right.
The ending could have been more conclusive though and for me it's a bit of a letdown, because the premise it chooses is full of potentials to make it a great movie.
Edit: You gotta be kidding me. In all fairness, Hamabe is already way, way too overpushed and from what I've heard she is at the brink of breaking point. Even worse, it seems she learned little if not almost nothing even though she's been acting along side competent actors like Okada Masaki (in Talio) or in Shinjisou. Overpushing like this just simply won't work, look at Gouriki and Takei Emi. I hope after this one she gets some much-needed respite.
I don't get it. What's the drama that Okayama Amane starred in?
You can check his discography though. Seems he almost always gets paired with cute actresses, particularly after I"s. That's why you can see him referred many times in this page lol, the parallel with Taiga's character in this drama is just so uncanny.
Damn this movie so intense, with even some R18 scenes (yeah you've been warned from this point on). It feels like Himizu for millenials, with young adults as lead characters instead teenagers. Heck even the premise of both is similar, so not much novelties in this aspect because it has been used many times. On the other hand, Sotoyama Bunji has truly unique directing and screenplay style, which is uncannily quite imaginative. Nijiro plays the character of his lifetime here, he blows me away with his acting and I will never think of him the same way again. Imou Haruka (whom arguably has the funniest surname in J-ent now, which means 'tuber grower' lol) also proves to be an even match to Nijiro. She reminds me of Nikaido Fumi's character in Himizu a lot, although her character here is even more destitude.
I intended to give 8.5/10 but considering the acting performance, I settle with 9.0/10 in the end.
2 
The ending could have been more conclusive though and for me it's a bit of a letdown, because the premise it chooses is full of potentials to make it a great movie.
8.0/10
Edit: You gotta be kidding me. In all fairness, Hamabe is already way, way too overpushed and from what I've heard she is at the brink of breaking point. Even worse, it seems she learned little if not almost nothing even though she's been acting along side competent actors like Okada Masaki (in Talio) or in Shinjisou. Overpushing like this just simply won't work, look at Gouriki and Takei Emi. I hope after this one she gets some much-needed respite.
https://mydramalist.com/34118-little-songs-of-love
I intended to give 8.5/10 but considering the acting performance, I settle with 9.0/10 in the end.