Cast: Jim Iyke, Toni Tones, Kenneth Nwadike, Bimbo Manuel, Chidi Mokeme, Uzee Usman, Yemi Blaq, Shaffy Bello, Ronya Man, Kelechi Udegbe, Chimezie Imo, Toke Makinwa, Charles Okocha, Gideon Okeke, Chika Eze, Patrick Doyle, Olumide Oworu, Hermes Iyele, Lieba Love, Aderonke Onuoha, Barak Ajibola, Jesola Ajibola
Director: Yemi ‘Filmboy’ Morafa
|
|
Run time: 1hr 53mins
Plot
The movie opens with real estate mogul Jide Shina (Yemi Blaq) getting arrested on multiple counts of drug trafficking, distribution and other infractions.
|
|
|
|---|
He is married to Tosin Shina, aka Sin (Toni Tones). Sin wants to get their life back, but Jide thinks the only way to achieve that is to dissociate herself from him publicly. So he asks for a divorce.
While Jide is denied bail and remanded into the custody of the DEA until a trial date is set, ‘The Consortium’, an international drug smuggling ring that he works for, visits Sin.
Jide owes them money running into billions of dollars, and ‘The Consortium’ must recoup.
Despite the divorce, as far as they are concerned, Sin is tied to Jide for life. They offer her a way out. Her club was to become the new base of operation, providing the perfect cover.
Meanwhile, Spider (Charles Okocha), who was previously arrested for drug-related offences, was violently attacked and kidnapped as he was being taken to the hospital. Triggered by this, they attempt to move Jide to a more secure facility.
When the investigator, working with local DEA agents, leaned in, she decided to help Jide’s case and give up Black.
And just like that, Mrs Tosin Shina becomes Ms Sin Ajala as she is thrust into a drug world where everyone has a dog in the fight.
Review:
From its first scene, the film promises high-stakes drama and intrigue spanning from Houston to Lagos, but what unfolds is a narrative that struggles to live up to its potential.
The first of a three-part movie, ‘Sin: First Blood’ holds a promising premise, but is let down by weak acting and shallow storytelling.
In addition to the below-par acting, the movie does not give viewers much to look forward to.
While ‘Sin: First Blood’ leans towards larger societal issues like Nigeria’s rising narcotics trade and money laundering, these themes are barely scratched.
The movie’s plot offers a surface-level treatment that weakens the story’s impact.
Despite its shortcomings, ‘Sin: First Blood’ is a welcome addition to Nollywood, an industry starved of relatable crime genre movies.
READ ALSO: How stigma, cultural taboos deepen Nigeria’s menstrual health crisis – Expert
While the movie may have failed to live up to expectations, viewers may want to give it the benefit of the doubt to see if subsequent titles would pull their weight in the mould of ‘To Kill a Monkey’.
However, except for the storytelling and actors’ performances in the sequels match the movie’s ambition, ‘Sin: First Blood’ risks becoming just another missed opportunity.
Until then, the movie, which should have left viewers eager for what comes next, closes on a note of disappointment, with more questions about its execution.
Verdict: 5/10
Discover more from Premium Times Nigeria
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
