Okay, so for a very long time now, I have not watched any Nollywood movies. I guess it was the disappointment of the ones I watched very long ago that made me dislike Nigerian movies. They always seemed to have a problem, either a simple plot that one can predict the end of the movie from the title alone, bad lighting, poor acting, poor audio, or even poor editing. Imagine watching a movie and then seeing the cameraman’s reflection in the mirror or hearing a crew member taking phone calls in a movie set in the Stone Age.
When it comes to their horror movies, I believe every born, at least in the 2010s, can testify to how horrible the visual effects and animation used to be.
So, after a very long time, I was with a friend and forced to watch a Nigerian movie on my Netflix. And to my surprise, I ended up loving this horror movie more than my friend.
Living in Bondage: Breaking Free is a 2019 movie horror movie about a young, ambitious man named Nnamdi who was mentored by a tycoon. But soon discovers that all wealth comes with a deadly price.
He is lured into a secret cult promising unimaginable wealth.
But like his father, he soon discovers that all wealth comes at a deadly price.
There are many things I love about the movie. The movie had excellent production, with great lighting, sound effects, visual effects, and acting. The casting was perfect.
And the horror, whew. Right from the start, they showed me they weren't playing around when they set the mood with the first scene.
Also, the fact that I later found out while watching that it was a sequel to a movie I watched before—it is a sequel to the 1992 classic Living in Bondage, giving it an even deeper scary plot.
I liked how they were able to give horror with the power and mystery of the brotherhood.
First, let me give Ramsey Nouah his flowers. He killed it in both directing and acting. He was able to show his eerie presence and control as the man behind the brotherhood perfectly and effortlessly.
The first scene, where the little girl was singing and the car was driving on a narrow, quiet, dark road, did it for me. The entire scene was creepy and horrifying, knowing the outcome and that there was no escape was even more horrifying.
Another scene that got me hyped was Ramsey Nouah's face-off with Andy Okeke in the church. The turning of the crosses—basic but fire.
The movie portrayed the dark side of easy wealth. But more importantly, it showed human nature—we might try convincing ourselves that something isn't what it is, but it doesn't change the fact that it is what it is.
I believe, at some point, that is what Nnamdi did because he couldn't see himself going back.
And the plot twist was good.
The scene I can't forget is the face-off in the church; Ramsey Nouah really got me hyped during that scene.
Swanky JKA performance as Nnamdi Okeke was top-notch, but my favorite was Ramsey Nouah. His performance really added to the horror.
Also the little girl at the beginning was incredible in her acting. Her scene sets the eerie tone of the movie, hinting at the dark and supernatural forces at play. Foreshadowing wealth, sacrifice, and the consequences of past sins catching up with the present.
I loved how they were able to make it horror and still keep it modern. It was a 10/10 for me, it exceeded my expectations and showed Nigeria can deliver world-class horror. For horror fans and Nollywood lovers, this movie is a must-watch.
Thanks for reading ❤️
