MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Katangari goes to Town’ is a thriller without thrills

The Nollywood thriller ‘Katangari Goes to Town‘, directed by Reuben Reng, premiered on Prime Video on January 4. Despite its intriguing title and synopsis, the film failed to deliver the suspense and tension expected of a good thriller.

While it has its strong points, the film’s lack of suspense and thrill, its predictable storyline, and subpar makeup make it fall short of expectations.

SYNOPSIS

Quirky ‘Katangari,’ a retired police inspector and legendary sleuth, is called to Abuja to investigate the murder of his international businessman cousin Chief Bello Gyang. Suspects include Bello’s family, friends, and associates, all confined in his beautiful mansion until the culprit can be identified.

THE STRONG POINTS OF THE FILM 

One of the standout elements of ‘Katangari Goes to Town’ is its cinematography. The visuals are impressive, capturing the beauty of the locations used, particularly during Katangari’s road trip scenes. The camera angles and movements are expertly executed, bringing out the best in every frame.

The cast’s performance is another commendable aspect of the film. Each actor brings their character to life, making the story more engaging. Segun Arinze and Ireti Doyle deliver notable performances, with Doyle’s portrayal of a character speaking Hausa being a pleasant surprise.

The themes explored in ‘Katangari Goes to Town’ are also worth noting. The film delves into universal and relatable concepts such as revenge, love, addiction, the pursuit of wealth, betrayal, and trust. The way these issues were addressed also added depth to the story.

THE WEAK POINTS OF THE FILM 

The film’s most glaring shortfall is its lack of suspense and thrill, essential for a solid whodunnit. The story flows predictably, with no memorable “wow” moments. By the middle of the film, it is already obvious who the murderer is, partly because of how the character is singled out. The reasons behind the suspects’ actions and the killer’s motive aren’t compelling enough. The elements that make a good thriller weren’t fully used, leaving the film feeling flat and underwhelming.

The makeup in the film is also subpar. Katangari’s white hair and beard look noticeably unrealistic, which is distracting. There was even a scene where he reaches to stroke his beard but hesitates, likely because he remembers it isn’t real. This detail could have been executed much better.

There were also scenes in the movie that felt unnecessary and left the viewer questioning their purpose. For instance, the birthday scene where Katangari and Mima dance mid-investigation adds no real depth to the plot. Similarly, the recurring appearance and sound of the peacock disturbing Katangari hinted at something significant, but in the end, it turned out to be meaningless.

FINAL VERDICT

‘Katangari Goes to Town’ gets a 5/10