‘Devil is a Liar‘, directed by Moses Inwang and written by Tunde Babalola, premiered on Netflix on August 15, promising a story of love, betrayal, and consequences.
The last movie I saw from Inwang, ‘Blood Vessel’, was worthwhile, and having Nse Ikpe-Etim in this new one drew me in even more. But after watching, I wasn’t quite impressed. It felt like a story I had seen before, the familiar plot of a wealthy single woman, pressured by relatives to marry, who ends up deceived by a younger man.
The theme is still relevant as a caution against desperation and ignoring red flags, but it was too predictable. A twist that caught me off guard would have made it stronger.
Synopsis
The story follows Adaora (Ikpe-Etim), a successful and wealthy realtor facing intense societal pressure to marry before she turns 40. This desperation leads her into a whirlwind romance with the charming Jaiye (James Gardiner), a relationship that quickly spirals into a dangerous deception with catastrophic results.
Strengths: A Visual and Performative Showcase
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its visual language. The cinematography is crisp, intentional, and often beautiful, adding a layer of sophistication to the narrative. Scenes like a vibrant fashion show are captured with a clear directorial eye that elevates the production value.
The lead actors also played their roles well, especially Ikpe-Etim and Gardiner. Gardiner, as the antagonist, embodied his character from start to finish. His stares, tone, and presence all made the role feel convincing without needing to over-explain it. Mercy Aigbe was another standout; her mannerisms and facial expressions alone told her character’s story. On the other hand, Erica Nweledim’s performance fell a bit short. Playing the “planner” was a crucial role, but she didn’t fully embody it, which made the impact less than it could have been.
The themes in the story are also worth noting. It explores love, friendship, betrayal, depression, marriage pressure, and revenge, issues that many people can relate to. In particular, the film sheds light on how societal pressure to marry can push individuals into desperation, making poor decisions that lead to painful consequences. Beyond entertainment, it serves as a subtle form of education, a reminder of the effects of such pressures on people’s lives.
Weaknesses: A Predictable Plot and Technical Flaws
Unfortunately, the film is undermined by a story that feels overly familiar. The trope of a wealthy woman scammed by a younger lover offers few surprises, making the narrative arc predictable from the early scenes.
From the moment Anna was introduced as a cousin, the ending became easy to guess. Certain areas also lacked depth. For instance, there was no background explanation of why Adaora became a target for Jaiye and Anna, a detail that could have given the narrative a richer dimension and depth. The recorded sex tape, briefly mentioned at the pool, seemed like it would serve as a blackmail tool, but it was never revisited.
Another gap was in Adaora’s sentencing. She was given 20 years for manslaughter but regained her freedom after six years with no explanation. What exactly happened? The fight scene that was meant to clarify Jaiye’s motive for scamming her also failed to provide real answers.
The sound design was another letdown, particularly the effects. At times, sound cues came in too early, before the action they were meant to emphasise. There were also scenes where the audio dropped out completely, leaving only subtitles to carry the dialogue. The fight scenes suffered the most; the voices felt patched in and lacked the rawness or sync that would have made them convincing.
Final Verdict
‘Devil is a Liar’ gets a 5.5/10
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