REVIEW: ‘Gangs of Lagos’ — a haunting film that captures Isale Eko underworld

‘Gangs of Lagos‘, the crime thriller, premiered on Prime Video Naija on April 7, making history as the platform’s first original African film. 

Before the Jade Osiberu-directed movie’s premiere, ‘Gangs of Lagos’ had been highly anticipated for nearly two years.

In the first half of 2021, several images of the casts and teasers of the project found their way to social media. So with anticipation built for over two years, there have been a lot of expectations.

However, after watching the film’s footage, superb cinematography, and stunts, I must say ‘Gangs of Lagos’ has raised the bar for producers in Nollywood — although there is still room for improvement.

Synopsis

‘Gangs of Lagos’ revolves around a group of friends — Obalola, Gift, and Ify — who each have to navigate their destiny, growing up on the bustling streets and neighborhood of Isale Eko, Lagos.

It’s a tale of betrayal, survival, brotherhood, competing loyalties, and blood retribution.

THE STRONG POINTS OF THE FILM

The casting choices and performances from the cast are definitely a major highlight of the film. Tobi Bakare, Chioma Akpotha, and Adesua Etomi deliver outstanding and professional performances in bringing their roles to life. Following his interpretation of Kazeem, the villain of the street, Olarotimi Fakunle definitely won the heart of viewers.

The cinematography, sound design, effects, and locations were excellent. The use of the best visual elements ranging from the camera angles to the blood effects makes every scene appealing. The location where most of the scenes were shot made the film more relatable.

The film’s reflection on Isale Eko and political thuggery is also noteworthy. ‘Gangs of Lagos’ explores in detail street life and what it entails. It also points out the reality of how politicians use innocent children to their advantage while keeping theirs safe.

THE WEAK POINT OF THE FILM

The major flaw of ‘Gangs of Lagos’ is its bland dialogue. The English dialogue used lacks street lingo and vibes, while the Yoruba language lacks authenticity. Examples are scenes where Adesua Etomi has to speak Yoruba.

The storyline is another weakness of the film. Even though the effort to make a difference can be seen, it still felt like a story that has been seen before. The movie is predictable, making it lose the element of suspense.

FINAL VERDICT

‘Gangs of Lagos’ gets a 6/10

TheCable Lifestyle earlier reported Jade Osiberu’s reason for featuring singers in the film