Jim Iyke’s long-awaited crime thriller ‘SIN: First Blood’ premiered on Prime Video on July 24 amid high expectations.
With reports of a $2.5 million budget, filming across three countries, and a massive cast and crew, the project promised grandeur. Unfortunately, while the film delivers in style, its storytelling struggles to match its ambition.
The plot, centered on a woman forced into a drug cartel, had promise. Unfortunately, the story barely moved forward, got tangled in confusing subplots, and left much unexplored. Hopefully, the sequel will make up for these shortcomings.
SYNOPSIS
The story follows Tosin Shina, a glamorous Lagos socialite and nightclub owner whose life crumbles when her husband is exposed as a drug kingpin. With her wealth gone and children to protect, she’s forced to rebuild. But when a deadly cartel demands she take over her husband’s operations, Tosin must navigate crime, betrayal, and survival-or lose everything.
THE STRONG POINTS OF THE FILM
One of the movie’s strongest elements is its cinematography. The shots are visually stunning, with each frame carefully composed to draw you in. The costumes also suit each character perfectly, enhancing their personalities without feeling overdone or understated.
The theme of the movie on drug trafficking and its effects on young adults cannot be overstated. Even though it is a familiar subject, it remains important to highlight and address, making the theme both relevant and impactful.
THE WEAK POINTS OF THE FILM
The plot, centered on the underworld of drug trafficking and cartels, had the potential to be gripping, but the execution fell short. From the cast’s delivery to the overall storytelling, it felt like the film played it too safe, leaving no real spark. Some characters, such as Chidi Mokeme’s role, seemed almost unnecessary, as the story could have unfolded without them.
The pacing dragged in several places, weighed down by unnecessary scenes like the sex scene that added little to the narrative. There were moments of buildup, but they often led to exaggerated payoffs, such as Director Mordi’s outburst at two international agents, which felt forced and seemed like nothing more than a plot device to kill off Jide.
Several side stories, like Agent Jean’s flashback, were left underdeveloped, creating a sense that nothing substantial happened in this prequel. From the start, it was clear the film was setting up a sequel, but while building anticipation is fine, the prequel itself should have been more engaging.
The makeup also felt overdone, with the blood-like effect appearing more pasted on than realistic. Spider’s tattoo came off as unconvincing as well. Hopefully, the sequel will correct these flaws.
FINAL VERDICT
‘SIN: FIRST BLOOD’ gets a 5/10
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