‘Suky’, a film produced by Bamidele Adelusi and directed by Ola Cardoso, premiered on Prime Video in March.
After realising it came from the makers of ‘Breath of Life’, I was genuinely excited because that was a solid film. But watching Suky left me disappointed.
The plot, centered around boxing and revenge, had so much promise, and the opening scenes hinted at a gripping story. Unfortunately, as the film went on, it felt like it lost its way. My expectations were high, which made the letdown even harder to ignore.
SYNOPSIS
In this grim and unforgiving environment, Suky discovers a glimmer of hope, a brutal underground fight club that promises freedom to the strongest. With nothing to lose and revenge fueling his every move, Suky must fight not only for his life but for a chance to reclaim his freedom.
THE STRONG POINTS OF THE FILM
One of the strongest aspects of Suky is its setting. Both the village and the prison felt incredibly authentic and well thought out. From the start, the small town where Adigun lived felt real, the small crowd that seemed to thrive on the only form of entertainment they had, the bushy paths, his modest room, and most notably, his boxing space. The space, with its bold writings on the wall, felt intentional and grounded in the world of boxing. Then there is the prison. The set design there was especially impressive. Everything, from how the inmates slept and ate, to their desperate struggle for clean water, helped communicate the harsh reality of that space. It was clear that a lot of thought went into making these locations feel true to the story’s world.
I think I can confidently say that cinematography is no longer a major issue for Nollywood. Over the past few months, I’ve seen consistently excellent work, and Suky is no exception. The camera movements, angles, and stunning aerial shots were well executed. The visuals were crisp and clean, which added so much to the viewing experience. The soundtrack also deserves a mention. It elevated the mood of the film and supported the emotions in just the right way.
The performances in the film are also worth mentioning. For some reason, James Damilare Solomon, who played the older Suky, stood out to me. Even though he barely spoke, his facial expressions and body language did all the talking. You could feel his pain, his rage, his grief, and his quiet determination for revenge. It was a quiet yet memorable performance. Tobi Bakare, Olarotimi Fakunle, and Ibrahim Yekini also delivered solid performances, alongside the rest of the cast, who each held their own.
THE WEAK POINTS OF THE FILM
The biggest flaw in Suky is the storytelling. The film opens with gripping scenes and sets up a revenge plot that holds serious potential, but somewhere along the line, it loses direction. With how it started, I expected a well-thought-out, justified revenge arc that would tie everything together, but when the revenge finally happened, it lacked the emotional weight it was supposed to carry. Instead, the story veers off, introducing subplots and leaving a trail of unanswered questions. It felt like the main plot was dropped halfway, leaving behind a confusing mix of ideas.
For instance, why was Suky’s father killed? What exactly did he do to provoke the Aje Gang? Who was the lawyer who took Suky in after his father’s death, and what was their relationship? What important information did he have on the gang that made him a target, too? What’s the relationship between the politicians and Aje Gang? What exactly is the Aje Gang? These questions weren’t just left unanswered, they were completely brushed aside like they didn’t matter.
Then there is the prison setting, which felt more like a privately run organisation than a government institution. How does a civil servant get stuck there for years just because the prison boss wants to marry her? What were the politicians benefiting from the fights? And how did Marshal suddenly become a prisoner without any sentencing, while Ijaya ended up as the new head? Also, how did Sledgehammer not age at all after over a decade?
It was just all over the place. The story could have landed so much better if these loose ends were tied up more intentionally.
At first, I thought the makeup was done with a lot of intentionality, especially when Adigun’s swollen eyelid was closed after a fight. It looked realistic and made me hopeful. But as the film progressed, it started to feel like the makeup artist was trying too hard to make everything look perfect, and in doing so, some of it came off as overdone and unrealistic. There were scenes where the effort was visible, but the execution didn’t quite land. For example, in one fight scene, the blood clot on Adigun’s nose looked like it was just placed there for effect, not like it was naturally part of the injury. There were also several moments where sweat was meant to show intensity, but instead looked applied and artificial. The way Suky always looked shiny and polished even while living in harsh prison conditions is also questionable
FINAL VERDICT
‘Suky’ gets a 5/ 10
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