‘The Fire and The Moth’, an action-crime thriller directed by Taiwo Egunjobi, premiered on Prime Video in June.
The film’s synopsis, centered around smugglers and the theft of a rare Ife bronze head, immediately piqued my interest. While the theme of antique smuggling isn’t new in Nigerian cinema, the strong cast and premise had me eager to see how this story would unfold.
Unfortunately, while the film showed flashes of brilliance, it ultimately fell short of its potential, leaving me wishing for a more polished and satisfying conclusion.
SYNOPSIS
Violence and chaos erupt when a smuggler escapes with a priceless Ife bronze head into a gritty Western Nigerian town.
STRONG POINTS OF THE FILM
One of the film’s strongest points lies in its exploration of themes. They weren’t forced or overly emphasised, but rather woven naturally into the storyline. As you watch, you begin to pick up on them, and they stay with you even after the film ends. What stood out was how each theme tied back to the stolen artifact, from the greed shown by everyone who wanted to possess it, to survival, loss, the desire for a better future, hope, the moral decay within the security system, and the ripple effect of choices. The delivery was subtle but left a strong impression.
Another standout aspect of the film is the cinematography. Beyond the visual appeal, it carried subtle messages that elevated the storytelling. The use of camera angles and shot composition, especially the wide frames and aerial shots, was impressive. These shots not only highlighted the landscape and environment but also created a contrast between the calmness of the surroundings and the underlying chaos in the story, which I found brilliant. The gritty texture of the visuals also added to the intensity, reinforcing the film’s thriller tone.
The cast also delivered good performances across the board. Ini Dima-Okojie stood out to me, the way she spoke Yoruba with such fluidity made it hard to tell she isn’t a native speaker. It added a layer of credibility to her character. Tayo Faniran, Olarotimi Fakunle, Jimmy Jean-Louis, and William Benson also portrayed their roles convincingly, which overall contributed to the film’s authenticity. Whether major or minor, every actor seemed to fully embody their roles, which made the story feel real.
THE WEAK POINTS OF THE FILM
The major weak point of ‘The Fire and The Moth’ is the lack of character development. Most of the central characters had little to no backstory or emotional arc, which made it difficult to form any real connection with them. For instance, Abike’s eagerness to help sell the stolen artifact and her desperation to leave the country felt ungrounded. Her sudden boldness and willingness to engage with a stranger who had just broken into her home with a gun came off as unrealistic and rushed. With no clear motivation or context for her choices, those scenes lacked emotional weight. It often felt like events were just unfolding on the surface, without much emotional context to anchor them.
The pacing of the film also felt slow. At some point, it started to drag with the repetitive scenes of running, chasing, and getting killed. While those moments were likely intended to build tension, they became predictable and made the story feel stretched. It got to a point where I found myself just waiting for the final part of the film.
The film also raised several unanswered questions and included moments that felt implausible, which chipped away at its authenticity and relatability. For instance, during the first police chase, Saba was shot in the shoulder, a clear bullet wound, yet for the rest of the film, it was treated more like a scratch. For over two days, the bullet was never removed, and he continued running around and driving like nothing happened.
There was also the “assassin” who had just returned from abroad, yet somehow navigated the city with ease. It felt unrealistic. Was he relying on a map? The film doesn’t say, and the convenience of it all felt too far-fetched.
Then there were scenes that seemed to set something up but never followed through. For example, there’s a moment when something falls from Opa’s hand and Teriba picks it up. It’s implied it could be important for an investigation, but it’s never referenced again. It looked like a phone, but if someone dropped their phone, wouldn’t they notice? Also, Abike’s sister briefly mentions Queen, Opa’s daughter, but nothing comes of that either, making the scene feel unnecessary.
And then the ending. There was no real resolution, no closure. Is a sequel expected?
FINAL VERDICT
‘The Fire and The Moth’ gets a 6/10
Copyright 2025 TheCable. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheCable.
Follow us on twitter @Thecablestyle