Headless (2026): An Average Nollywood Mystery

A classic murder mystery, Headless (2026) is a Nollywood action thriller that was released to cinemas across Nigeria on March 13^th, 2026 after a successful test screening at AFRIFF 2024. Written by Samuel Ifeanyi Nnam and Michael Ndiomu, the latter of which who also directed the film. With an average runtime of 1 hour 55 minutes, it follows an amateur film producer who fights to prove his innocence after the severed head of a popular actress is found in his car.

Premise

At a local restaurant, Erastus, a film producer that is relatively new to Lagos, attempts to flirt with an actress named Omolara that had featured in a small project of his. However, she rejects his advances publicly and even slaps him. Meanwhile on the other side of the city, Barrister Lanre is a lawyer who works as a personal legal counsel for Senator Izu Asiegbu, who mistreats and belittles the former even though Lanre had taken a bullet for him that rendered him sterile.

One day, while being pulled over by the police, Erastus’ car is searched and in a shocking reveal, Omolara’s severed head is found in the trunk. He is arrested immediately, especially after eyewitness accounts narrate his embarrassing interaction with her the other day. His case is taken up by Inspector Jane, who searches for a possible connection between Omolara’s death and the string of missing or murdered girls within the region. She interrogates a hysterical Erastus, who reveals that despite Omolara starring in his movie, he had only ever met or interacted with her that day at the restaurant. Frustrated, Jane steps out as Erastus’ court assigned lawyer shows up. This lawyer happens to be Lanre who tells Erastus that Omolara’s blood was found in his apartment and threatens him with an ultimatum: take the fall for Omolara’s murder and get a shortened jail sentence and a cash reward at the end of it, or refuse and be killed. Alarmed, Erastus refuses, despite multiple forceful threats from Lanre. Irate, the lawyer leaves, and Jane comes back in and questions Erastus’ even more hysterical state, but he is unable to tell her. She orders for him to be taken back to his prison cell.

That evening, while mulling over the details of the case at the gym, Jane reaches the conclusion that Erastus is not guilty and wonders how to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, in the prison cell, Erastus is unsuccessfully trying to sleep amongst other inmates. However, one of them sneaks past them and attempts to stab him, and they are stopped by the ‘president’ of the cell, who refuses to let anyone be killed in his domain (without monetary payment upfront). The following morning, the guards report the incident to Jane and her team as a prison fight, but none of the inmates are willing to talk, as expected. She questions a shaken Erastus again, who recounts the altercation and reveals that it was a deliberate attempt on his life, begging Jane not to take him back as he will really be killed this time. Jane steps out, thinking of a way to prove his innocence as quickly as possible. She and her team receive a package and, upon opening it, realize that it’s a timed bomb. The station begins to evacuate, and in the chaos, she goes back to the interrogation room where she gives Erastus details on how to quickly escape by blending in with the police officers, alongside a safehouse for them to rendezvous later. She also injures herself to avoid implication.

Uzoamaka Aniunoh as Inspector Jane in Headless Movie

The plan succeeds, and Erastus is safely able to escape the station. The bomb is later discovered to be fake, much to the chagrin of the officers. An injured Jane comes out, using the cover story that Erastus had attacked her and escaped, and she begins receiving first aid. Meanwhile, Erastus makes it out safely, but rather than heading to the safehouse like Jane instructed, he attempts to board a bus to Onitsha, Anambra State, to escape for good. However, he is tracked and stopped by a disappointed Jane, who then begins to take him back to the station as he betrayed her one attempt to help him. After multiple pleas and insistent begging from Erastus, she finally agrees to pivot back to the original plan of going to the safehouse. When they get there, she assigns her deputy, Onome, to monitor him while she’s away.

Meanwhile in Barrister Lanre’s office, it is revealed through multiple flashbacks that he has been betraying the Senator as revenge for the constant mistreatment, bringing ‘contracts’ for him to sign at night when the Senator is drunk and/or high (they are really share transfer papers). It is also revealed that Omolara was the Senator’s sugar baby, and that Lanre’s plan was not only to have Erastus take the blame for her death, but for Erastus to claim that the Senator had hired him to do so.

Baaj Adebunle as Barrister Lanre in Headless

Back at the safehouse, Onome and Erastus have a conversation about his past and how he came to be a film producer. But once she leaves to use the restroom, he grabs the burner phone that Jane had given him, and once again escapes. This time, to find Lanre.

The film picks up the pace from there, with Erastus’ plan failing miserably and leading him to the proverbial lion’s den, Lanre finally taking control and revealing his plan and motives to both Erastus and the Senator, and a clashing ending that reveals not just one, but two imposters.

Cast and Performances

Gideon Okeke as Erastus
Uzoamaka Aniunoh as Inspector Jane
Baaj Adebunle as Barrister Lanre
Ruby P. Okezie as Omolara
Femi Branch as Senator Izu Asiegbu
Gbubemi Ejeye as Onome

I don’t know how I feel about the acting here, my dear readers. On one hand we have Gideon Okeke absolutely killing it as Erastus. I can’t recall a single miss from this man, which is a fantastic track record, and this movie keeps that record going. On the other hand, there were exaggerated expressions in scenes that didn’t require them, and muted mannerisms in places that required a bit more urgency. Don’t get me wrong, I’m never going to deny good acting, especially if the script doesn’t work so well. That’s why I’m rather conflicted about this. Some scenes were too simple for the elaborate acting and dialogue that came with it, making them unconvincing at best and comical at worst. And other scenes….

(gunshot that is clear to literally everyone)

Random Henchman: Ah, he shot me (then dies)

Right.

We in the theatre ended up laughing at points where I’m one hundred percent sure we were supposed to lock in.

What I Liked and Disliked

This was a well rounded film. If you ignore the wonky acting, its quite balanced in its major themes and settings; the action, the mystery, the sympathy and relatability we were meant to (and did) feel for the main character. But in a rare phenomenon, its greatest strength also doubles as its greatest weakness.

There isn’t much that stood out to me.

It’s your average murder mystery, with your average action scenes, your average corrupt politician who needed to silence the victim, your average ‘the assistant did it because of a wicked boss’ plot twist, your average ‘local’ main character who’s new to the big city. It’s well done, but its overdone, you know?

Even the small attempt that was made with Onome at a second plot twist and a lead into a possible sequel didn’t hit the mark like it was supposed to, especially after such a well rounded ending.

Final Thoughts

This was a fun, feel-good project that makes for great family movie nights/outings, but unfortunately, that’s where its appeal ends. There was no standout, no depth, nothing that genuinely piques your interest or provokes any unique thought process. It’s good, and that’s pretty much it.

I rate Headless (2026): 3 out of 5.

Our Rating of This Movie

Have you seen this movie? What do you think of Omolara’s character? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Author

Winifred Eze
Winnie is a business student by day and a writer by night, with a passion for movies and the art of storytelling. Whether it’s dissecting a film’s themes, exploring character arcs, or celebrating cinematic masterpieces, she loves diving deep into the magic of the big screen. She also strives to bring fresh perspectives and engaging discussions to fellow writers and readers.