Suspicion: Nollywood’s Bold Take on Crime, Horror, and Black Magic

Suspicion is not your typical Nollywood movie with an obvious ending, this film fuses crime, horror, and black magic, making it stand out. It boldly attempts to redefine African storytelling and may set a standard for future Nollywood horror movies.

Directed by Tosin Igho and produced by Stan Nze, Bryan Dike, and Richard Mofe Damijo, this horror film takes viewers on a journey. It is packed with twists, spine-chilling moments, and impeccable performances.

Released in cinemas on November 28, 2024, and now available on Prime Video, Suspicion is rated 18 for strong language, nudity, violence, and sexual content.

With black magic, intense action, and great acting, it keeps you on edge, making you constantly guess what happens next.

The Premise

Suspicion follows a narrative style with Voke (Stan Nze) as the narrator.

The movie opens with a haunting flashback from Voke’s childhood. His mother, Obatere (Tina Mba), tries to kill him but discovers he is protected by Juju (black magic).

Fast forward to adulthood, Voke is drowning in financial troubles. He even owes money to his girlfriend, Chisom (Omowunmi Dada), forcing her to consider breaking up with him.

His best friend, Rogba (Uzor Arukwe), is a devoted father. His world shatters when his daughter, Lolu (Ashafa Salamot), is kidnapped. Voke shares a strong bond with Lolu and gets involved in trying to find her.

Despite warnings from his mother about a dark force stronger than hers, Voke gets entangled in the case.

Years later, Voke becomes a part-time investigator, using his supernatural abilities to solve crimes. When nightclub owner Madam Tinuke (Shaffy Bello) seeks his help to find a thief among her workers, Voke’s skills are tested.

The story takes a darker turn when Lolu’s kidnapping links to murder cases involving businessman Mr. Tony (Kalu Ikeagwu).

The movie unravels mysteries at a slow pace. Chisom (Omowunmi Dada) becomes a suspect, and Rogba mysteriously returns from the dead for revenge.

Casts and Performances

Stan Nze delivers a remarkable performance as Voke. He perfectly expresses the duality of a shaman-turned-investigator and an average guy seeking answers. His performance makes his character relatable.

However, Uzor Arukwe’s portrayal of Rogba feels uneven. Though talented, his performance doesn’t fully capture his character’s pain and struggles. His storyline had potential but feels shallow.

Omowunmi Dada shines as Chisom. Her versatility is unmatched as she transitions between roles—grieving girlfriend, poised millionaire’s wife, and tense suspect. Her performance makes Chisom one of the most beautifully played characters.

Tina Mba is flawless as Obatere, Voke’s mother. Her presence makes her unforgettable, even with limited screen time.

Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD) stands out in his brief yet impactful cameo as the Devil. His aura is felt despite limited screen time. His appearance hints at a possible sequel to address unanswered questions.

Supporting actors like Shaffy Bello and Kalu Ikeagwu add flare, but many characters feel underutilized due to limited development and screen time.

What I Liked About Suspicion

Suspicion stands out for me, it feels like the long-awaited diversion Nollywood needed to take from the repetitive storyline, especially in the horror genre.

One of the film’s strongest points is its unpredictability. Just when you think you’ve figured out the storyline, it takes an unexpected turn.

The twists and turns ensure that there’s never a dull moment, making it impossible to predict what will happen next almost mirroring the intensity to our beloved Living In Bondage Breaking Free.

The movie does extremely well in its portrayal of African horror. The use of Juju and supernatural elements isn’t just for shock value and fun—it adds an authentic cultural depth to the story.

The jump scares are executed with precision, they were not excessively used. I highly recommend you watch during the day, except if you wish to have nightmares.

Visually, Suspicion is stunning. The cinematography masterfully contrasts the modern world with the dark, juju underworld, creating a striking visual experience.

You could tell the videographer and cinematographer both broke a leg while standing on business that hard to deliver such crisp quality, the visuals highly contributed to the film’s eerie feel.

The careful attention to lighting, color grading, and shot composition heightens the storytelling.

What I Didn’t Like About Suspicion

With all the hype surrounding Suspicion, you might feel it is without flaws, however, every masterpiece always has its criticism

One of the major drawbacks of the film is its rushed plot. Some scenes felt unnecessary, such as Voke’s nightclub investigation, which did little to drive the story forward.

These moments could have been trimmed to make room for deeper character development, allowing audiences to connect more with the key players.

Additionally, the film underutilized some of its strongest talents. Veteran actors like Shaffy Bello and Tina Mba, whom we all know for their commanding on-screen presence, had limited screen time. Their characters had great potential, but they were unfortunately underutilized.

The fight scenes felt like they needed more work and an actual fighter on set, it gave Bollywood on steroids. The stunts in Suspicion felt unrealistic, with poorly choreographed movements and unconvincing use of fake blood.

Instead of adding to the intensity of the film, these fight scenes took away the thrill we all needed, making them feel forced and funny.

Another noticeable issue was the inconsistent pacing. At times, the movie dragged, lingering too long on certain scenes, while other critical moments felt rushed. This imbalance made it difficult to stay fully engaged, as some parts built up too slowly while others moved too fast, leaving gaps in the storytelling.

Verdict

Despite its shortcomings, Suspicion remains a bold and ambitious attempt from the producers, daring to be different is almost impossible with so much uniformity in the Nigerian movie industry, however, they did pull it off.

The fusion of crime, romance, action, and supernatural themes, played out really well paired with strong performances from the cast, summed together makes Suspicion worth watching.

For those of us who seek a break from the usual Nollywood storylines, I highly recommend you watch Suspicion.