Ile Owo Review: This Nigerian film stars Immaculate Oko-Kasum, Efa Iwara, Tina Mba, Akin Lewis, Taye Arimoro, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Mofe Duncan, Ademola Adedoyin and Temisan Emmanuel, alongside other cast members. It is written by Dare Olaitan, who also joins the film as a director. This movie is expected to be a horror thriller following a protagonist and her family. While she is working as a nurse, she meets a perfect man – a billionaire, only to realise there is something deeper under the surface.
– The Ile Owo Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Let’s start at the beginning of where this all went terribly wrong. First of all, the film starts off with an animation that barely explains the lore or the reason why this ritual has to work. Secondly, the guidelines of this ritual itself are so unclear that the beginning barely sets up the rest of the film. Moreover, if the writer/director is taking the time out to explain this lore, then perhaps they should do it well because, so far, we have gotten sporadic indications of the fact that there is a strong force waiting to take innocent girls in this scheme.
Next, we are introduced to the protagonist, who is a shy nurse with no personality whatsoever. We have no reason to root for her. There is no way she is an actual female character or a hero. How are we supposed to believe that she has some inner grit when she gets scared of looking at random talismans? There are so many ways they could have painted her character, but they had to make her the subservient, shy nurse who is waiting for her Prince Charming.
The feministic argument here is actually a digression from the actual horror in this film, which is the structure. It has to be noted that if they decided to explore character dynamics a little more than whatever this is, this writer could have still believed in the film, but what is this connection that only exists in the screenplay writer’s head? It is concerning that they expected audiences to get behind this kind of narrative when it is half-baked and barely makes sense in the context of the film.
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Adding to this, we have one family member who was acting so out of the ordinary that it didn’t even make sense for them to do that. There is no motivation for this kind of behaviour or at least none that could stand out in the film straight away. This film felt like it was trying to be Get Out, but the man and woman version instead. It tried so hard that, in the end, it wasn’t able to achieve anything. This writer still felt like they were swallowing glass while watching this film.
This is still just a few minutes into the thing, but actually, it could be stretched to nearly 3/4th of the film because, for that long, absolutely nothing related to psychological thrill takes place. The only big conflict was the protagonist’s mother being in the hospital, and that is not too big of a motivation to drive the main character to think that there is something wrong. Since patriarchy is clearly something that exists, the writer at least expected the male character to explain some of the weirdness but to no avail.
Ile Owo Review: Final Thoughts
Ile Owo does not make sense in any context. Whether it be fantasy, psychological thriller or horror, it didn’t manage to give any of these energies. To make matters worse, the CGI was totally botched, and so was any visual enjoyment the film may have had at that point. While the lighting and shooting were still bearable, the rest of the film made it impossible to really make sense of everything. It might even be noted that the director was on something and forgot to shoot the rest of the film.
This writer would suggest that no one watch this film because you would be wasting one and a half hours of yours. There is no way this film makes sense in the fantasy context or horror context. This would not be anyone’s good film. The acting is also so ill-fitting, with the direction being the main reason that has happened. Additionally, the story is not gripping, there is no structure, and there is no closure at the end.
Ile Owo is currently streaming on Netflix. What did you think of this film? Let us know in the comments below.
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Honestly Im done with the movie and its so confusing. So many plot holes
Agreed…
Main character is annoyingly “naïve”. A lot of well-known faces partaking in the movie, but they all still couldn’t carry the confusing storyline. Honestly, it’s a waste at best. Halfway through, I still didn’t know what to think or where the storyline was going. Movie seemed rushed at the end, but also very slow to get to the point during the first half. I’d skip over this one.
The film no just follow.maybe there is part 2
Maybe a second part will be helpful to understand because I don’t get Busola’s fathers involvement and the dream her mother was in when she passed on. The whole drama just tire me.
And the faji whatever sorcerer is the only young immoral in all this. I don’t understand ????
This movie would have been wonderful if executed properly. Like what happened at the end? Was Faji just setting up the Owo family? What is Busola’s Father connection to the Owo family? What was she pregnant for and with? So many things that did not add up! Yet the movie seemed promising from the start, sad.
She had sex with that monster remember? Thats who she was pregnant for,what I don’t understand is why the father and the rest were killed
They were killed because the sacrifice wasn’t completed and Fijabi only used them for her own ritual. She was the only old person that could be young forever!
Ah now, at least I seem to get that part. I was wondering what her cryptic words meant in gbe end
I felt the same way. How can someone be so spiritually dull ????????.
I actually enjoyed the movie, the only dot I was unable to connect was the relationship between Busola’s father and the Owo’s family.
Okay. Let me just say i understood the movie this way too…. ????
This movie do not just add up.
It was because I saw Kiekie there, I decided to see the movie but it was all a crap.
The friendship btw Busola and Doja do not work.
Everything in this movie sucks????????????
I rate the movie 8.5/10. It was superb ???? The actors and the plot were magnificent. A really good watch. It’s one of those movies you watch and get lost wondering. Time well spent. I honestly don’t understand the negative reviews the movie is receiving at all, but I loved the watch.