A grieving father sets out to find justice for his slain son and lay him to rest. Along the line, he crosses paths with old friends and foes, getting drawn back into the violent world he left behind.

 

 

 

I had no expectation from this film but felt compelled to watch given the calibre of the lead character. It turned out to be one of my favourite movies of the year, thanks to Editi Effiong’s superb direction and RMD’s nuanced acting.

 

RMD plays Paul Edima, the middle-aged man whose son was slaughtered by a ruthless gang of police officers. The experienced star is convincing, portraying a broken man craving justice and kicking ass along the way.

 

With the exception of the very first action scene, the visuals are good and the face-offs are quite impressive. But more than this, the themes of the film make it soar above your average thriller.

 

The Black Book explores systemic corruption, with the lens zoomed in on lawmen who often go against their oath by turning on those they have sworn to protect.

 

The plot is engaging, well-written, and made suspenseful by the director and a wonderful cast.

 

The movie’s climax is fun, with the final confrontation taking place in the windswept drylands of Kaduna. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending.

 

The stand-outs here for me are RMD, Ade Laoye, Shaffy Bello, and Denola Grey (even though he has a very limited screentime).

 

I recommend this flick for action lovers and movie fans in general. You will not be disappointed.