To Kill A Monkey

Nigeria cinema and television is rapidly approaching the highs and lows of Western entertainment, and this is evident within this series. However, To Kill A Monkey's biggest problem is that it wastes a lot of time to tell a story that could've been cut down by an episode or two. It's a great crime thriller, but not that great at character drama. Ask yourself this; what does this show have to say about society and Nigerian society? In a series about a man being brilliant and poor being forced into life of crime, coming out at a time where many Nigerian citizens are in dire economic situations, it says shockingly little about the nature of the systems that lead people to do evil, and instead turns into a power fantasy about money before delving into a very predictable crime thriller. The moral of story is not anything you haven't heard before. 8 episodes to say, while wagging your finger at you, "Crime doesn't pay". Boring and predictable. Especially the last episode is hamfisted and overly explicit with the messaging.

Brilliant performances. Great editing. Good cinematography for the first 2 episodes, but it quickly falls off.

This film delivers a powerful punch from start to finish. The storyline is deeply engaging, layered, emotional, and full of tension that keeps you glued to the screen. What truly elevates it, though, is the cast. Every actor brought their A-game. Oboz (F. Bucci) and Efemini (William Benson) both delivered raw, believable performances that gave life to their characters. It's rare to see such across-the-board excellence in a cast.

This isn't just a film you watch, it's one you feel. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates strong storytelling and exceptional acting.

I believe the series had potential but ultimately fell short in its storytelling, despite some standout elements. The production quality and cinematography were solid, and performances by William Benson and Bucci Franklin were impressive. However, the plot lacked cohesion and depth, with several missed opportunities that weakened the overall impact.

Key Issues: **Misleading Opening Scene The first scene seemed designed to set the tone for the entire series, but it ended up being irrelevant. Throughout the show, I kept thinking Efe's misfortune was somehow connected to that opening moment, but it never tied in meaningfully.

**False Sense of Suspense When Oboz introduces Efe to his "inside business," the scene was shot with such intensity that I anticipated something dark or sinister. Instead, it turned out to be a scam operation-disappointing and anticlimactic given the build-up.

**Unrealized Potential with AI and Juju Efe mentions that he can elevate the scam business using AI, which could have been an exciting and modern angle. Unfortunately, we never actually see this idea developed. The story jumps ahead 4 years, and suddenly they're wealthy, with no exploration of how the AI or juju was used in their schemes. It felt like a major missed opportunity.

**Underused Cyber Detective The cybercrime detective character had potential but was underutilized. Given her role, it would have added realism and depth to see her engaged in actual investigations-analyzing data, tracking networks, etc.-rather than just appearing with conclusions.

**Misleading Title The title To Kill a Monkey suggests a central plot element or metaphor that never materialized. At no point in the story does it become clear who or what "the monkey" is, or why anyone is trying to kill it.

**An Underwhelming Ending The conclusion lacked the punch it needed. A more compelling twist-such as revealing that Oboz's wife was the mastermind or heir to his operation-could have added the suspense and complexity the story was missing.

This series had strong acting and visual direction, but the writing let it down. With tighter plot development and follow-through on its more intriguing ideas, it could have been truly memorable. Instead, it leaves viewers with more questions than answers.

This was an interesting watch. Loved how they incorporated several Nigerian languages in different scenes, it made it more relatable.

Loved the character of Amanda; she carried herself with so much charisma in every scene she was shot. The cinematography must be commended as well.

In the pilot episode, the hospital scene to be precise; where the lady asked Efe to go with her into the office; the lighting was poor I must say. The office could pass off as an interrogation room rather than an office due to the poor lighting. I am guessing the night scene was shot during the day.

I also understand that Nosa wanted the mum to give them some space at the hospital but asking her mum to go buy cold pure water seemed out of place for someone who just went through CS.

Chidi Mokeme's daughter lost her children in the car blast; wished there was a grieving scene of her which also shows her blame her father Chidi for the demise of her kids.

Despite these drawbacks, I must say the acting was above average as the actors delivered their lines effortlessly. I enjoyed their performances; especially that of Oboz and Ms Sparkles. It was an interesting watch but the ending was pretty rushed in my opinion.

Nigerian movies have always excelled at storytelling, but lately, many Nigerian Netflix films have struggled when it comes to telling stories that feel relatable or grounded in our lived realities. To Kill a Monkey was a refreshing change. Its attention to detail and high relatability, backed by a solid cast, are a testament to the effort of the cast and crew and I must applaud them.

The unending travails of poor Efemini, truly embodying the saying, "when it rains, it pours", were both heartbreaking and captivating. Oboz da Boss gave an outstanding performance. The character's lack of social awareness, red eyes, hairstyle, long nails, and loud fashion sense were spot on. As someone who has lived in Benin, I can say it accurately captured a very real archetype.

To avoid spoilers, I won't delve into the plot, but I will say this: while the film was compelling, a few scenes felt a bit too slowly paced, and at times, the music overpowered the scene when it should have stayed in the background.

I'm giving this movie an 8 out of 10. It rises above the kind of movies that have lately flooded the Nigerian market, over-polished, under-connected stories, and instead offers something bold, grounded, and culturally resonant.