eseleokohesene

The series has potential but relies too heavily on overused patterns. The female Prime Minister is pushed into extreme situations while her husband is reduced to a weak, emotional role. Their daughter is written as another bratty, defiant teen, a cliché that's become stale ( I wonder if writers are forcing bad parenting down our throats). The French president is portrayed through scandal, a tired stereotype. On top of that, glaring logic gaps like Ayesha opening the door just as the Prime Minister's daughter conveniently saw her father captive on the screen, a contrived and unrealistic setup or Ayesha's phone surviving a bomb blast, pull the viewer out of the story. Hostage entertains at surface level but feels more forced than fresh.

The fact they even had the French president killed on British soil felt unbelievable, in reality, such an event would have thrown the entire country into chaos.

I only wish the writers had put in more effort, because there's nothing new here; it's all been told before.

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.

I just saw it again in July 2025. It's unbeatably one of the best movies of my life. Additionally, I do not joke when I say the best all time movies in my opinion were made in the 90's. This is 2025, and everything about the movie still feels so real. Asides the beautifully crafted story, I saw parts of the making of this movie was done in a water tank, and in 1997 when the world was not as technically developed as today, with practical effects, a reconstructed ship, beautiful costuming, and immersive performances they put up a masterpiece. Hats off to every one who was a part of the film, cast and crew.