Contrasting Narratives: A Deep Dive into "Tokunbo" vs. "Sambala: The Cost of Freedom"

"Tokunbo" and "Sambala: The Cost of Freedom" are two notable Nigerian films released in 2024, each offering distinct narratives and themes.

"Tokunbo"

Directed by Ramsey Nouah, "Tokunbo" is an action drama that follows an ex-car smuggler tasked with delivering a government official's daughter to her captor within three hours to prevent harm to his family. The film delves into themes of desperation and moral dilemmas. It premiered on Netflix on August 23, 2024, and features performances by Gideon Okeke, Chidi Mokeme, and Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi.

"Sambala: The Cost of Freedom"

Directed by Kole Akintujoye, "Sambala: The Cost of Freedom" is a gripping drama set in a remote African village. The story centers on a young girl forced into an arranged marriage with a tyrant, leading her to spearhead a fight for freedom against oppressive forces. The film explores themes of resilience and the struggle for liberation. It has garnered attention for its powerful storytelling and cultural significance.

Comparative Overview

While both films are rooted in Nigerian cinema, they offer contrasting narratives:

Genre and Themes: "Tokunbo" is an action-packed thriller focusing on crime and personal sacrifice, whereas "Sambala" is a drama highlighting societal oppression and the quest for freedom.

Setting: "Tokunbo" is set in urban Nigeria, reflecting the complexities of city life and crime, while "Sambala" takes place in a rural village, emphasizing traditional practices and communal struggles.

Character Focus: "Tokunbo" centers on a male protagonist entangled in criminal activities, whereas "Sambala" features a female lead challenging societal norms and fighting for emancipation.

Where to Watch

"Tokunbo" is available for streaming on Netflix. As of now, "Sambala: The Cost of Freedom" has been showcased at film festivals and is anticipated to be available for wider viewing soon.

Trailers

You can watch the trailers for both films here:

Tokunbo Official Teaser

Sambala: The Cost of Freedom Official Trailer

Devil's Knight (2024) - Action Horror Fantasy

There can never be too many movies set in the medieval fantasy period, especially if they're based on a blend of action and horror. Simply put, the same mix of genres always provides a level of fun and thrills that nearly guarantees a good time for cinephiles of these types of films. Devil's Knight is one such film, and this title only recently came out. Here's how the film describes itself:

In the realm of Veroka, an elite group of global monster hunters is summoned by King Samuel to vanquish the ancient Bone Devil, whose reign of terror threatens the Kingdom of Remény.

 

The movie is directed by Adam Werth and stars John Wells, Kevin Sorbo, Angie Everhart, and Daniel Baldwin. It also features the legendary Eric Roberts. It was written by Vincent V. Gelsomino and Adam Werth. Devil's Knight is produced by Michael Mahal and Sonny Mahal of Mahal Empire Productions.

For more information, check out the Devil's Knight IMDb page!

Sambala: The Cost of Freedom - The Power and Impact of Nollywood’s Next Generation of Filmmakers

Nollywood, as the Nigerian film industry is today known, is continuing to make waves on a global scale and not just at the level of African cinema. Regionally, it has been a staple of production and quality for years, but now, films including Sambala: The Cost of Freedom are moving it even further. This process is propelled by filmmakers like Nigerian-American Kole Akintujoye, a veteran of the film business. His latest production, Sambala: The Cost of Freedom, created under GUODB Cinematics, shows just how quickly is Nollywood evolving from local but authentic storytelling to a place where it resonates with audiences worldwide. Here’s the plot of the film:

In a remote African village, a young girl is forced into a life of oppression when her parents arrange her marriage to a powerful tyrant. Defying tradition and risking everything, she leads a desperate fight for freedom, uncovering dark secrets and paying a heartbreaking price in her quest to break the chains of tyranny.

The film dives into themes of resilience and liberation, breaking away from expected storylines seen in Nigerian movies. Instead, it explores dark African narratives of the contemporary world and is willing to confront complex social issues. All the while, it is dedicated to using a thoroughly distinctive African perspective.

This film is part of a broader movement in Nollywood, showcasing narratives that speak authentically to universal themes and positioning global Nollywood as a cinematic force. Online content hubs like Netflix Naija, Amazon Prime Africa, and other streaming platforms are increasingly showcasing such works, drawing international attention to Nollywood and reshaping global perceptions of African cinema. That is a process that has been long overdue and people like Akintujoye are pushing it forward by leaps and bounds.

Films like Sambala highlight this new wave of Nigerian movies focused on cultural empowerment and authenticity, blending storytelling with a deeper examination of African perspectives and realities. Through such vibrant narratives, Nollywood is reinforcing its commitment to authentic storytelling and cultural empowerment, capturing the world’s attention and solidifying itself as a major player in the international film industry. Sambala: The Cost of Freedom is not just about cultural empowerment, it is a part of the next chapter of African heritage in film.

Film Review: Oddity (2024)

The power of Oddity as a very fresh and atypical horror is seen literally in the first five minutes of the film. That is the moment in the film when a brilliant and chilling conversation takes place between a woman, locked in an old Irish mansion, and a stranger on the other side of the door. In that short but impactful vignette, the film and its director Damian Mc Carthy showcase just how well they manage tension, expectation, and the bleak visual environment where both take place. In that space, we as a viewer cannot help but look for danger and threats in every dark doorway or dimly lit corner.

The same skill set propels Oddity to the very top of modern horror, especially when keeping in mind that it is coming from a European indie production. But, through the smart use of simple props and excellent storytelling, Oddity compensates for any lack of production values. Instead, it proves a deeply disturbing tale that is still very plausible and ultimately a very down-to-earth matter. Similarly to Late Night with the Devil, the film’s premise begins in an outlandish manner but becomes more and more personal and thus possible as time goes by.

With that strong and grounded setup, the tale of a blind woman and a medium, going on the quest to find out who really murdered her twin sister becomes something extraordinary. The acting cast understood that as well, which is why Carolyn Bracken and Caroline Menton do a great job, followed closely by Tadhg Murphy, Steve Wall, and Gwilym Lee. All of them attain amazing results without any apparent extraordinary effort. In a similar way, Oddity effortlessly shows that horror films are at the cutting edge of the present independent film industry.

VasDahiv Uncharted - YouTube Mystery-Horror Animated Series

It's always fantastic to see innovative art that blends a range of influences. VasDahiv Uncharted is an episodic YouTube animated series that was made in the same manner, with origins that are both diverse and global. That covers the subject matter of the series, but also how its team approached its storytelling. Here's how the series describes itself:

The first issue of VasDahiv: Uncharted introduces Vandad, a young adventurer, and his companions as they explore the mystical desert landscape of VasDahiv. While on a quest to solve an ancient mystery involving a strange box and a broken seal left by Vandad’s father, they encounter strange characters, including a mysterious old man who may not be what he seems. With elements of supernatural danger, tension, and Persian mythology, the series blends adventure, horror, and suspense as Vandad and his friends face unforeseen challenges that test their resolve and uncover secrets that have remained hidden for centuries.

In the first episode, the skill of the team behind VasDahiv Uncharted is immediately clear. The style of the animation is a great blend of cartoon, cell shading, and realistic approaches. From the perspective of the narrative, characters, and the entire storyline, the episode quickly sets up its premise and the central mystery, all the while using familiar elements like a road trip, (seemingly) random encounters, and abandoned, spooky gas stations. All of these immediately catch the attention of the viewer and draw them into the emerging story of VasDahiv.

On the production side, the series is really well-made, featuring great voiceover acting and soundtrack. Also, the level of polish that the animation comes with, especially that of the characters’ faces and facial expressions, is impressive, showing that the team painstakingly made sure everything looks, sounds, and feels excellent. All of this shows that the director Younes Hommasi and the team around him know what they're doing not just now, but for future episodes as well.

If you're into animated series and ancient mysteries that combine numerous elements, check out the official website of VasDahiv Uncharted. But first, watch the entire first episode of the series right here, and be sure to subscribe to its official YouTube channel for future episodes!

Film Review: Longlegs (2024)

 

Several factors related to Longlegs and the way Osgood Perkins directed the film are simply fantastic. These include photography and frame composition, but also the glorious fact that this work again forced (or enticed) Nicholas Cage to show the world his true talent. Unlike a range of B-class films he made in recent years, Longlegs is a true work of art. Maika Monroe, as the lead character of the confused but driven FBI agent Lee Harker also provides a very impressionable psychological study.

Finally, the initial atmosphere and narrative mood hint at the film being inside of the New Weird genre, here Harker gets a hypnotic FBI test that determines whether or not she might be a psychic. All of these fit perfectly into a generic story of a series of horrific crimes where a mysterious being, known only as Longlegs, somehow forces families to murder each other. Here, the plot is reminiscent of things like the Southern Reach trilogy from the writer Jeff VanderMeer or video games like Control. In the first half of the film, Perkins wants to tell the audience that horrible things can and will happen, while forces committing these, just as the forces opposing those, might be unknowable to us.

But, as the film breaks into the second half, all of that synergy is somehow lost. The mystery shifts into occult and satanism but does so in a bland, stuttering manner. The focus of the characters is lost as seemingly all of them suddenly fall into some kind of unclear family drama buried deep in their past. Even Cage appears to be questioning his approach to the role of an intensely deranged person, finally reverting to bizarre impressionism that is again, kind of silly. As the end and the culmination draws near, the events get bloodier, but everything gets unintentionally funnier as well.

The finale itself is more akin to the forest critters from South Park who engage in blood orgies and exclaim “Hail Satan” than a thought-through New Weird horror story. The film does tie all of its loose ends and provides closure to the mystery, but that closure ends up more comical than scary. With that, Perkins managed to make a work of art that feels more similar to a Tales from the Crypt episode than one of the most cerebral horror films of 2024, which Longlegs so very much could have been.