First of all, what are you willing to do to survive in Life?
Kemi Adetiba’s “To Kill A Monkey” is a bold, layered dive into Nigeria’s digital underworld, blending emotional depth with gritty realism.
You’d think Kemi Adetiba had given us all with the “King of Boys” movie, but here she goes again, giving us yet another amazing banger, with such an intriguing title.
Title Analysis
The title To Kill A Monkey isn’t just catchy, it’s layered with meaning that ties directly into the show’s themes of betrayal, survival, and moral compromise.
Plot & Themes
At the center is Efe, a struggling programmer whose life spirals after a series of devastating personal losses. Desperation leads him into the orbit of Oboz-Da-Boss, a charismatic fraud kingpin running a fake logistics empire.
What begins as a reluctant partnership swings into a full-blown cybercrime syndicate, with Efe as the tech brain behind the operation.
Parallel to this is Mo, a cybercrime officer haunted by grief and PTSD, whose investigation into “The Monkey Case” slowly unravels the web connecting Efe and Oboz.
The film explores themes of loyalty, trauma, betrayal and the moral cost of survival in a system rigged against the vulnerable.
Language & Style
The film’s use of Pidgin English, Urhobo, and Bini adds cultural texture and realism.
The language usage makes the movie seem so real and relatable, omo!
Cast and Performancces
Lead Actors
1. William Benson as Efe delivers a breakout performance, raw, expressive, and deeply human. He killed his role, embodied his character “Efemini”. He took us through the pains, struggles, trials and development of this character.
2. Bucci Franklin is magnetic as Oboz, balancing menace and charm with finesse.
Bucci Franklin is just a very good actor. He makes his character
“Oboz” seem, so believable! How does he even do it.
Who do i blame?
Oboz was sloppy, he was loud, uncultured, stubborn, arrogant, not intelligent, but above all, he was street smart, and he was as brutal as his profession needed him to be.
Efe on the other hand was intelligent, careful, not loud. He could have prospered as a banker, but for his kind of job, he wasn’t as street smart as he needed to be.
He was not ready, for the sacrifices that had to be done to remain on top.
And yet the question that lingers on my mind is “Why didn’t he stop when he made the first or second million”?
This goes a long way to show that humans are truly insatiable, the more you get, the more you want.
So, who do I blame? I blame it on a failed society.
To Kill A Monkey is a refreshing shift from Nollywood’s usual fare. It’s not just a crime thriller, it’s a character study, a social commentary, and a cinematic experience that rewards patience.
If you’re tired of rushed plots and shallow storytelling, this one’s worth your time, trust me.
Very interesting, entertaining, nerve racking, and absolutely educating!
Bigg thumbs up to Kemi Adetiba and the whole cast of “To be a Monkey”.
Rating: A solid 8.2/10
A slow burn with real flavor, and a reminder that sometimes, the monkey isn’t who you think it is.
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