By Agbo Favour Amarachi
“The beads” is a wedding murder thriller that will keep the viewer on the edge of his seat.
In ‘The Beads’, directed by Moyin Sage, Rántí, a young lady who is also a bride-to-be who’s recently recovered from her addiction is faced with an obstacle on the day of her wedding to the love of her life and for some not-too-subtly-put reasons, she keeps repeating the same day and fights for her life in the hope of turning back the hands of time.
She seems to be stuck in a time loop on the day of her wedding which is also her day of death, and it always resets when she inevitably gets shot by an assassin. She is in a race against time and is saddled with the responsibility to unravel the mystery of her murder before… it is too late.
As she struggles with her dilemma, this style, reminiscent of Western time-loop films, poses a complicated. Unfortunately, this is where The Beads struggle the most.
‘The Beads’ open with a strong emotional draw as we see Ranti’s joy transform into despair. Zainab Balogun’s portrayal of Ranti is compelling; she captures the anguish and confusion of a woman trapped in an inexplicable cycle. Her performance is one of the film’s highlights, bringing depth and authenticity to her character’s plight. She’s one of the reasons I managed to pull through to the movie’s end.
Idowu Phillips, as Ranti’s grandmother, is another standout. Her character exudes warmth and wisdom, providing a comforting presence throughout the film. Shaffy Bello’ performance grounds the narrative, offering a sense of continuity and hope amidst the chaos. The scenes between Ranti and her grandmother are some of the most touching, showcasing a bond that transcends the story’s supernatural elements.
However, the supporting cast’s performances are a mixed bag. Such as Temitope Aremu’s portrayal of Irene falls flat, and Chioma Omeruah’s Adanna comes off as overly exaggerated, a common pitfall when Nollywood incorporates comedy. Juliana Olayode’s character, Shade, has the same issue with an illogical scene involving ice and hot tea.
While the lead actors deliver strong performances, many of the secondary characters fail to leave a lasting impression. This disparity in acting quality detracts from the overall cohesion of the film, making it difficult to remain fully engaged.
The scenes between Adanna and Zainab Balogun’s Ranti was poorly executed. However, Zainab Balogun delivers a strong performance, the actress doesn’t star in many films but is always memorable. Segun Arinze does not disappoint as Mr Obi. The chemistry between Zainab Balogun and Idowu Philips, who plays Ranti’s grandmother, is spot-on and enjoyable to watch.
Against the tidal wave it faces, The Beads manage to tell a good story. By the time the narrative reaches a mid point, it has laid out most of its cards and established important questions for its characters. The Beads takes a different approach, with emphasis on character development and emotional depth rather than relying on fantastical elements. This grounded approach not only adds authenticity but also allows the audience to connect more deeply with Ranti’s journey. As things start to wind down, we get our unnecessary plot twists, just a simple character-focused story with the titular beads as the McGuffin at the heart of it all.
One of the film’s key issues is its pacing. The narrative takes too long before delivering any understandable point, making it a challenge to stay invested in Ranti’s journey. The slow pace exacerbates the confusion surrounding the plot, which is already muddled by a lack of clarity. Key plot points, such as the villain’s role in establishing the time loop and the fate of Ranti’s father, are either glossed over or left unresolved, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.
In most time-loop films, there’s usually a period of confusion before the characters realize what’s happening. This quick jump was jarring, particularly because the second time it happened, she tells her friends it’s the second occurrence. However, her conversation with her grandma suggests it has happened multiple times.
The film does, however, make a remarkable effort to explore the cultural significance of the beads. These symbols of African heritage are woven into the story, representing tradition, continuity, and the connection between past and present. Yet, the narrative built around this symbolism feels underdeveloped, failing to fully capitalize on its rich cultural backdrop.
The exploration of forgiveness, both of self and others adds another layer of depth to the narrative. While Ranti navigates to forgive herself for past mistakes, her assailant grapples with self-forgiveness to let go of the grievance that sparked the desire to harm her. This dynamic of forgiveness plays a pivotal role in breaking the time loop, illustrating how personal reconciliation can lead to profound transformation.
‘The Beads’ is directed by Moyinoluwa Ezekiel (aka Moyin Sage) with the screenplay by Moyinoluwa Ezekiel, Akinbayo Morakinyo, Kehinde Quadri, and Olalekan Uthman. The Nollywood flick featured Zainab Balogun, Shaffy Bello, Efa Iwara, Lateef Adedimeji, Idowu Phillips, Segun Arinze, Chioma Omeruah, Bimbo Manuel, Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Juliana Oloyede, Tina Mba, and Jammal Ibrahim.
