Opening Scene Lacks Precision and Atmosphere
The first episode of To Kill A Monkey, the highly anticipated series from Kemi Adetiba, opens in a shrine during a nocturnal initiation ritual. A shirtless man leads a ceremony involving a group of boys whose backs are pierced to draw blood into a wooden vessel. The boys kneel in fear, pledging allegiance with their “life, blood, and flesh” to an enigmatic figure who enters in fashionable boots and an oversized mask.
This sequence, intended to establish an ominous tone, falls short of its potential. The boys’ reactions lack conviction, the pacing drags, and a jarring soundtrack undermines the intended atmosphere. A moment that should evoke horror instead feels unconvincing and overproduced.
Creative Missteps Undermine an Ambitious Return
The shortcomings of the opening are symptomatic of a broader issue: a lack of tonal coherence and restraint. These misjudgments are disappointing, especially as this series marks Adetiba’s return following her directorial successes with The Wedding Party and King of Boys—two of Nollywood’s most influential films of the past decade. While the former revitalized comedic storytelling, the latter inspired a wave of gritty, politically charged dramas.
By contrast, To Kill A Monkey appears directionless in its genre ambitions. The pilot attempts to introduce multiple themes and tones but lacks the narrative discipline to bring them together effectively.
Efemini and Mo Ogunlesi Introduce Diverging Arcs
The story transitions from the shrine to the urban world of Efemini, portrayed by William Benson, a struggling handyman learning programming by stealing Wi-Fi. His arc intersects indirectly with Mo Ogunlesi (Bimbo Akintola), a newly promoted officer at the Nigeria Cybercrime Commission. Both characters experience personal tragedy early on, and though they narrowly miss crossing paths in the pilot, their futures appear bound to collide.
Efemini's journey is central to the narrative, and the episode’s final sequence—focused on his reunion with a former cultist—stands out as the pilot’s most compelling moment.
Bucci Franklin Elevates the Narrative as Oboz
Bucci Franklin delivers a commanding performance as Oboz, Efemini’s old acquaintance from his university cultist days. Franklin imbues the character with a raw physicality, expressive body language, and fluent pidgin dialogue that captures both menace and charisma. Oboz's exaggerated generosity and simmering violence are convincingly portrayed, transforming a familiar stereotype into a memorable screen presence.
His interaction with Efemini offers a glimpse into the series’ thematic promise, showcasing tension, history, and complexity with cinematic flair.
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Supporting Cast Adds Depth, But Writing Falters
Another standout is Constance Owoyomi as Madam Adunni, the restaurant owner where Efemini works. Her subtle duplicity is skillfully portrayed, offering one of the few layered performances outside the main trio. Stella Damasus also appears as Efe’s wife, Nosa, although her role in the pilot remains underdeveloped.
Despite these highlights, the screenplay falters with clichéd dialogue and predictable plot devices. Efe’s narration—"born to poor and determined parents..."—echoes a trope heard too often. The decision to have him robbed immediately after receiving money feels similarly unoriginal.
Structural Weaknesses and Overproduction Persist
Technical issues persist throughout the episode. The sound design is heavy-handed, with music frequently overwhelming the scene rather than supporting it. The bloated 57-minute runtime is another concern, filled with unnecessarily prolonged sequences and redundant exposition—issues reminiscent of the King of Boys series, which drew criticism for similar excesses.
These flaws detract from what could have been a taut, suspense-driven pilot.
A Tentative Start to a Potentially Influential Series
By the episode’s end, it becomes evident that the heart of To Kill A Monkey will lie in the intertwined fates of Efemini, Oboz, and Mo. Among them, the dynamic between Efemini and Oboz holds the most narrative promise.
Whether Adetiba can steer the series toward a more focused and refined storytelling approach in subsequent episodes remains to be seen. The pilot offers glimpses of brilliance, but it is weighed down by uneven execution and an overindulgence in spectacle.
To Kill A Monkey is now streaming on Netflix.