Inside Job is a 2024 Kenya-Indian collaboration that brings crime, friendship, and justice into one tight, fast-paced story. Now streaming on Netflix, the film follows a young woman whose mother was wrongfully dismissed from work and denied her pension. In a desperate bid for revenge, she sets out to rob the man responsible, but things don’t go as planned. Along the way, she reconnects with an old friend, and what starts as a simple heist quickly spirals into something much bigger. Inside Job was directed by Tosh Gitonga.
Plot
Inside Job opens with two friends, Wambui, a struggling chef repeatedly rejected from jobs, and Tracy, a nurse whose ethics are questionable at best, engaging in affairs with her much older patients. Life is far from perfect, but it gets worse when Wambui’s mother is wrongfully accused of theft by her employer, a wealthy Asian man she’s served faithfully as a maid for over 20 years. Not only is she sacked, but she’s also denied her pension, leaving her broken and hopeless.
Desperate to fix things, Tracy convinces Wambui to join her in a plan to rob the man’s house and recover what was taken from her mother. The plan is simple: sneak in, crack the safe, take the valuables, and leave. But when they arrive, the house is hosting a grand party to welcome Ravi, the boss’s son, who’s just returned after years abroad.
The girls improvise. Wambui, who secretly still has feelings for Ravi from childhood, is tasked with distracting him, while Tracy sneaks off to carry out the heist. Somehow, they pull it off, stealing both gold and money, then cover their tracks by lying to Wambui’s mom, claiming Ravi righted his father’s wrong by paying her dues.
Back at the house, chaos erupts. Things are broken, gold is missing, and suspicions rise. Eventually, the missing items are found in the possession of Mr Muli, another worker in the house, exposing him as the long-time thief. The revelation clears Wambu’s mother of guilt.
In a surprising twist, Dija and his sister pay a visit to Wambui’s home to apologise, only to find Wambui there. What follows is a quiet moment of tension: will Dija confront her about the robbery, or will love and understanding win?
Cast
The performances in Inside Job were, quite frankly, underwhelming. No single actor stood out, and the characters lacked the energy or depth needed to carry a story like this. Everyone seemed to be going through the motions, with no real effort to breathe life into their roles.
What should’ve been a vibrant, emotionally charged story felt more like a chaotic school play—flat, amateurish, and painfully exhausting to watch. The movie featured Eunice Mammito, Jackie Vike, Elyas Moshkwani, and Shiksha Arora.
Language
The film features a mix of Swahili and Indian languages, blending cultural elements in both dialogue and music. While this mix had the potential to enrich the film, it didn’t add much to the overall experience due to weak storytelling.
Final take
Inside Job had potential, but from start to finish, it missed nearly every mark. With underwhelming performances and characters that lacked energy or dimension, the film felt more like a chaotic school play than a professional production. No one truly stood out, and the lack of chemistry or commitment from the cast made it hard to stay engaged.
Visually and technically, it screamed low-budget, from the costumes and production quality to the cast selection and uninspired direction. The plot, already weak, offered little excitement. Even the film’s attempt at a twist with Mr Mugi’s creepy behaviour fell flat. His presence added no real value, and the way he was caught felt so rushed and uncreative; it only highlighted the film’s overall lack of depth and direction.
It didn’t deliver suspense, it lacked humour, and worst of all, it wasn’t even fun. What should’ve been a gripping or at least entertaining ride ended up being a tedious, forgettable watch. If Inside Job had one job, it was to hold our attention. Sadly, it failed.
