Jensen Production presents Devil is a Liar, a 2025 Nollywood drama that delves into love, betrayal, and the resilience of a woman who unknowingly gives her heart to the devil and must face the harrowing consequences. Directed by Moses Inwang, Devil is a Liar, now streaming on Netflix
Plot
The film opens with a tense, shadowy altercation, faces obscured, identities concealed. This enigmatic scene swiftly transitions to events from nine years prior.
In this flashback, we meet Adaora, a successful real estate mogul and owner of Haven Royal Properties. Despite her professional accomplishments, Ada remains single, a fact her family, particularly her stepmother, father, and aunts, frequently remind her of.
During her stepsister Cheta’s engagement ceremony, Ada is introduced to Jaiye, Cheta’s designer. A subsequent encounter at a boutique leads to Jaiye styling Adaora and gifting her an expensive piece of jewellery. Their relationship quickly blossoms from professional to romantic, culminating in a swift proposal and marriage.
Ada’s desire to start a family clashes with Jaiye’s financial insecurities. She invests in his fashion business to alleviate his concerns, leading to the birth of their daughter. However, Jaiye resists having a second child, citing ongoing financial instability. Despite his objections, Ada becomes pregnant again. Jaiye demands she terminate the pregnancy, threatening divorce. In a desperate attempt to save her marriage, Ada agrees, undergoing a procedure that secretly results in a hysterectomy, an act orchestrated by Jaiye.
The couple’s relationship deteriorates further when Jaiye rekindles a friendship with a former schoolmate, leading to jealousy and a heated argument. A subsequent car accident claims their daughter’s life and leaves Ada hospitalised. Jaiye’s absence during her recovery and the revelation of his betrayal deepen Ada’s despair. She discovers that Jaiye has embezzled her assets and faked his death, leaving her to face manslaughter charges alone.
After serving time in prison, Adaora attempts to rebuild her life. A vacation leads to a chance encounter with Jaiye and his new family, igniting a desire for revenge. The film concludes with Adaora confronting the man who destroyed her life, embodying the adage that Devil is a Liar.
Cast
Devil is a Liar brings a powerhouse lineup on paper, but while the individual names are strong, the overall chemistry just doesn’t land as deeply as expected.
Nse Ikpe-Etim, as Ada, delivers a technically sound performance. Her ability to convey heartbreak, betrayal, and internalised rage is never in question. However, even with all her strength as an actor, there were moments, especially in the romantic scenes, where it felt like she was embodying the emotional weight enough.
James Gardiner’s Jaiye had the looks, the composure, and the designer suits, but not the depth. His portrayal came off more like a performance than a character. There was a noticeable lack of spark or emotional tension between him and Ada, making their whirlwind romance feel rushed and, frankly, unconvincing. As a result, the impact of his betrayal didn’t land as hard as it should have.
Erica Nlewedim’s Anna had moments of intrigue, but even those were inconsistent. Her connection to Jaiye lacked the tension or chemistry needed to make the twist feel truly devastating. It felt scripted, not lived.
Nancy Isime as Cheta had a more grounded energy and was one of the few who brought a genuine emotional beat to the story, particularly in scenes where she’s left to react to her sister’s trauma.
The supporting cast, Mercy Aigbe (Kaffy), Padita Agu (Beatrice), Caroline Hutchings (Ivie), and others, delivered adequately but often lacked synergy. Some characters felt inserted just to fill space or throw in reactions that didn’t move the plot forward. A few of the extras, in particular, seemed under-directed or miscast, and their presence occasionally distracted from the central narrative.
In the end, while the casting had potential, the absence of chemistry, especially between Ada and Jaiye, and the theatrical delivery of some scenes kept the story from being emotionally immersive. The performances felt more like well-rehearsed acts than lived experiences.
He really has lyrics for days. Devil is a Liar is now playing on Netflix! 😈 pic.twitter.com/coqVbCc0Lf
— Netflix Nigeria (@NetflixNaija) August 15, 2025
Language
The film blends English, Pidgin, and subtle touches of Igbo, reflecting a diverse Nigerian reality. Some scenes could have benefited from a deeper immersion in local language to intensify the emotional weight, but overall, it stayed true to its cultural backdrop.
Final take
Devil is a Liar is a haunting cautionary tale cloaked in romance, drenched in betrayal, and sealed with heartbreak. Jensen Production dares to explore the terrifying consequences of loving blindly, especially when the one you’re loving is, quite literally, the devil in disguise.
What starts off as a modern-day fairytale quickly unravels into a psychological spiral. The pacing seduces you into comfort before ripping the floor from under your feet. The structure, looping between timelines, slowly unearths layers of deception, manipulation, and emotional abuse.
While Devil is a Liar set out to tell a powerful story of love, betrayal, and emotional resilience, it unfortunately leaned too heavily on familiar, overused tropes. From the romantic restaurant scenes (going to a local restaurant to impress her) to the whirlwind proposal, suspicious business ventures, and emotionally manipulative love interest, everything felt like déjà vu. It played out like a mash-up of Acrimony and Finding Me, without delivering the same emotional weight or narrative sharpness. The story was predictable from the start, with no real twists that took the viewer by surprise.
Even though the plot had potential, the lack of on-screen chemistry between the leads made it feel more like a performance than a genuine relationship. The casting choices didn’t bring the emotional complexity the story required, and some roles—especially the extras—felt unnecessary or poorly utilized. It had all the makings of a gripping drama, but missed the mark by relying on clichés instead of crafting something new and resonant.
