Ms. Kanyin is a haunting supernatural thriller set in a seemingly quiet town built around a school and a tree. But this isn’t just any tree. Deep within the grounds lies an ancient, ominous tree rooted in mystery, myth, and blood. The story revolves around Ms. Kanyin, a French teacher. After a series of bullying incidents, a broken trust, and a chain of desperate choices, her life takes a tragic turn, one that unleashes an eerie wrath on the students of the school. Ms. Kanyin was directed by Jerry Ossai and it’s available to watch on Amazon Prime!
Plot
The film opens in the 1800s, when a white colonial explorer encounters the mysterious tree marked with strange carvings. The attempt to photograph the tree turns deadly as blood spills onto its bark, killing everyone present. The curse is sealed.
Fast forward to modern day, a school has been constructed near the very spot. Among its top students is Amara, Harvard-bound, brilliant, and ambitious. The only obstacle to her dream? A C in French, taught by none other than the odd and soft-spoken Ms. Kanyin. Despite her calm demeanour, Ms. Kanyin harbours deep emotional scars from years of bullying, workplace ridicule, and personal trauma.
Amara’s desperation to fix her grade and secure her Harvard admission leads her into a spiral of unethical decisions. Her old friend Chisom, the daughter of the school proprietor, is reluctantly pulled into the scheme, along with Amara’s mischievous clique. When Amara discovers that Ms. Kanyin has access to the French exam papers, she and her friends hatch a reckless plan to break into her apartment while she’s on a date with Mr. Mustafa, a fellow teacher.
Finn, a member of the clique and son of a brigadier general, holds a personal vendetta. He had secretly witnessed his father assault Ms. Kain during a school visitation, and now channels his guilt and anger into revenge. The night of the break-in, everything unravels: Amara gets trapped, Ms. Kanyin returns unexpectedly, and in the chaos, Finn unleashes a dog on Ms. Kanyin, aware of her deep fear of animals.
Fleeing in terror, Ms. Kanyin runs into the forbidden forest and collapses against the cursed tree. Her blood spills on its bark, reviving the ancient curse. From that moment, a terrifying chain of supernatural events unfolds as Ms. Kanyin’s vengeful spirit begins to pick off the students one by one.
As the school shuts down in panic, Mr. Mustafa, Amara, and Chisom begin to uncover the town’s dark history from an old villager. They learn the terrifying origin of the tree’s power and its link to generations of unexplained deaths. In a desperate bid to stop the killings, they plot to destroy the tree, only to find that Ms. Kanyin’s ghost isn’t ready to rest.
Cast
Ms. Kanyin boasts a star-studded ensemble that blends seasoned actors with fresh Gen Z talent, making the casting one of the film’s biggest strengths.
At the centre of it all is Temi Otedola as Amara. This marks her second appearance in Nollywood, and once again, she brings grace and emotional depth to her performance. While expectations might not have been sky-high, Temi impressively carries the emotional arc of the character with elegance and nuance.
Michelle Dede as Ms. Kanyinsola is nothing short of magnetic. With precise delivery, imposing composure, and a mysterious aura, she completely owns her role. Dede’s portrayal is layered, and though she’s not overexposed in the industry, her presence elevates the film’s quality and credibility.
Toluwani George shines as Chisom. Her performance is so captivating that one might argue she could have equally taken on the lead role. She balances softness and strength seamlessly, making her one of the film’s most unforgettable characters.
Kanaga Eme Jnr. delivers a strong performance as Finn. Playing the troublesome, slightly vengeful student, he nails the tone and mannerisms, embodying the kind of character viewers love to dislike.
Adedamola Adedoyin as Mr. Mustafa, a consistent scene-stealer whose performances always resonate with authenticity and presence. His portrayal adds emotional weight and charisma to every frame.
Other noteworthy mentions include: Natse Jemide (Uti), Aduke Shittabey (Fiona), Damilola Bolarinde (Lami), Kalu Ikeagwu as the Principal brings veteran gravitas to the mix. Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey as Finn’s father.
Language
The linguistic variety is impressive. The film features snippets of Bini, French, and Hausa, adding cultural texture. Notably, the French spoken is clean and believable, and the filmmakers took care to cast appropriately, especially for the Bini-speaking characters, a detail often overlooked in Nollywood but done right here.
Final take
Ms. Kanyin is a step up from Jerry Ossai’s Three Working Days. From the clean picture quality to the spot-on costume choices, everything just looks and feels better. The casting was a win too; each actor fit their role so well, and the vibe of the movie came together.
It’s a fun take on horror (well, as fun as horror can be), and even though it gave a little Madam Koi koi energy, it still stood on its own. The spooky tree, the mystery, and Ms. Kanyin unravelling added just the right amount of creepy.
But let’s be honest, some parts didn’t quite add up. Like, how did Finn randomly know that Ms. Kanyin was terrified of dogs? That part felt a bit too convenient, and the movie never really explained it. And yes, students can be wild, but planning all that over a C in French? That’s a lot. Then again, desperate times.
Plot holes aside, Ms. Kanyin still managed to entertain. It had its flaws, like most horror flicks do, but it delivered the chills, the drama, and the chaos we signed up for. Overall? Not bad at all, definitely worth the watch.
