The Trade Movie Review: Reliving Evans The Kidnap Kigpin’s Life

Hang on, let’s dive into The Trade movie review! Someone is finally taking the Nollywood viewers as seriously and important as they should! Each movie that has been released in 2023 so far has been topping different levels of cinematic productions and acting. This back-to-back has led us into a big bang of an interesting story, acting, and cinematography. In recent news, Jade Osiberu graced the screen with details, thought-processed screen writing leaving the viewers with the enthusiasm of ‘a pro is at work.’

The Trade rests on societal vices as mostly themed in Nollywood movies; kidnapping, money laundry, and related crimes. It offers an interesting story that is not far-fetched in the normal of present-day Nigerian reality. 

The Plot

The movie started on a cold note, not vicious as would be expected of the notoriety of Eric but afterward, it peaked in the delivery of thoughts and actions. The viewer is introduced to Eric, a renowned and deadly kidnapper; ruthless and tactic in his operations. He established a band and thrived on huge ransom from his victims. 

Uneducated but owned his philosophies about manhood and finance and these were underlying factors to his trade and relationship with his workers and lovers. He built several connections and knows how to clear his doings as soon as possible. He spends for his family and lover but prudently cheats on his workers. 

After releasing a victim (Denola Grey), Doris (Rita Dominic), an extremely wealthy woman fell prey. Spark in a bid to ‘japa’ (leave the country), he compromised, and intercepted the ransom through Doris’ cunning advice. He freed her and the conflict began. The police force had been involved in searching out Eric for years, at this point, the investigation climaxed and the center could not hold as Eric and the band disbanded. Did the police force succeed? What happened to the band? Who is the smart traitor, Spark or the driver?

The police force took their time to investigate which is properly portrayed due to the anonymity of Eric and the nature of the Nigerian executive arm of government.

Portraying certain entities within a geographical and cultural context always sprouts the question of how true the supposed reality is or to what extent is the similarity. 

In the first few scenes, knowing what the movie is based on, the viewer is quick to expect nemesis or at best, justice at the end of the movie. What is left for the expectation to come true is the journeying of the movie to the climax or anticlimax, which is of not much pleasure nor intriguing. But then, ‘based on a true story’ probably was on the track of sticking to the real story. It is not a suspense-packed movie, more like being ‘straight’; evil versus nemesis, crime versus justice. 

Cast/Acting 

The Trade throws weight on the actors and how they delivered. There are exceptional actors and actresses whose prominence in the field would have sufficed in drawing the attention of the viewers. There is a balance of prominent and rising actors and actresses who did not fail to get the job done.

Setting

Overall, the settings of the movie adequately project what the movie is about. 

Language

Eric (Blossom Chukwujekwu), (Nneka) Nengi Adoki and (Chidinma) Waje Iruobe did an unquestionably good job in terms of language. Not only the use of pidgin but the incredible way the illiterates (Eric, Nneka, Chidinma, Meshach) showed their illiteracy even though pidgin deserves kudos.  The code-mixing is also noticed, making the movie resonate.

Cinematography

An obvious work done well is the coverage and production of the movie. It bears no tag of amateurish production, more so, the director used it as a tool for highlighting important details that interpret the actions taking place and convinces the viewer of the reality of the story. Of numerous examples are: the victim’s (Denola Grey) wobble when being released by the kidnapper, and the gross face damage done to Nneka’s (Nengi Adoki) admirer, Meshach (Stan Nze) hoping to rape Doris (Rita Dominic).