“The Benefactor” Delivers a Dark, Clear-Cut Story of Power and Abuse

Temiloluwa Fosudo’s first cinema writing project, “The Benefactor”, tells a story that is both unsettling and painfully familiar. 

The film opens with Tutunlade, an orphan living with her mother’s younger sister and her pastor husband, barely scraping by on the proceeds of a small shop.

Their son, David, is notorious in the neighbourhood for trouble, but nothing prepares Tutunlade for the day he rapes her. When her guardians refuse to seek justice, she leaves their home, wandering about. There, she meets Chief Olowookere, a wealthy, well-connected man whose generosity quickly changes her life.

Chief funds her education, supports her music career, and becomes the figure she affectionately calls “uncle.” To Tutunlade, he is a saviour. To others, his intentions are far less innocent. The warning signs are all there, but she is blinded by gratitude until the inevitable happens — she becomes his victim too. 

Chief’s predatory pattern is clear: he finds vulnerable girls, invests in them until they achieve some stability, and then claims his “reward” by taking their virginity and binding them to his control. It is a deeply disturbing portrait of exploitation dressed up as mentorship.

Akin Lewis slips into the role of Chief Olowookere with ease, carrying the charm, menace, and air of untouchable authority that makes such a man believable. He is the archetype of the Nigerian socialite who can talk his way into any room and escape consequences — until he cannot. His end does not come in a courtroom but in a more direct, satisfying form of justice at the hands of a woman whose life he destroyed. It is one of the film’s bolder choices, and one that Nollywood often avoids, preferring to let villains live to scheme another day.

Kunle Remi and Bimbo Ademoye appear as a couple for the first time since “Anikulapo”, offering a quieter subplot that will please those who have hoped to see their chemistry in a more contemporary setting. The performances across the board are strong, with no role feeling wasted or filler. Adeoluwa Owu directs with a steady hand, keeping the production clean and polished, though some choices in the latter part of the film could have benefited from restraint.

For much of its runtime, “The Benefactor” moves with clarity and purpose. The writing is straightforward, and the central premise is engaging enough to hold interest without overcomplication. The trouble comes in the third act, where the pacing begins to falter. A lengthy courtroom sequence, meant to close the story with legal resolution, instead slows the momentum and feels like an afterthought. The legal scenes lack realism and urgency, relying heavily on exposition that could have been integrated more naturally earlier in the film. 

Some story elements strain plausibility, particularly a rule Chief imposes that Tutunlade cannot date until she turns 30, which feels inserted purely for dramatic tension. While not fatal to the story, moments like this pull the viewer out of an otherwise grounded narrative. Still, the film recovers by bringing its central conflict to a decisive end, resisting the urge to soften the blow of Chief’s demise.

Fosudo’s debut for cinema shows promise. The story comes full circle, and even with its flaws, it manages to balance social commentary with entertainment. Owu’s direction ensures the production values match the seriousness of the subject, and the casting choices are well-aligned with the characters’ needs. The film also benefits from its refusal to glamourise its villain, instead painting him as both alluring and repellent — a man whose gifts are simply the bait in his trap.

“The Benefactor” may not break new ground in its themes, but it handles them with enough conviction to make an impact. It is a story about the seduction of power, the blindness of misplaced trust, and the quiet strength required to break free from both. The flaws in pacing and plausibility do not erase the fact that it is a watchable, well-acted drama that earns its ending. For all its imperfections, it leaves the audience with a rare moment of satisfaction: seeing a predator stripped of the protection his power once afforded him.

Release Date: August 8, 2025

Runtime: Approximately 2 hours

Streaming Service: None, Cinematic release

Directed by: Adeoluwa Owu (Captain Degzy)

Cast: Kunle Remi, Bimbo Ademoye, Akin Lewis, Bimbo Manuel, Tobi Makinde, Aisha Lawal, Tobi Makinde, Miwa Olorunfemi, Kiitan Bukola, Joke Muyiwa, and Folakemi Bello.