“Lakatabu”: Odunlade Adekola’s Glitzy Crime Thriller Dazzles the Eye but Dulls the Mind

“Lakatabu” is essentially an ambitious film that aims to be several things at once: a gripping crime thriller, a magical journey, and a scathing social critique.

The narrative centers on the feared criminal Lakatabu, as he terrorizes a community. It’s a premise ripe with potential, especially given Nigeria’s current struggles with insecurity and corruption. Yet, for all its ambition, “Lakatabu” often feels like a greatest hits compilation of Adekola’s previous works, particularly echoing “Oyenusi” (2014) and “Alani Pamolekun” (2015).

The technical components of the film are its main strength. Adekola exhibits a keen sense of visual composition while sporting his director’s hat. With each scene expertly created to contrast the calm of everyday life with the chaos of Lakatabu’s world, the cinematography is simply amazing.

Particular attention was paid to the production design, which features realistic-looking sets and costumes. These components come together to create a rich, engrossing world that nearly, but not quite, balances for the film’s weak plot. The storytelling in “Lakatabu” is where it falls short. Adekola and Akorede Ibrahim co-wrote the screenplay, which mostly makes use of well-worn clichés and useful narrative tricks. Specifically, the third act comes out as hurried and illogical.

The acting in “Lakatabu” is inconsistent. As the antagonist, Adekola gives a solid performance that falls short of the depth one would anticipate from an actor with his level of experience. He had several chances to go further into Lakatabu’s psychology and examine the hurt and betrayal that turned him into a villain, but these are mostly lost.

Adunni Ade has moments of genius, especially in intensely emotional situations, but her underdeveloped role eventually lets her down. Similarly, partially reliving his spiritually strong role from “Jagun Jagun,” Lateef Adedimeji is incredibly patchy, looking great in certain sequences but unnatural in others.

The dialogue in the movie is among its most obvious problems. While the visual elements transport us to a richly imagined world, the conversations between characters often feel stilted and unnatural. The constant tonal whiplash between serious drama and forced comedy – exemplified by the jarring inclusion of comedian Broda Shaggi – further undermines the film’s attempts at gravity.

It’s clear that “Lakatabu” wants to say something meaningful about the state of Nigerian society, and the parallels between Lakatabu’s reign of terror and the real-world consequences of corruption and betrayal in government institutions are obvious. But these themes are never fully explored, buried under layers of mysticism and action set-pieces. It’s a shame, as a more nuanced exploration of these ideas could have elevated “Lakatabu” from a mere popcorn flick to a truly impactful piece of cinema.

The film’s open ending suggests that Adekola is eyeing a potential franchise. While this may excite fans, it also highlights one of “Lakatabu’s” fundamental flaws: its reliance on formula. By adhering so closely to established tropes – the seemingly invincible villain, the unlikely hero, the magical MacGuffin – Adekola and his team have created a film that feels all too familiar. If there is to be a sequel, one hopes it will take more risks and push the boundaries of what Yoruba cinema can be.

In the end, “Lakatabu” is a film of frustrating contradictions. It’s visually stunning yet narratively bland, ambitious in scope yet timid in execution. For fans of Adekola’s work or those seeking pure spectacle, it may offer enough to justify the price of admission. But for those hoping to see Nollywood push into new, more challenging territory, “Lakatabu” serves as a glitzy reminder of how far the industry still has to go.

Is “Lakatabu” entertaining? Sort of. Is it the game-changing, industry-defining film that Adekola is capable of making? Unfortunately not. As the credits roll, one can’t help but feel that a great opportunity has been missed.

Release Date: 21 June 2024

Streaming service: Cinemas

Runtime: Approximately 2 hours

Director: Odunlade Adekola

Cast: Odunlade Adekola, Bolanle Ninolowo, Adunni Ade, Tope Adenitis (Teddy A), Akin Lewis, Tina Mba and Lateef Adedimeji