“Ori: The Rebirth” Tries to Recapture the Past, But Gets Trapped in Confusion

When Muyiwa Ademola’s “Ori”was released in 2004, it felt like a bold experiment, a metaphysical Yoruba drama that explored fate, choices, and consequences at a time when Nollywood wasn’t quite ready for such thematic risks. Two decades later, “Ori: The Rebirth” arrives with lofty ambitions but stumbles over its own legacy.

In this sequel, Bisade (Ademola) finds himself caught between two worlds , one physical, one spiritual. After surviving a mysterious plane crash, he loses his memory and starts a new life with Temidun (Toyin Abraham), unaware of the sinister spiritual web spun by his mother-in-law, Yeye Fernandez. But when old enemies reawaken and spiritual forces converge, Bisade is forced to confront the unfinished business of his past.

If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is  and the film doesn’t always have the tools to manage the weight of its own ambition.

One of the biggest strengths of “Ori: The Rebirth” is its return to a kind of storytelling that many Yoruba viewers will find familiar; didactic, symbolic, and heavily spiritual. The film leans hard into that old home-video formula, filled with rituals, chants, and ancestral reckonings. That familiarity brings a warm sense of nostalgia. But nostalgia, on its own, can only carry a film so far.

The narrative is riddled with holes. It’s never clear how much time passes between events. Temidun, Bisade’s new partner, somehow develops the power to fight off two witches during a spiritual attack, but the film never explains how or why she’s spiritually equipped to do so. Her scenes are gripping and emotionally charged,  but feels unearned. And that becomes a recurring issue. Spiritual confrontations erupt without context. Mystical victories happen without logic.

Sola Sobowale, playing a mother so desperate to protect her child that she makes an unthinkable choice, delivers one of the most grounded performances in the film. Her character walks a moral tightrope,  what she does is wrong, but you almost understand why. She’s not a villain; she’s a mother trying to undo a generational curse. That complexity, however, isn’t fully explored, and the film moves on too quickly before we can sit with the weight of her actions.

Toyin Abraham is another emotional anchor. She plays her role with conviction, balancing grief, love, and faith. Her scenes feel sincere — her pain is real. Yet, the film keeps her on the sidelines of the core plot for far too long, only pulling her to the center when it’s convenient.

Visually, “Ori: The Rebirth” does well with its village scenes and spiritual sequences. The production is polished, the lighting atmospheric, and the music does a good job of setting the tone, especially during spiritual confrontations. But the editing choices often work against the film , important scenes are cut short, transitions are jarring, and pacing is inconsistent. It’s a film that feels like it was rushed in post-production, with emotional moments sacrificed for length.

Another issue is the cast. While the film boasts a star-studded lineup,  Femi Adebayo, Odunlade Adekola, Lateef Adedimeji,  their roles are barely significant. They seem more like decorative cameos used to promote the film than necessary parts of the story. And that speaks to a larger problem: “Ori: The Rebirth”, like many recent Yoruba films, continues to rely on the same faces that have dominated the industry for decades. There’s a sense that we’re stuck in a loop,  the stories might have evolved slightly, but the storytelling culture hasn’t. Where are the new talents? Where is the next generation?

Despite all its flaws, “Ori: The Rebirth” is not without merit. It’s an ambitious film that dares to tackle spiritual warfare, generational trauma, and destiny. But its execution is patchy. It wants to be a mystery, a morality tale, and a supernatural epic all at once — but ends up being none of those fully.

For viewers who hold the original film dear, there’s enough here to stir memories and maybe even a few goosebumps. But for a younger audience or anyone unfamiliar with the “Ori” universe, the film might feel like being thrown into the middle of a story that forgot to introduce itself.

If “Ori: The Rebirth” proves anything, it’s that the soul of Yoruba storytelling is still alive,  but the industry needs to trust new voices, sharpen its scripts, and allow stories to breathe.

Date Released: May 1,2025

Streaming Service: None, Cinematic release

Runtime:  Approximately 2 hours

Directed by:Adekola Tijani, Muyiwa Ademola, Tope Adebayo Salami

Cast:Femi Adebayo, Odunlade Adekola, Lateef Adedimeji, Dele Odule, Ifayemi Elebuibon, Muyiwa Ademola, Omowunmi Dada, Sola Sobowale, and  Toyin Abraham.

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