“Suky” is a slow-burn revenge story that requires patience.

When a man embarks on a relentless quest for revenge, the forces opposing him must be formidable to bring him to a halt.

The Nollywood film “Suky” charts this perilous journey, exploring the depths of obsession it exacts on both the seeker and those entangled in his path.

“Suky” is set against the backdrop of a corrupt prison system. The film plunges viewers into the unforgiving world of Aja Prison and follows the revenge journey of the son of a legendary boxer, Suky.

He finds himself trapped in a deadly cycle of violence, with only one way out. He must win an underground Dambe tournament to earn a chance at freedom.

The film opens with Adigun played by Tobi Bakre. He is a legendary boxer and coach. Adigun’s son Sunkanmi known as Suky watches his father and we sense that he might follow in his steps.

Adigun’s incessant nightmare ignites the first tension in the film. It is more like a premonition of the unknown danger ahead. We don’t see the nightmare.

Adigun fights to earn money for himself and his son. However, we realise that somehow, he has a sinister deal with some ‘dangerous’ men to always lose his fight. For every fight he loses, he gets paid.

His son Suky discovers this and confronts him. He doesn’t give Suky a reason. He believes Suky will understand when he gets older.

In one of his fights, Adigun sees his son and chooses to win, going against the deal. This leads to his untimely death—one that becomes Suky’s personal vendetta. Suky’s journey to avenge his father’s death and his fight for freedom drives the story to the end.

Watching “Suky,” written by Isaac Ayodeji, felt like the longest, approximately two hours of my life. My patience kept running out. The actions were stunning but the dialogue lacked depth.

There was probably a reason for settling for a slow-burning pace but it didn’t help. This made “Suky”suffer from a lack of emotional investment.

For example, the adult character Suky played by James Damilare is more passive than active in his role. The young Suky when we meet him is daring and outspoken.

As an adult, Suky became withdrawn and quieter. The explanation for that, I want to believe, might be tied to the tragic death of his father. However, it underplayed his character development.

One of the most active characters for me would be Marshal, played by Olarotimi Fakunle. He was a worthy antagonist, projecting a memorable emotional range.

Adigun and young Suky’s chemistry is most natural in “Suky.” Their brief performances as the exposition of the film were also memorable.

“Suky,” produced by Bamidele Adelusi, is largely a prison film that delves into its enslaving politics. It is interesting to see how it blends culture into that setting using the Dambe boxing and Yoruba language.

“Suky” undoubtedly stood out in its visual language through the lens of the camera. The cinematography expressed poetic symbolism and visual metaphors that elevated its storytelling.

This is seen in what links the caged bird, Suky, Marshal and Nurse Simisola played by Bimbo Ademoye together. It was symbolic to see how they were all on the quest for freedom despite their different realities.

When Suky sets the bird free, it also symbolizes Simisola’s freedom from Aja Prison and from the oppression of Marshal.

Drawing a comparison to reality, it shows how we are all one way or the other prisoners in life. How we are consciously on a daily quest for freedom.

The dull colours and congested camera angles in the prison scenes also communicated the hopelessness that prisoners were stuck with. The well-choreographed fight scenes are another elevating part of  “Suky.”

“Suky,” however, suffers from inconsistent plot. The relationship between Suky and Nurse seemed like an afterthought. There was no justifiable reason for their love ties.

Why did Suky have to fight Sledgehammer, played by Philip Asaya? It felt too convenient that he was reserved for the last fight because he killed Suky’s father. There was no explanation for how he ended up in prison to fight Suky.

Despite its imperfections, “Suky” emerges as a compelling contribution to Nollywood’s audacious foray into action drama. It skillfully weaves cultural nuances that enhance its narrative depth.

However, considering its producers,  Nemsia Studios’ track record of groundbreaking films like “Breath of Life,” “Soft Love,” and “God Calling”, “Suky” doesn’t come close for me.

Release Date: March 7, 2025

Runtime: 109 minutes

Streaming Service: Prime Video

Director: Ola Cardoso

Cast: Tobi Bakre, Femi Adebayo, James Damilare, Bimbo Ademoye, Olarotimi Fakunle, Ibrahim Yekini, and Boma Akpore.

TNR Scorecard: 3 stars