Red Circle tells the story of journalist Fikayo Holloway, who, after being sidelined by her boss, decides to pursue a groundbreaking story. The story drops on her lap when her friend is murdered, opening a web of confusion which she must unravel via investigation. Despite the dangers that persist due to the dreaded individual linked to the murder, Fikayo still presses on to expose the truth.
Directed by Akay Mason, Red Circle stars Adebowale Adedayo, Femi Branch, Folu Storms, Ibrahim Suleiman, Jones Detola, Lizzy Jay, Mike Afolarin, Ogbolu Bobby, Omowumi Dada, Shamz Garuba, Taye Arimoro, Timini Egbuson, Tobi Bakre, and William Benson.
This film utilised some amazing locations that blew my mind. This is the first Nollywood movie I’ve seen that showcased some hardcore locations in Lagos. For instance, the scene under the bridge where a canoe was used. That scene gave me a glimpse of what’s underneath some of those Lagos bridges I ply. The hood where the thugs usually camp almost looked spot on if not for the graffiti that looked too fresh on the walls to be the kind you find in a ghetto. In general, Red Circle has commendable cinematography. The sound design and editing effectively accentuated the story, particularly in the action sequences and emotional scenes. Colour grading is characterised by pure contrast, especially in the night scenes, which feature good lighting.
In terms of acting, I’m unsure whether to give it to Folu Storms, who starred as Fikayo, or Lateef Dimeji, who starred as the thug named Ochisco. Both actors brought their A-game. Seeing Lateef Dimeji on the poster made me know he would deliver an awesome performance. The only reason why I won’t rate Folu Storms above Lateef Dimeji is that her scenes with Tobi Bakre lacked chemistry. At some point, I felt their lacklustre relationship didn’t deserve a sex scene. Mike Folarin as a thug was completely off for me; he just didn’t have the required rugged look. It could be because I’ve seen too much of him in romance and college movies.
Red Circle delivers romance, drama, and comedy, making it an ideal Nollywood movie. The plot twists in this movie, although not always surprising, were carefully set up, avoiding heavy-handed exposition. One major drawback with this movie is the multitude of plots that muddle the central storyline, leaving me confused about the main focus. I recall a few months ago when this movie was being promoted. It was hyped around the return of legendary actress Bukky Wright. However, I couldn’t pinpoint why she was used to hype the movie because she didn’t deliver any spectacular acting, nor was she the lead actress.
Anyway, Red Circle will please drama lovers and those who love to see a whole bunch of their favourite actors in a movie. Red Circle delivers on that. Do I recommend Red Circe? Yes, but not for those below 18 because of some n*de and sex scenes. I give Red Circle 7.5/10 it subtly overwhelmed me.
