Suspicion follows the journey of Voke (Stan Nze), a young man whose life is thrown into turmoil after the tragic loss of his best friend Rogba (Uzor Arukwe) and goddaughter Lolu. Fuelled by vengeance, Voke enters a corridor that brings forth shocking realities about his world and who he is.
Suspicion is a nail-biting Nollywood thriller that blends action, drama, and the supernatural in a way that presents a gripping plot. Directed by Tosin Igho, the movie starts with Voke being portrayed as a person with a very touching closeness. He may not be wealthy, but he is rich in love and loyalty. Voke himself has a very close bond with his girlfriend Chisom (Omowunmi Dada), Rogba, his best friend, and Rogba’s daughter, Lolu, whom he cherishes like a goddaughter.
The story takes off when the kidnappers come in a futile attempt to kidnap Lolu. Voke and Rogba put up their fiercest fight against the kidnappers, who fall short but do leave behind some debilitating effects. This sets Voke on a revenge mission, one that would eventually interweave him with supernatural forces and bring the sins and hidden truths of his family’s past to light.
The action scenes of this film are arguably its most stellar features. Every fight scene is mind-blowing, raw, and hyper-realistic, with the added shock value of blood. The slashes from knives and the impact of bullets are all well executed to give the film a very rugged feel. As far as pacing is concerned, the story ensures that every scene counts so that no moment feels wasted and the audience remains captivated.
Juju or black magic is a unique feature of ‘Suspicion.’ Voke’s powers have been presented in this film as an organic part of his heritage and not as a contrived gimmick. Thus, it comes across as pretty genuine and rooted in African culture. The special effects that would depict these supernatural phenomena are subtle and very effective, escaping the over-the-top overbearing melodrama that so often afflicts similar films.
This movie shows that Nollywood has a bright future and is ready to blend African mystery with modern stories. Those behind the story, Tosin and Kolade Igho, did an awesome job by taking fans of Nollywood away from the usual romance comedy, which is beginning to be a boring feast. Sadly, many Nigerians may not like this theme because it cracks brains.
Suspicion is not without its flaws, as some plots left me wondering what the writers aimed to achieve. However, one can overlook the flaws due to the nice technical aspects of the film. I’m talking about the special effects, sounds and cinematography. Everything looked on point, though not close to the level I expect Nollywood to be.
Suspicion is recommendable, but not to those who are used to dramatic movies like Alakada and Jenifa. It gets a 6/10.
