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MOVIE CRITIC: THE HERD

MOVIE CRITIC: THE HERD

Just Like Every Other One, It Reminds Us of the Poison

People believe history shapes our lifestyle, and while the stories get interesting, the movies created from them make the connections more visible. The Herd is a historical movie; not too old, just about six years from the real events that inspired its visuals.

It is a film that does not intend to hurt any religion or portray any tribe in Nigeria negatively. Effiong Daniel, an inspiring actor, delivered a project that could easily be misunderstood as controversial, especially because it was released during a chaotic and sensitive period in the country.

Many critics from Northern Nigeria claimed the movie undermines the region, but the truth is that it delivers factual information in visual form. Bandit attacks, killings, the selling of human body parts, and other dark realities were portrayed, not to demonize anyone, but to reflect what victims actually go through.

Just like To Kill a Monkey, The Herd uses storytelling to create awareness, harsh but necessary about the experiences of captives. It highlights the trauma of women being raped, the executions of people attempting escape, and other brutalities faced by innocent victims.

Interestingly, the movie does not focus solely on bandits. It also sheds light on the dark circles operating within certain churches, showing that corruption and wickedness are not limited to one group.

A noticeable detail was Apple’s smart branding through the tracking of Denrin’s husband’s Apple wristwatch; subtle, but clear.

The film is not lengthy or unnecessarily ambiguous. Instead, it delivers cultural reflections, values, and information that the media often fails to disclose. The actors and actresses did exceptionally well in conveying these realities in a concise yet powerful manner.

Ultimately, The Herd is not a movie that paints Muslims or Northerners in a negative light. Rather, it exposes the hidden, wild deeds that happen in the dark, deeds that affect everyone, regardless of tribe or religion.

                                           Chidimma Placid Nwaka 

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