Days of Gloom

-Story: [3 out of 5] Really liked the story, it’s one of those movies where people who are extremely emotional might actually cry. I really like the ‘Jos’ stories because I honestly believe that our movies need to not only focus on the occasional love story but also on pressing matters in our society (i.e Boko Haram).

-Originality: [3 out of 5] We have seen a lot of stories about a second wife who comes in and destroys the household and sends the first wife out. The movie then goes on to unfold all the evil she lets loose on her step son only for the movie to get to the end and the stepson forgives his stepmother and helps them out in a really precarious situation. Enticing as that may be, it is also entirely unrealistic. If a winch sends my mother out of the house and maltreats me, when I grow up human nature will make it so that I will feel like repaying her in her own coin. That was the reason I really liked this story because it provided a more human approach to things and yet it shows the consequences of vengeance.

-Predictability: [1 out of 5] Alright, the disadvantage of a movie like this is that it is highly predictable at the end. You are just waiting for the happily ever after. However, within the movie there are some surprises.

-Directing/Editing: [2 out of 5] Good. Although I have a couple qualms with the editor as regards the English. I don’t know if I should blame the editor or the script writer for not doing his research before writing the script. What am I talking about? Most, if not all, of the medical terms used in this movie were blazingly wrong. I do not know if this is an attempted insult on African audiences. Do you honestly think that because you use supposed big medical jargon no one will realize that you are saying arrant nonsense? For starters, Olisadebe can barely pronounce the medical terms involved and he’s supposed to be a doctor. I guess no one corrected him because they didn’t think any of the viewers would be smart enough to realize that he is referring to the bacteria in the Clostridium phylum and he is pronouncing it as klostodum. am I an idiot? Abeg do your research jaree, not all Nollywood viewers are illiterates. And Bacteria Arios? Really? I’m pretty sure you mean Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria, in which case I’ve never heard anyone call it bacteria aureus sef. Honestly, now more than ever, I’m on team send all Nigerian doctors back to school.

-Acting quality: [2 out of 5] First of all, I love the cast (i.e the family unit of Olu, Ngozi, John, Chioma and Ken). I’m really happy that Ken Erics was given a major role in this movie. My excitement originates from the fact that prior to this he hasn’t had such a huge role in which his character was at the same level of importance of those of other great actors like John and Chioma. What is even more exciting is that he did the role justice and was beyond amazing in his execution. And I can’t emphasize enough how mad I was that my intelligence was ‘almost’ insulted as regards the doctors. Who cast Olisadebe Chike as a doctor when he couldn’t even recite the lines??? And in fact, he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t enunciate properly. Extras can’t act. For some reason, I feel obliged to add the sheer hilarity of Adaora Ukoh’s character from the walk to the hand motions, lol. God help us

-Setting and Costume: [3 out of 5] For the most part, this was on point. Again I’d like to point out something that it seems most Nollywood movies are constantly missing. A long table with a chair at the back and a bench in front (need I mention the empty indoor AC area) does not qualify as an office of any kind, let alone a police man’s office (try adding a flag, some files, a P.C, a ‘uniform’ and a picture of the president or something of the sort, in fact, even a simple cabinet. Wow!)

-Video and Audio Quality [3 out of 5] On point

-Soundtrack [2 out of 5] Soundtrack is good (although I was not the biggest fan of the soundtrack used in the sequel) what was even better was the musical score. The sounds were employed intricately to heighten the attributes of the scene be it suspense, tension or sorrow.