On The Edge

Released on Prime Video, On The Edge tells the story of a young woman (Oluchi Amajuoyi) in a relationship with her childhood sweetheart (Olumide Oworu), who is facing difficulties. To improve her status, she becomes entangled in a romantic relationship with a married politician (Uzor Arukwe). However, as she attempts to end things, she discovers a dark and merciless aspect of his character that she hadn’t anticipated.

On The Edge juggles various characters and relationship dynamics, but it gets to a point where this becomes too much and the plot becomes convoluted. Many of the supporting characters here aren’t necessary and are only present to make the runtime longer.

The first half of this movie is where the most problems are apparent. The movie takes a long time to set up its premise and get to its crux. The dragged introduction of the dynamics between the many characters drastically affects the viewing experience. However, the final act unfolds with remarkable brilliance, redeeming the earlier shortcomings.

Every dynamic in this movie is unique. The politician, who is a gubernatorial candidate, has a strained relationship with his wife (Zainab Balogun). This relationship with his wife is where the most nuance is seen. His disdain for her stems from her infidelity, and she loathes him because she’s cheating on him for his own gain and he dislikes her for that. She wants gratitude from him, or if he can’t give that, then he should visibly react to her affair, but because she’s entangled with his party’s head he can only overlook what’s going on. Seeking solace, he seeks comfort in the arms of a young woman entangled in her own relationship woes.

The relationship between the politician and his mistress is marked by a glaring disparity in status. There’s an exploration of how poverty impacts people, and how economic hardship can coerce individuals into compromising their values. When the girlfriend decides to terminate their affair, the politician’s animosity towards his wife becomes displaced onto her, and he seeks solace in venting his pent-up frustrations upon his now-former lover, providing him with the release he so desperately craves.

On The Edge also tries to give a back view of the inner workings of politics. While this aspect is not extensively explored, it sheds light on the volatile nature of political allegiances and the frequent betrayal of promises by politicians.

The editing of this movie could be better, and a great example of this can be seen in a scene between Oluchi Amajuoyi’s character and her boss in a car, the on-screen texts between her and her boyfriend shown here aren’t smooth and aren’t in exact synchronization with the scene.

The performances in On The Edge are a mixed bag. Zainab Balogun is a thorough delight in all her scenes, but the confrontational scenes between her and Uzor Arukwe are especially brilliant. The palpable intensity and nuanced emotions between the two actors are captivating to watch. While Oluchi Amajuoyi’s portrayal occasionally falls short, especially in her role as the central character, her emotional depth shines through in the final act, showcasing her considerable potential as an actress. On the other hand, Charles Ugochukwu Born‘s portrayal is lacking, as he delivers a caricature-like performance. His supporting scenes are burdened by his lack of skill, and watching him with Olumide Oworu and Chimezie Imo shows the glaring disparity in talent and ability.

Overall, On The Edge is both simple and engaging; however, due to its pacing and duration, it ultimately falls short of delivering the impactful punch necessary for it to truly stand out.