Movie Name: Thinline
Release Date: 13th December, 2024
Language: English
Akah Mason, known as one of Nollywood’s youngest directors, is fast becoming a household name. This is not because of the quality of the movies he has directed but the sheer number of these movies, because he has been very busy directing movies in the last few years. He has been behind projects such as “Red Circle” early this year. He has also directed movies like “Bank Alert”, “Love in a Pandemic”, “Elevator Baby”, and others.
“Thinline” was released in cinemas last year but only started streaming on Netflix this year. The movie is produced by Mercy Aigbe. So, it is not the first time that the director and Mercy Aigbe have worked together. Akah Mason also worked on “Ada Omo Daddy” as director, while the actor produced the movie.
Plot
“Thinline” involves a pastor, Raymond (Uzor Arukwe), and his wife, Damilola (Mercy Aigbe). The couple’s love is tempted when Annie (Uche Montana), a s3x worker who’s obsessed with Raymond, comes into the frame. Annie sets Raymond up by having an affair with him and recording it, which she uses later to blackmail the pastor. Dejected and feeling guilty, Raymond opens up to his wife, who then forgives him. But soon enough, Annie is found dead in her apartment. But Annie has been courting, through her line of work, with dangerous people whose money she stole, so they want their pound of flesh.
Story
Uche Montana was graceful in her femme fatale role that she played so much with poise. She didn’t have much to do, but that didn’t deter her from almost being the focal character of the movie. And although her character is flat and not fleshed out, her antics are as the biblical daughter of Jezebel. If Annie isn’t fully fleshed out, it is because the movie is much preoccupied with rendering Annie an object of s3xual gratification for which Raymond, a man of God, will later fall. In doing that, the movie perpetuates the demonisation of the female body as agents of the devil, like Delilah, whose name is used in the movie’s score.
Performances
“Thinline” is a thinly written movie with underdeveloped characters. The movie’s attempt at protracting a rather episodic and short movie only makes it too conspicuous. Whether it is a thriller and/or whodunit, the movie achieves neither in effect, as it is neither thrilling nor suspenseful. The most passive audience would easily fish out the culprit without any form of mental gymnastics. This is why the appearances of Olaiya Igwe, Ibrahim Yekini, Iyabo Ojo, and Yvonne Jegede are secondary. While Uzor Arukwe, Uche Montana and Mercy Aigbe had to content themselves with underwritten characters with no real depth to them.
Final Thoughts
The movie theme explores how fragile people in positions of power are. But more specifically in the religious sphere, how men of God are easy objects of temptation of things out of their control. Raymond wanted to have nothing to do with Annie, who framed him out of her lust and obsession for the man of God.
Akah Mason only achieves a lukewarm thriller in the end. And even the likes of Uzor Arukwe and Mercy Aigbe, known for their rich performances, can’t salvage this movie that had little to nothing to say about the fragility of people in positions of power.
Rating:4/10
