Kemi Adetiba’s “To Kill A Monkey” is one of those Nollywood films that stays with you long after the credits roll. After being away from the scene for four years, Adetiba returns with a powerful story about survival, cybercrime, and the blurry lines between right and wrong.
Although the film spans eight episodes, every minute feels purposeful and well-spent. With solid acting, well-written dialogue, and twists that you don’t see coming, this film shows that Nigerian film can be deep and entertaining at the same time.
The story follows Efemini, a poor struggling restaurant staff member played by the brilliant actor, William Benson. He’s the kind of person life keeps kicking when he’s already down. He loses his mother, gets sacked from work, is taken advantage of by his boss, loses one of his triplet babies, and is even robbed and insulted on the streets. In a country like Nigeria, his story is sadly too familiar. Just when you think it can’t get worse, it does, until he meets Oboz, played by Bucci Franklin, whom he had helped before in university.
Oboz is a fraud kingpin who runs a fake company with a cybercrime syndicate hidden behind monkey masks. Efemini joins the gang, and with his tech skills and knowledge of AI, he turns the group into a well-oiled money-making machine. From a man seeking hope, he becomes the mastermind behind a major fraud network.
But the story doesn’t stop there. We also meet Mo Ogunlesi, played by Bimbo Akintola, a passionate officer at the Nigerian Cybercrime Commission. She lost her own family in an accident, and her grief pushes her to fight harder for justice. Her path eventually crosses with Efe’s in the “Monkey Case”, and what follows is an intense chase between crime and justice.
One thing this film does very well is suspense. The betrayals come from places you don’t expect. Efe’s side chick is secretly working against him. His wife, Nosa (played by Stella Damasus), ends up cheating on him with their doctor. The same Oboz who brought him in never sees Efe’s betrayal coming. Even Mo Ogunlesi’s close associate at the Commission is on Efe’s payroll. These plot twists are shocking and also make the story feel real and unpredictable.
Another thing that stood out to me was the music. The background score perfectly suits the mood of every scene, from emotional moments to scenes filled with tension and danger. It reminded me of Kunle Afolayan’s films, where music is used as a proper storytelling tool. The sound in “To Kill A Monkey” helps you feel what the characters are going through.
Now, while the film is strong overall, a few things could be better. Almost every conversation crackles with tension, leaving little room for the story to breathe. Still, “To Kill A Monkey” still stands out because of the message it passes across. It doesn’t just tell a story about cybercrime. It shows us how poverty, loss, and a lack of support can drive people to do things they never thought they would do. It asks an important question: Is integrity truly a choice, or is it something only people with privilege can afford?
This film doesn’t make excuses for crime, but it forces us to look at the reasons behind it. Efe didn’t wake up wanting to defraud people. Life pushed him there, one painful moment at a time. And that’s what makes this story so human.
In the end, To Kill A Monkey is more than a crime film. It’s a story about broken systems, broken people, and the cost of trying to survive in a world that doesn’t care. Kemi Adetiba reminds us that Nollywood still has a lot to say, and when done right, it can say it loud and clear.
Rating: 7/10
