“Lakatabu! Is there a time that you are never angry? You have become a deity that harms itself!”
~Ifa Priest
ABOUT THE FILM...Spoiler alert 🚨
Lakatabu is a brutally notorious crïminal fortified with fetish charms who kïdnaps people. Laka kills his male victims for sports, rapes the women and disposes of them however he deems fit.
News about his reign of terror soon spreads across the community as this instills fear in the people especially when he abducted Adesewa, the wife of Ganiu (Femi Adebayo).
Laka is so diabolical, he can tell apart a woman who’s on her monthly cycle from miles away. And this infuriates him so much so that he unleashes the last dėmon in him should his men bring one to him. Nevertheless, he has an Achilles’ heel…but shh.....it’s a secret!
Everyone around him including his boys Ina, Bongila and all literally seem to walk on eggshells around Laka as one can hardly tell when he’s in a good mood.
Continuing his rampage, Laka would then appear to initially be faced with a strong resistance when he tries to kïdnap Prince Adetola (portrayed by Lateef Adedimeji) who himself has been equally bathed and cooked in some mysterious power which blocks gun bullets. He is however in the company of his wife Tunmise (portrayed by Adunni Ade) and their driver.
This action becomes the height of Laka’s escapades as it involves the son of the Kabiesi (King) Fatai Durojaye Folagbade (portrayed by Akin Lewis) and Olori (Queen) Feyintola (played by Tina Mba).
With the Police Force led by Inpector Doyin (portrayed by Yomi Fash-Lanso) appearing handicapped in checking Laka’s excesses, an opposing gang will then surface led by Irawo (Ninalowo Bolanle) taking matters into their own hands in a bid to apprehending Laka and bring him to justice.
MY THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
Hmmm😪
After watching this film, having recently read a myriad of negative comments and reviews about it, in as much as I respect other people’s opinions about issues, I can’t help but ask one question: “Which 'Lakatabu' did these persons watch? A YouTube version or one from a link gotten from heaven-knows where?”
A similar thing happened with AY’s “Merry Men 3: The Nemesis!” People said all sorts against that movie. Turns out, I liked…no, scrap that…I LOVED IT!
See, I used to be a huge fan of Odunlade’s movies when he newly started as an actor till he would excessively talk me to boredom in more and more movies and so I lost interest.
He has however managed to win back my heart (film-wise) and has consequently restored my love for his craft with this movie. I kidn’t you! And this is not me being sentimental.
I loved the tension build up, the sound score/effects, the attention to detail (this is a good cinema material cause I can only imagine how this would have been resounding at the cinemas), the costuming, props, setting, script, editing…,
…cinematography, graphics, makeup, hair (especially the dreads on Laka and his guys), wardrobe/Laka’s outfit were all making a statement, the clever and seamless use of flashbacks...I can go on and on!
Although some critics have stated that this is no different from the likes of Jagun-Jagun and some other works from Odunlade’s stables like Mufu Olosa Oko (2013), Oyenusi (2014), Alani Pamolekun (2015), and Babatunde Ishola’s Fólórunsó (2015) in terms of plot and storyline, arguing that it seemed like a use of template exposing the lack of creativity in the direction of this one, I however find it quite compelling, engaging, fast-paced, suspense-full, (there was never a dull moment) with a great plot twist I did not see coming.
The fact that well known faces (actors) were equally being executed in this film makes you believe that there’s more things to be unveiled ahead…indeed there was more.
Positives:
This film touches on the corruption in the Nigerian Police Force for how some rotten eggs spoil the good name of the force. Case in point, the DPO!
It Portrays betrayal of trust, shortchanging that exists among politicians and leaders of society wanting to use people for criminal deeds without paying them what they owe them.
Although still not a justifiable reason for all the atrocities committed, Lakatabu was pained, felt cheated, used and was particularly infuriated realising that the very one he worked for had signed his deäth warrant.
This movie as with many others exposes the modus operandi of some political leaders being users and dumpers. How they’ll use the energy and zeal of the youths before elections or before getting into power or office and how they turn around to abandon or shortchange them when they get their desired result.
Odunlade embodied that role, his interpretation was brilliant. His men equally did amazing with their facial expressions and all.
Language used in this film is mostly Yoruba but there are English subtitles available.
Warning ⚠️
This movie is rated 16 and so it’s not suitable for younger viewers as there are scenes depicting sexual activities and sexual references.
Observation/Criticism:
Tina Mba appeared to have overdramatised her role. One could easily argue that in the case of a person’s child being kidnapped, they could lose themselves and become erratic. True but in this case the acting felt somewhat flat.
Also, I noticed that Prince Adetola (Lateef Adedimeji) stood up to Laka and no bullets could penetrate him. But how did he know Laka’s evil lair and why did he take his wife back there after escaping. Was he under some sort of spell? Why was he referring to one of Laka’s men as “DPO' to arrest Laka? Who exposes their wives in that manner?
I expected a lot from his character and that of Ninalowo’s (Irawo) but their end felt a bit underwhelming for how they initially carried themselves and how cheaply they were defeated.
Broda Shaggi just had to be squeezed into this. Was his role meant to serve as a comic relief? Well, it didn’t do it for me as his scenes, though a cameo felt like a distraction and seemed to have watered down the tension already built up.
Furthermore, the Kabiyesi knew Laka’s name. Why then did he repeatedly refer to him as “LEKAN” after he had initially corrected himself? Was that an oversight or is it deliberate?
While this movie has a great cast ensemble, being captivating, entertaining and educative, I find that the injury details are a bit flawed as the camera angles were often made to cover up the lapses.
For instance, when Prince Adetola was shot after his own Achilles heel had been figured out, there was instantly a blood stain spreading on his singlet vest meanwhile, there was not a sign of the bullet penetrating his chest to rip or shatter the clothing item enough for an injury much more a flow of blood!
What later happened to Ganiu? His role ended unceremoniously!
Conclusively, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It has successfully been added to movies that convince me that people review movies based on their perceptions, sometimes state of mind, preferences in movie genres, languages used, etc.
For a person who is easily put off by negative comments about a movie, they could be denied this piece of sumptuous deliciousness. I say this in all honesty! In most cases, please, do not be deterred by negative narratives.
This was a good watch and the ending leaves a subtle clue for a sequel. More like…wait lemme guess:“The Return of Lakatabu!”
Let's see how that goes.
Until my next one...BYE!
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