Living in bondage, breaking free— Dinner with the devil.
There is a saying that goes—"when you dance with the devil, you will have to dance to his tunes and another goes— "there is more to it than meets the eye".
This story explores the lengths to which people are willing to go for money, and the consequences that comes with it.
The scene opened with a man driving a car along a farm path in the dead of the night, with a girl seated in the backseat. He stopped at a hidden spot, brought the girl out of his car and killed her.
This 2019 Nigerian horror revolves around a man named Nnamdi Okeke (Swanky JKA), who finished school but was jobless for 5 years until he met a company he began working for. Things began falling apart in his life when he decided to leave the company and work for a higher firm, but Nnamdi was devastated when the higher firm switched up on him and dismissed him, claiming he was no longer fit for the job.
Nnamdi lived with his cousin and adoptive parents, who took him in when he was little and treated him like theirs. Nnamdi’s father, Andy Okeke (Kenneth Okonkwo) once belonged to a brotherhood called "The Six" and sacrificed the life of his very first wife because he didn’t want to die. Andy left the brotherhood after this, became a reverend father and married Nnamdi’s mother—Ego, who died after a brief illness, so it was believed that he used her for rituals.
Eunice (Ebele Okaro) sister to Ego, then took Namdi in and hid him from Andy as she had the belief that Andy was responsible for the death of her sister.
Nnamdi was frustrated when he couldn’t get a job and make money, his ambition and desire for wealth got him entangled in an occultic web.
Nnamdi was tired of living a life of wretchedness and met with a man who introduced him to Richard Williams (Ramsey Nouah)-the head of the brotherhood, unknowingly to him.
Richard introduced Nnamdi to a life of affluence and abundance, Nnamdi thought he had hit the jackpot, he thought he had met a kind rich man.
His account skyrocketed from having 5,000 naira in it, to millions of Naira, he started globetrotting, signing deals all over. He infact felt fulfilled.
Scenes were shown of Nnamdi having a time of his life until he had a dream of being initiated into a cult, unknowing to him that the initiation had actually taken place spiritually.
As the movie progressed, he became fully aware of the mess he had gotten himself into and was asked to sacrifice any person whom he cherished or his girlfriend whom he loved dearly.
Before now, Andy had confessed to Nnamdi that he was his biological father, explaining he didn't know he had a son and tried warning him that the people he worked for including his boss, Richard, were devilish but the warnings fell on deaf ears.
Nnamdi became conflicted within himself as he couldn't bring himself to sacrifice any of his loved ones. He tried to opt out but when you dance with the devil, you will have to dance to his tune-this was now the case for Nnamdi.
Was there a way out for him in the end or did he ultimately have to pay the price?
Watch Living Bondage:breaking free to find out.
Review:
Remember, you cannot eat your cake and have it. The movie teaches the dangers of ambitions unchecked and the compromises one might make in quest for success.
Meanwhile the performance of the casts, especially Ramsey Nouah, is top-notch. He had this commanding aura and tone, which I love, It’s no doubt why he's one of the best out there.
I commend the direction, cinematography and the engaging storyline. Ah, it's a Ramsey Nouah production!! I wouldn't have gotten anything less!
A 10/10 and I strongly recommend. It’s available on Netflix.
Thank you very much for your continuous support 🙏