Movie Review: The Set Up (2019) - Vivsco.com.ng

The Set Up is a 2019 Nollywood crime thriller directed by Niyi Akinmolayan and featuring a strong cast, including Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Jim Iyke, Kehinde Bankole, Tina Mba, and Dakore Egbuson-Akande. 

The film is a mix of crime, deception, and survival, where every character seems to have their own hidden agenda. It keeps the audience engaged with twists and surprises, making it a thrilling watch.

Plot Summary

The story revolves around Chike (Adesua Etomi-Wellington), a young woman who grew up struggling on the streets. Alongside her best friend, Grace (Kehinde Bankole), she is recruited by a powerful and mysterious woman known as Madam (Tina Mba). Madam runs a dangerous business involving con artists and manipulations, and she sees potential in Chike.

Madam’s latest scheme is to make a rich businessman, Edem (Jim Iyke), fall for a beautiful socialite, Motunrayo (Dakore Egbuson-Akande), and eventually marry her. Chike and Grace are given important roles in this setup. At first, it seems like a simple mission just another job for survival. However, Chike soon realizes that she is in the middle of something much bigger than she expected.

As secrets begin to unravel, Chike finds herself trapped in a dangerous web of lies, betrayals, and double-crossing. The people she thought she could trust turn out to be playing their own games. She must now use her intelligence, courage, and street skills to survive and turn the tables on those who want to control her.

What Works Well in the Movie

1. Engaging Storyline with Surprises
   The film keeps the audience on their toes with unexpected twists. Just when you think you understand what’s happening, a new revelation changes everything. This makes the movie exciting from start to finish.

2. Strong Acting Performances
   Adesua Etomi-Wellington delivers a convincing and emotional performance as Chike. She perfectly balances the character’s toughness with her vulnerability. Jim Iyke is also impressive as Edem, bringing charm and mystery to his role. Tina Mba’s portrayal of Madam is powerful, making her a standout character.

3. High-Quality Production
   The cinematography, set designs, and costumes all contribute to making The Set Up look polished and stylish. It feels like a well-produced film, matching the standard of international thrillers.

4. Powerful Themes
   Beneath all the deception, the movie explores themes of survival, power, and ambition. It highlights how people make difficult choices to escape their past and build a better future.

What Could Have Been Better

1. Pacing Issues
   The movie starts off with a strong and engaging pace, but some scenes in the middle feel a bit slow. A tighter edit could have kept the tension higher throughout.

2. Complex Plot
   While the story is interesting, some parts feel overly complicated. There are moments when it’s hard to keep track of who is deceiving whom. A bit more clarity would have made it easier to follow.

3. Some Characters Needed More Development
   While Chike is well-developed, other characters, like Grace and Edem, could have been given more backstory to help us understand their motivations better.

Final Verdict

The Set Up is an exciting Nollywood thriller filled with suspense, action, and drama. The strong performances, stylish visuals, and unpredictable twists make it a fun watch. While the movie has a few flaws in pacing and complexity, it remains a well-crafted and engaging film. If you enjoy crime thrillers with smart characters and unexpected turns, this is definitely a movie worth watching.

Final Score: 7.5/10