🎬 Movie Review: The Weekend

By Joy Charles Ekong

Runtime: 1hr 56mins 34secs

Now Streaming on: KavaTV

Cast: Bucci Franklin, Gloria Young, Uzoamaka Power, Keppy Ekpeyong, and others

⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD

In The Weekend, director and writer take viewers on a haunting psychological journey through love, family secrets, and survival. The film follows Nikiya (Uzoamaka Power), an orphan newly engaged to Luke (Bucci Franklin), who insists on meeting his family despite his 15-year estrangement. What begins as a romantic gesture quickly unravels into a nightmarish homecoming when they arrive at his family’s rural hometown, Kwasa, for his parents’ anniversary celebration.

The initial warmth of the reunion soon turns chilling, exposing layers of deceit, dread, and disturbing family traditions. As curiosity leads Nikiya down a dark path, the audience is reminded that some secrets are better left buried — and that love doesn’t always conquer all.

🤯 Key Observations

1. A Disturbing Breath of Fresh Air
   For audiences fatigued by predictable online thrillers, The Weekend delivers something bolder and far more unsettling. Its narrative is unnervingly original, the pacing sharp, and the tension sustained until the final scene.
2. Age Mysteries and Timelines
   The film leaves a few intriguing gaps — such as Omicha’s claim of being married for 50 years. Luke’s age becomes a puzzle: is he in his late 40s or early 50s? The lack of clarity adds to the eerie ambiguity that defines the story’s tone.
3. Unsettling Silences
   When Zeido disappears, the characters’ muted reactions heighten the suspense. Nikiya’s failure to question what she sees makes the viewer squirm — the stillness becomes a character of its own.
4. Secrets That Could’ve Saved Lives
   Much of the horror stems from Luke’s silence. His refusal to confront or explain his family’s past is the film’s emotional fault line — one that turns love into tragedy.
5. Motive and Morality
   Luke’s final act — risking everything to help Nikiya escape — raises questions. Was he rebelling against the family’s cannibalistic rituals, or seeking redemption? His cryptic mention of “different boxes for different families” leaves audiences guessing long after the credits roll.
6. A Cast That Commands Attention
   Keppy Ekpeyong and Gloria Young deliver powerhouse performances, anchoring the film with depth and conviction. Uzoamaka Power’s portrayal of Nikiya is both fragile and fierce — a standout in a cast with no weak link.
7. The Question of Guilt
   The morality of survival becomes blurred. If Nikiya unwittingly eats human flesh, is she complicit? The film wrestles with these unsettling ethical edges, forcing viewers to confront their own discomfort.

📝 Lessons

1. Family Isn’t Always What It Seems — Sometimes distance is protection, not abandonment.
2. Don’t Force Reconciliation — When someone cuts ties with family, there may be a reason darker than you imagine.
3. Know Where You’re Going — Before marriage, learn about your partner’s background, family history, and community. Love should never be blind.

🔚 Final Verdict

The Weekend is a bold, atmospheric thriller that lingers long after it ends. It’s dark, tense, and thought-provoking — a chilling meditation on love, loyalty, and the horrors that dwell behind closed doors.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (8/10)

Verdict: A disturbing gem that proves Nigerian thrillers are evolving — sharper, deeper, and daringly unpredictable.

Now streaming on KavaTV.

— Ranks Africa Entertainment Desk