‘All of Us’ is promising collection with acquainted storyline

Producer: Eniola Adeoluwa

Streaming platform: YouTube

Director: Orire Nweni

Forged: Angel Unigwe, Eni Adeoluwa, Jemima Osunde, Tobe Ugeh, John Merry, Eronini Osinachim, Nimiee Ogunjebgbe, Jerry Chuks, Tomi Ojo, Priscilla Ojo

In March, Eniola Adeoluwa, often called Lipgloss Boy, introduced his debut film, All of Us. The 25-year-old admitted he felt “scared, uncertain, and afraid” however determined to pursue filmmaking.

Launched on 30 August, All of Us is a Nigerian highschool drama collection that explores the lives of ten highschool college students whose experiences dramatically change as a result of a single lie.

The four-episode collection tackles themes like friendship, sexual assault, and adolescence challenges.

Regardless of being a debut manufacturing, the present options a mixture of skilled actors, together with Chioma Akpota, Shaffy Bello, Iyabo Ojo, Kate Henshaw, and rising abilities like Priscilla Ojo and Jemima Osunde. Directed by Orire Nwani and written by Emmanuel Mannie Oiseomaye, All of Us goals to attach with younger Nigerian viewers by addressing vital social points whereas conserving the narrative participating.

Plot

The story is about ten college students whose lives are turned the wrong way up by a single lie. This provides suspense and depth to the narrative, making it greater than a typical teenage drama as a gaggle of secondary faculty college students organise a celebration, which ends up in the dying of a trainer, throwing their social lives into turmoil as they try and maintain the incident a secret. This complexity mirrors the high-stakes dynamics typically seen in younger grownup collection like ‘Blood and Water’ and ‘Elite,’ including a layer of intrigue to its native relevance right here in Nigeria.

All of Us begins with the introduction of Isaac, an obnoxious know-it-all and the varsity’s snitch, vying for the place of head boy at Metropolis View School. The narrative is about in the beginning of a brand new faculty 12 months, the place Ahmad, a rich classmate, plans a resumption celebration at his mother and father’ mansion. Layla, one other central character, is in a romantic relationship together with her trainer, Marcus, and though he initially refuses to attend the celebration, he finally exhibits up. Shortly after his arrival, Marcus is discovered lifeless, marking the beginning of the collection’ central thriller.

Within the aftermath of the invention of Marcus’ physique, Layla and the remainder of the scholars conspire to cover his telephone, which accommodates incriminating proof about their relationship. Layla stashes the telephone within the library, just for Ahmad to seek out it later. Because the police examine the incident, they unravel Marcus’ connection to the scholars, significantly his relationship with Layla.

Isaac, the self-proclaimed snitch, then unravels the occasions of the night time of Marcus’ dying. The scholars lastly confess to him in regards to the cover-up. In the meantime, Elijah, a classmate juggling his soccer desires and the investigation, faces stress because the police edge nearer to the reality. Isaac then accuses Chinasa, a brand new pupil, of being concerned in Marcus’ dying primarily based on her suspicious behaviour.

Character Evaluation

The forged features a mix of proficient actors from Nollywood and standard on-line influencers.

Isaac (Enu Adeoluwa) – The College’s Snitch

Isaac is portrayed as an clever however obnoxious pupil with an overblown sense of self-importance. His position because the “snitch” locations him on the centre of faculty gossip and petty disputes. Nevertheless, his supposed intelligence and repute for snitching appear overblown because the plot continuously exhibits him being out of the loop and uninformed about vital occasions. His vanity and obliviousness are a supply of comedian reduction within the collection, whereas his eventual realisation of the reality hints on the ethical penalties of withholding data.

Elijah (Eronini Osinachi) – The Preacher’s Son

Elijah is a central determine, balancing the twin id of being the son of a strict preacher and the varsity soccer group captain. His ethical battle drives a lot of the story. Elijah’s involvement with the celebration, relationships, and the ensuing cover-up problem his moral boundaries. The scout’s invitation to soccer provides one other layer of stress as he navigates his father’s disapproval and the continued investigation.

Layla (Tomi Ojo) – The Trainer’s Girlfriend

Layla is a fancy character within the present. She is portrayed as being in a forbidden relationship together with her trainer, Marcus. Her story intertwines with the investigation when she takes Marcus’ telephone to cover proof of their affair, inadvertently turning into a key participant within the cover-up. Layla’s sophisticated emotional state, stemming from her relationships and guilt, provides pressure to the plot as her actions drive the stakes greater for herself and her classmates.

Chinasa (Angel Unigwe) – The Mysterious New Lady

Chinasa’s character is constructed on suspense. She is portrayed as a shifty and secretive pupil who raises suspicion amongst her classmates. Her quiet manner and imprecise particulars about her background make her a primary suspect when the investigation unfolds. Chinasa’s presence within the room the place Marcus’ physique is discovered additional complicates her position, positioning her as a central determine within the homicide thriller.

Ahmad (Tobe Ugeh) – The Rich Get together Host

Ahmad’s rich background is emphasised, and he’s proven internet hosting the celebration that results in Marcus’ dying. His character represents privilege and entitlement, and his actions are typically illogical, equivalent to taking Layla’s telephone beneath the guise of “serving to.” Ahmad’s involvement within the plot highlights the confusion and poor decision-making that complicates the cover-up efforts.

Victory (Ifeoluwanimi Ogunjebe) – Isaac’s Good friend and Co-conspirator

Victory is a part of the conspiracy and an in depth pal of Isaac. She helps to cowl up the incident on the celebration and is not directly answerable for a few of the essential occasions that drive the investigation. Her involvement deepens the stress as her actions (equivalent to hiding incriminating photographs of Marcus) complicate the efforts to evade the police.

Marcus (Saga Deolu) – The NYSC Trainer

Marcus is pivotal to the thriller, as his dying catalyses the plot. His inappropriate romantic relationship with Layla is a vital subplot that turns into central to the investigation. Marcus is portrayed as a flawed character whose choices impression his personal life and drag his college students right into a harmful net of lies and deceit.

Film Evaluation

The idea of All of Us stands out as a recent and fascinating tackle the highschool drama style in Nigerian cinema. At its core, the present delves into the intricacies of adolescent relationships, marked by moments of friendship, betrayal, suspense and the emotional turmoil that comes with rising up.

The collection’ willingness to handle these subjects by the lens of excessive schoolers affords a nuanced reflection of the pressures and risks younger folks face in the present day in Nigerian society. Adeoluwa’s method is to entertain and foster dialogue round such essential points, which is commendable. This kind of storytelling brings academic worth to the leisure, encouraging younger viewers to replicate on these delicate subjects in their very own lives.

The present’s forged is one other key energy. That includes distinguished Nollywood stars like Kate Henshaw and Iyabo Ojo alongside youthful actors equivalent to Jemima Osunde and Priscilla Ojo, the collection blends expertise with youthful vitality. This combine enhances the standard of appearing and creates a bridge between older and youthful audiences, making it a extra inclusive viewing expertise. By casting well-known actors, the present provides credibility and attracts in followers of those Nollywood veterans whereas giving a platform to newer abilities.

Nevertheless, the collection dangers falling into the entice of overused highschool drama themes, equivalent to love triangles, peer stress, and misunderstandings, which might really feel formulaic. Though the idea of a single lie unravelling the characters’ lives is gripping, the present should work to distinguish itself from different collection on this style by providing surprising twists and extra profound character growth.

Vital Flaws

All of Us presents a number of essential flaws, that are comprehensible for a debut manufacturing. One main challenge is its predictable plot. Whereas the central storyline, revolving round a gaggle of scholars affected by a lie, is participating, it follows well-trodden teen drama paths. The dearth of modern twists leaves the narrative feeling considerably formulaic.

One other vital flaw is the dearth of depth in character growth. Many characters fall into stereotypical roles typical in highschool dramas, making it troublesome for the viewers to type significant connections. By way of manufacturing high quality, whereas the video is commendable for a first-time producer, the cinematography and directing depart room for enchancment. The modifying feels rushed, with vital inconsistencies in color grading, most notably the place sure scenes seem to have been ignored fully. Additionally, the overwhelming pink tones at intervals within the color grading give the present a dated YouTube really feel that detracts from the viewing expertise.

The predictable plot factors give away an excessive amount of early on, making it straightforward to foretell who’s answerable for Marcus’ dying. Nevertheless, regardless of these points, the present maintains sufficient intrigue to make viewers inquisitive about how the thriller will unfold. The collection is suffering from inconsistency, beginning with its incapability to keep up a constant title for the varsity, shifting between “Metropolis View School,” “Metropolis View Excessive,” and “highschool.” Layla’s storyline involving her relationship with Marcus introduces a number of plot holes, such because the unexplained motive for Marcus’ attendance on the celebration and the unrealistic method through which the scholars get rid of his physique with out anybody noticing.

Briefly, All Of Us struggles with modifying points, unconvincing appearing – as it’s clumsy – and lacks subtlety within the writing. Nonetheless, the premise holds sufficient potential to maintain audiences keen on how the present resolves its mounting plot issues. Whereas the collection is a YouTube manufacturing with a restricted finances, it may have benefited from tighter storytelling and extra consideration to technical particulars.

Regardless of these flaws, it’s important to acknowledge that these shortcomings are permissible as a result of it’s a debut manufacturing. The producer exhibits ambition and a transparent imaginative and prescient, which overshadows the technical and narrative points. With time and expertise, the manufacturing group has the potential to refine their craft, creating extra cohesive and fascinating tales sooner or later. All of Us affords a promising begin for Adeoluwa as a producer, tackling entertaining and socially related themes.

We price ‘All of Us’ 6.5/10.