DEVIL IS A LIAR

 A Formulaic Storyline With A Shoddy Climax

Devil is a Liar, released on Netflix and directed by Moses Inwang, positions itself within this tradition, promising the tale of a woman who loses everything and must claw her way back.

The feature follows Adaora (Nse Ikpe-Etim), a wealthy woman whose marriage to Jaiye (James Gardiner) unravels under betrayal and abuse. Though content at first, her life turns desperate when Jaiye demands the termination of their second pregnancy. A stance rooted in his refusal to raise children on her wealth. Their union, which began naturally after meeting at her sister’s introduction, produces a daughter, also named Adaora. But Jaiye soon grows cruel, emotionally abusive, and hostile, eventually forcing Adaora into another abortion.

Tragedy strikes when they lose their only child in a car crash. Jaiye quickly resumes his reckless lifestyle, while Adora discovers he conspired with her doctor to secretly perform a hysterectomy. Consumed by rage, she runs him over after an anonymous tip, leading to his presumed death and her imprisonment. On her release, she learns Jaiye is alive, married to his supposed cousin Anna (Erica Nlewedim). And together they have stripped her of all her wealth while she was behind bars. She learns of the double jeopardy clause and takes matters into her hands as she kills Jaiye and reclaims her asset.

Devil is a Liar tells a familiar tale of love and betrayal, with outcomes that felt predictable as the story unfolded. It left several loose ends that could have provided the unique arc the film needed. For instance, there was no backstory explaining why or how Jaiye and Anna targeted Adaora. For a scheme that elaborate, their actions seemed too spontaneous, and a deeper exploration would have added much-needed depth to their villainy. Jaiye recording his intimate moment with Adaora, and its vague reference later by the pool, also felt incomplete, raising questions about whether it was ever meant as a blackmail tool.

Adaora’s desperation also fell flat, as her character began the film with confidence and composure, showing little trace of the breakdown she later embodied. The film further struggled with weak dialogue from the supporting cast, especially towards the final act. The climax, which leaned on the double jeopardy clause Adaora discovered, failed to land with the necessary weight. Instead of letting the audience witness her triumph, the story denied her victory the proper resolution it deserved

One major flaw a Devil is a Liar suffered from is non-alignment with the sounds and actions shown. There were scenes were the sound was either going faster or slower than the actions or mannerisms made by the actors. Especially during the fight scene between Jaiye and Adaora at the tale end. That scene was crucial in tying up Jaiye’s motive for targeting her and apart from the weak dialogue it suffered there, the mashup sounds made it even more difficult. But here’s the twist, the right music and sound were employed. Which helped aid the story line.

The movie also anchors greatly on excellent cinematography. Very deliberate shots and angles were taken all across the entire project. Some distinct shots would be Jaiye’s car drift, the accident and the final fight scene in the prison. The dark colour scheme also helped with the mood and tone of the film.

The movie stars Nse Ikpe-Etim, James Gardiner, Erica Nlewedim, Nancy Isime, Mercy Aigbe, and Tina Mba. Other cast members are Caroline Hutchings Danjuma, Yemi Blaq, Padita Agu, and Akin Lewis.

Moses Inwang Directs. The movie was released on Netflix on August 15.

From All of Us at Real Nollywood, we rate the movie a 43%