Landline movie review: Gabriel Afolayan, Zainab Balogun starrer is a tricky thriller gone loopy

Still from the movie

Cast: Gabriel Afolayan, Zainab Balogun, Bucci Franklin
Writer/Director: Dele Doherty
Rating: 2.5
Runtime: 103 min

A loopy dramatic psychological thriller, this Nigerian film on Amazon Prime has an unusual premise. A stranded military sergeant staying in a safe house receives eerie calls from an old disconnected landline, telling him that his pregnant wife living alone in their home, will be killed. Every time, he tries to guide his wife through the mobile phone, to save herself from the relentless killer - only to have her die again and again in a nightmarish loop.

The major plot follows Kolapo (Gabriel Afolayan), trapped in a safe house and racing against time to save his wife, Shalewa(Zainab Balogun). We get to know gradually why Kola is in hiding and his wife is being hunted.

As the nightmare unfolds, Kola realises there's a connection between his predicament and Shalewa's death. But the strange phone call and the time loop warning remain a mystery.

The setup ensures high emotional stakes and the deadly ‘Time Loop' mechanics provide the thrill. Given the loopy structure, the motive feels rather flimsy but Landline, as a film is quite impressive in its attention to detail. Even though the film is plotted quite smartly, the reasoning behind the action rings false. The heightened drama behind Shalewa becoming the target feels exaggerated because of the tenuous reasoning.

The sound effects, score and cinematography are impressive, drawing the viewer into the tricky world of the film easily. The natural, believable dialogue, lends a validity to the relationship between the two leads.

The mood and tone of the film is well-suited to the genre.The director employs the usual tricks to heighten tension. The visual storytelling captivates with lighting choices that deepen meaning. Gabriel Afolayan, Zainab Balogun, and Bucci Franklyn deliver gritty performances.

Landline has a unique blend of suspense, mystery, and intrigue and its technical proficiency makes it a worthy thriller.