To Kill A Monkey

James Omokwe’s thriller works through its themes with uncommon patience. Uzor Arukwe gives his best 2026 work here as a man whose methodical pursuit of justice unfolds across years of quiet accumulation. Nse Ikpe-Etim matches him beat for beat in a role that requires holding contradictions without resolving them.

Eight AMVCA nominations reflects quality across acting, directing, screenplay and cinematography. Shot largely in Cross River State, the film uses the landscape as character. The film’s deliberate pace will test viewers expecting a conventional thriller. The rewards for patience are substantial.

Verdict: Mature, restrained, and finally devastating. One of the year’s most serious Nigerian films.