CHASING CLOUT Starring DESTINY ETIKO, MAURICE SAM, NONS MIRAJ
1. First Impression
I honestly was not expecting anything from this film. I just went in, hoping to God it was not bad and boy, I was wrong.
2. Plot
Richard beats Colette at the slightest provocation. In the beginning of the movie, he beats her up for removing her debit card from his wallet. He was about to do big spender for his friends but couldn’t find her debit card.
Colette, on the other hand, is an Instagram influencer – relationship expert who boasts about her man being the best. Every time she has a bruise or a black eye, she does what victims of domestic violence do, lie that she fell.
Mira, who is Colette’s friend is tired of her man Cruz. He literally worships the ground she walks on. He cooks for her, cleans, washes her clothes, line her panties with sanitary pad when she is on her period. She insults him and he says “I love you.”
Mira wants a violent man who would slap her and lord over her.
Then there is a very irrelevant subplot of Cindy and Kez. He is obsessed with her and desperately wants to be her boyfriend but she keeps rejecting him and he continues to stalk her.
All three “couples” are friends.
At Colette’s birthday party, she asks that her friends spend the weekend with her, hoping that with them around, Richard won’t be the monster that he is. Wrong move because he not only beats her up, he also punches Mira to unconsciousness.
Mira runs back to Cruz and asks him to never change and never become the man she wants. She loves him just the way he is. Cruz also asks her to marry him and she says “yes”.
Cindy finally agrees to date Kez and Colette moves out of the home she shares with Richard.
Richard confesses to his friends that he has a problem. They get him help (we never see this happen – just exposition from Richard’s mouth). Colette also comes clean to her fans on Instagram.
Richard goes to meet Colette with his friends Cruz and Kez to beg Colette. He even proposes but Mira is against it. She reproaches him but Cruz intercedes on Richard’s behalf that he is a changed man.
And then guess what, Colette forgives him and accepts his proposal. God forbid they live happily ever after.
3. Story
There was no progression with the storyline. No layers, no gut wrenching moments: nothing. Just Maurice Sam simulating slaps and blows on Destiny Etiko.
4. Characters
Not a single character was memorable. Nobody was interesting. The Mira actress tried to bring in some humour but it didn’t work. E no jig at all. But A for Effort sha.
5. Visuals and Cinematography
Like I always say, it is a home video… nothing visually impressive. The art of film making is lost on this movie.
6. Emotional Impact
The end made me angry. The fact that she took her abusive boyfriend back is the worst “moral lesson” I have ever seen in recent times.
7. Pacing and Editing
This was a 20 minute short film that dragged on for too long. Also that very fake punch Richard gave to Mira is the worst editing I have ever seen in a while. A jump cut would have been better than seeing that mess.
8. Soundtrack and Audio
The sound quality was below average.
9. Themes and Messages
Stay with your abusive boyfriend.
Accept his marriage proposal.
A good man is a houseboy for his woman.
To show a woman you really like her, turn yourself into a stalker. It is her or no one else.
10. Originality
It is not an original concept. It falls under the many bad advice films that litter Nollywood.
11. Audience Appeal
I would not recommend this movie to anyone. God forbid I do that.
12. Overall Satisfaction
On a scale of 1 to 10, I will give this movie a big fat juicy ZERO; Odo, akwa, oborlor-borlor.
Telling women to take back their physically abusive good for nothing broke boyfriends is an insult to humanity.
13. Final Thoughts
Listen to me. Take my advice, do not watch this mess. You deserve better than this.
Do you agree with me?