All of Us: A Disappointing Mystery with Uninspired Performances

Enioluwa Adeoluwa’s All of Us – a highly anticipated venture into the world of movies has finally arrived, and naturally, we had to check it out. If you haven’t seen the show yet, this is your cue to step away—spoilers lie ahead. The series is now streaming on YouTube.

Plot

All of Us follows a straightforward whodunit format, gradually revealing the details of the fateful night as the story unfolds. While it’s designed to keep viewers guessing, something is missing that prevents it from hooking viewers.

We’re introduced to a new school year and the cast of characters, including the new student, Chinasa. Layla’s mother secretly reconnects with her ex-husband, and Elijah struggles with the expectations of his preacher father. Ahmad, Elijah, and Efe plan their back-to-school party while Isaac tries to uncover their plans. Layla secretly dates a teacher, Marcus, and invites him to the party. The episode ends on a shocking note, with the group standing over Marcus’ lifeless body.

Despite the tragedy, life at school continues. The students are on edge, and news of Marcus’ death hits the airwaves. Isaac grows suspicious and probes Victory for information. The police begin interrogating the students, heightening the tension. Diane pressures Layla to withdraw from the head girl race, and Isaac uncovers a suspicious message on Victory’s phone.

Victory, Layla, and Ahmad confess to Isaac what happened at the party, hoping to prevent him from exposing their secret. The police intensify their investigation, questioning the students at home and involving their families. Chinasa is accused of being involved in Marcus’ death by Isaac, and everyone finds out about Layla’s relationship with Marcus.

The group confronts Chinasa, accusing her of killing Marcus, leading to a physical altercation with Layla. Chinasa reveals that she attacked Marcus after catching him attempting to assault Shalewa, and they urge her to tell the police the truth. Chinasa is arrested when her involvement in Marcus’ death is confirmed, but the episode ends with the revelation that Ahmad had drugged Marcus before his run-in with Chinasa.

Story

The story offers little that’s new, as high school dramas like this have become quite common. Additionally, much of the dialogue falls short of expectations, failing to add depth to the narrative. For a mystery driven plot, the level of suspence in the series is quite low.

Performances

The performances are largely underwhelming, which isn’t surprising given the cast has more internet personalities than seasoned actors. This is a significant letdown for a whodunit, a genre that relies heavily on strong acting to keep viewers engaged.

However, a few bright spots stand out: Angel Unigwe shines as Chinasa when her role in Marcus’ death is revealed, and Jemima Osunde effectively conveys Diane’s turmoil as news of Marcus’ death hits the airwaves. Enioluwa Adeoluwa gives us an interesting Isaac, while Tobe Ugeh delivers a lackluster portrayal of Ahmad. The casting of Priscilla Ojo and Enioluwa Adeoluwa as twins works well, likely benefiting from their real-life friendship. However, the more experienced actors seem to be phoning it in, perhaps only appearing to support the project rather than to deliver memorable performances.

Technical Aspects

The cinematography is very far from exceptional. There are several scenes where the lighting is inconsistent, flickering awkwardly between dark and bright. The colour grading appear to be inconsistent in some scenes. The general sound design is also poor. On a positive note, the use of original music in the series is a highlight, adding some much-needed flair to the production.

Final Thoughts

We appreciate the inclusion of different Nigerian languages and cultural elements, thereby adding a layer of authenticity to the show. The portrayal of various family dynamics is another strong point, offering viewers relatable moments. However, certain aspects of the series are puzzling—such as the police asking students if a teacher shared their phone password. The subplots add nothing, and the lack of character development leaves us detached from the story.

Verdict

With just four episodes, All of Us is a quick watch, but it ultimately falls short of expectations. It’s worth a look if you’re seeking something to pass the time, but don’t expect to be blown away. We’re giving it a 1.5 out of 5 rating.

Rating: 1.5/5

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Uju Okosieme

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