For a ‘blockbuster’, Break of Dawn aims to be a thriller with elements of crime and drama. The expectation is for a high-stakes, suspenseful experience. So the question is: does it deliver the intense thrill and intricate plot twists that its premise suggests?

Story

Jade Fakorede (Debby Felix) is the daughter of a rich and influential politician. She has a habit of drugging and stealing from her clients while pretending to be a prostitute, all while suffering abuse from her boyfriend, Uche (Jidekene Achufusi). One night, she encounters a seemingly naive man, Osas (Stan Nze), who seeks her services. However, both Jade and Osas harbor hidden agendas, turning their encounter into a game of who outsmarts whom before the break of dawn.

The story explores the dangers of indulging in ritual killings for money (blood money) and the repercussions of making bad choices. However, it ultimately falls short in developing its characters to learn that lesson effectively. The film attempts to convey the dangers of poor choices and the concept of “blood money,” but the inclusion of comedy undermines the seriousness of the narrative even though it was intended for comic relief.

Plot

The film begins with a brief backstory on Jade, showing how she manages her risky profession. Down the line, the film shifts from different perspectives from Jade to Osas and even the Second in command, leading to confusion and disconnect. Everyone seemed to be narrating their own stories through flashbacks. Jade’s motivations remain unclear until the very end, where a late reveal attempts to explain her actions and psychological state. This delay makes her character seem irrational.

The hidden agendas of both Jade and Osas are revealed through excessive flashbacks, which diminish the impact of the plot twists. The reliance on this device becomes tiresome, and key visual cues are often missing, leading to confusion during critical revelations. This results in a frustrating viewing experience, compounded by several plot conveniences.

The Cinema Experience

The main reason people go to the cinema is to experience immersive visuals and sound, to feel pulled into the narrative, to escape reality, and to have a good time. This film fails to offer any of that. At times, the sound quality was shaky, lacking the depth needed to engage the audience and draw them into the story.

The cinema experience felt like just watching a movie, nothing more. There was no excitement, no connection. As the credits rolled (and even as they were yanked off), the audience left feeling indifferent.

Technical Aspects

One notable strength of the film is the effort put into the night scenes. The cinematography is commendable, successfully creating a dark, atmospheric setting. The vision was clear: everything happens before the “break of dawn.” The majority of the scenes took place at night, and credit should be given for attempting to shoot these scenes well. Unfortunately, poor sound quality and shoddy editing fail to enhance the storytelling.

Performances

Most performances are hampered by a lack of coherent storytelling and direction. While Jidekene Achufusi’s character Uche starts menacing, he quickly devolves into delivering cheap jokes, this creates a disconnect and we can’t take his threats seriously. Craze Clown and Omini Aho, playing Officer Boma and Officer Toma respectively, are used for unnecessary comic relief, further trivializing the film’s serious themes.

Kanayo O. Kanayo’s portrayal of Otunba, “The Chief Priest of the Sacred Order,” is commendable and aligns well with his established persona in similar roles. Mike Ezuruonye delivers an appropriate performance as Lavish, drawing on his previous character traits.

Despite Stan Nze’s solid performance as Osas, the film’s inconsistent tone hinders any real connection to his character. Debby Felix effectively portrays Jade, but her character often comes off as silly due to the film’s overall approach.

Efe Irele, Segun Arinze, and Moet Abebe also deliver decent performances, which are overshadowed by the film’s inconsistencies and poor direction.

Final Thoughts

Break of Dawn had potential, with its atmospheric night scenes and intriguing premise. However, these elements are overshadowed by significant pitfalls in storytelling and character development.

The excessive reliance on flashbacks disrupts the narrative flow and diminishes audience engagement. The sound quality and editing further weaken the experience, creating a sense of detachment rather than immersion.

Performances that could have been strong are marred by poor direction and an awkward shift towards unneeded comedy, which clashes with the film’s serious themes. This lack of tonal consistency makes it difficult for viewers to take the characters or their struggles seriously.

Verdict

Break of Dawn struggles in key areas like storytelling and character development, despite some redeeming qualities in its production values. Unfortunately, these strengths are not enough to make the film a worthwhile experience in the cinema.

Rating: 2/5