Life and Dirt: Promising Supernatural Thriller That Struggles to Deliver

Bovi’s long-awaited series ‘Life and Dirt‘ has finally premiered on Prime Video. With a stellar cast including Bovi, Chidi Mokeme, and Dorcas Shola Fapson, this show has generated buzz for a while. With an intriguing mix of crime, supernatural elements, and family drama, the series certainly had the potential to make waves. Spoilers ahead – here’s what we thought after watching.

Plot

The series follows Yo, who manages three businesses for his mentor. Ajazi grooms Yo to take over, but things turn dark when Yo joins a supernatural fellowship led by Nene, forcing him to make life-altering choices. Yo’s journey takes him from a regular business hustler to a desperate man trying to survive after making it big.

Meanwhile, Chief Obi and his daughters, Nkem and Ijeoma, face family tensions around marriage, control, and pressure to have children. Nkem’s violent marriage to Dennis, Ijeoma’s pregnancy, and hidden betrayals lead to unexpected clashes.

Ajazi, as it turns out, is tied deeply into the unfolding chaos, and the revelation that Ijeoma’s baby is his, not Yo’s, adds a final twist to the narrative. By the end, Nkem attempts to have her sister’s baby eliminated, but her plan goes wrong, and she meets a violent end at Dennis’ hands.

Story

The show takes familiar themes of lust for wealth, betrayal, and supernatural elements and gives them a fresh spin. Some of the dialogue employed in the film, particularly for “Nene” is quite commendable. The story, whilst brilliant and somewhat novel in the Nollywood thriller genre is laden with plot holes. Perhaps more time should have been spent on developing the script.

While some episodes drag in pacing, the overall story remains intriguing, building suspense with well-placed foreshadowing that pays off later. However, the final episode feels rushed. The urgency is understandable, but it left some aspects feeling underdeveloped. Despite that, the show does a good job of keeping the audience on their toes, with twists and suspense, the supernatural elements, particularly the fellowship and Nene’s power, are underexplored, which might frustrate viewers looking for more clarity.

Performances

Dorcas Shola Fapson delivers a solid performance as Ijeoma, although she’s playing a character type we’ve seen from her before. She shares strong chemistry with Bovi, though Bovi himself feels somewhat miscast. His comedic background makes it hard to buy into his weighty character of Yo, especially in emotionally compelling scenes. A more seasoned dramatic actor may have brought more weight to the role.

Chidi Mokeme and Kanayo O. Kanayo provide steady, reliable performances, exactly what you’d expect from veterans like them, though nothing particularly groundbreaking. Shaffy Bello, on the other hand, brings a refreshing change of pace, stepping out of her usual roles to deliver a strong, nuanced performance that adds an extra layer to the cast.

Technical Aspects

The show is decent with its technical execution. The cinematography is clean and dynamic, and the color grading fits the darker tone of the story. Visually, ‘Life and Dirt’ manages to hold up well, creating an atmospheric backdrop that complements the narrative. Some of the outdoor scenes are excellently executed, particularly the scene where Yo and Ajazi walk in the middle of a crowd. The sound also manages to heighten tension in key scenes.

However, the film’s struggle to project wealth and affluence is highlighted in the set design and props employed in the show. The cars used in the show looked like they were on sale at a dealership, the absence of plate numbers on the vehicles subdues the believability and overall authenticity.

Final Thoughts

‘Life and Dirt’ presents a unique storytelling style that manages to be engaging but leaves viewers with some frustrating questions. For example, why did Yo visit a native doctor for help with Nene when we are made to understand that she is very powerful? Why did Nene forgive him for trying to murder her? Why did Nkem decide to help Yo by sending an attacker to Ijeoma?

Yo’s rapid shift from prison to nearly being buried alive, then to the hospital, is confusing, even in a supernatural context. While some loose ends are tied up, others are glossed over, making the stakes unclear.

Yo’s actions, particularly his impulsiveness in trying to force Ijeoma to abort the baby, felt misjudged. In several key moments, he overreacts in ways that don’t always make sense. The story also makes us question Ijeoma’s decisions—why does she still choose to keep the baby despite all the drama with Yo? Especially because she never wanted a child in the first place? And why didn’t Ajazi, knowing Nene’s rule, take greater care to prevent such an outcome?

By the end, we’re left with a sense of closure and curiosity about what could come next if the show gets a second season.

Verdict

While ‘Life and Dirt’ delivers a compelling narrative with enough twists to keep viewers engaged, it has shortcomings. The uneven pacing, poor character performances, and numerous plot holes prevent it from reaching its full potential. Despite these flaws, the show still manages to entertain, earning a 2.5 out of 5 rating from us. ‘Life and Dirt’ is now streaming on Prime Video.

Rating: 2.5/5

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Uju Okosieme

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