Queens Don’t Crawl: A Fresh Romance with a Strong Message

Omoni Oboli’s Queens Don’t Crawl is her first EbonyLife ON Plus original. It quietly debuted earlier this year, and we’ve finally had the chance to check it out. Let’s get into it.

A Viral Moment That Changes Everything

Queens Don’t Crawl is an emotional drama about love, loss, pride, and redemption as a media star’s life begins to unravel after one poor decision. During a drunken toast at her friend Mirabel’s engagement party, Mena publicly admits she feels jealous of her friends’ marriages. Unfortunately for her, the moment is captured on video and quickly goes viral, triggering backlash that threatens both her reputation and her career.

In an attempt to repair the damage, Mena lies during an interview and claims she is already in a relationship. What begins as a quick attempt to save face soon spirals into something much bigger when she meets a man who conveniently fits the exact description she gave on air, pulling her into a whirlwind romance she may not fully understand.

Romance with a Twist Beneath the Surface

At its core, the story follows Mena as she navigates the fallout from her viral embarrassment while desperately trying to reclaim both her image and her personal life. Her need to prove she has found love pushes her into a relationship that initially seems perfect but gradually begins to reveal cracks.

While the film initially presents itself as a fairly straightforward romantic drama, certain elements help keep it interesting. Mena’s church background and Dave’s true intentions introduce layers that give the story a slightly darker and more intriguing edge than expected. These twists prevent the narrative from feeling like a typical Nollywood romance and add a level of unpredictability to the plot.

Performances That Anchor the Film

Omoni Oboli delivers a solid performance as Mena, capturing both her vulnerability and stubborn pride as her life begins to spiral. Opposite her, Uzor Arukwe brings charm and quiet intensity to the role of Dave. Together, they share just enough chemistry to make the relationship believable.

The film also benefits from a strong supporting cast, including Uzor Osimkpa, Akin Lewis, and Paul Utomi, all of whom add weight to the story and help ground the film’s emotional moments.

Clean Visuals and Effective Sound Design

From a technical perspective, the film adopts a vibrant colour palette that complements its themes and overall tone. The cinematography favours straightforward compositions rather than experimental visuals, which works well for the story being told.

The music is also used effectively, particularly in moments where suspense begins to build. While the film doesn’t attempt anything particularly groundbreaking visually, its clean and polished presentation ensures the storytelling remains clear and engaging.

When the Story Starts to Stretch

One element that feels slightly mismatched is the title. Queen’s Don’t Crawl—the name of Mena’s podcast—does appear within the film, but it still feels somewhat disconnected from the overall story.

For the most part, the film holds attention and maintains a unique tone. However, the final act begins to feel slightly stretched out, making the film seem longer than it needs to be. The major plot twist is somewhat surprising, but at the same time, it carries the feeling that viewers might have been able to see it coming if the clues had been more clearly emphasised.

Verdict

Ultimately, Queen’s Don’t Crawl explores the pressures placed on women by society and social media, particularly the expectation to find love and settle down. It highlights how those pressures can push people into difficult situations while also offering a hopeful reminder that redemption and clarity can still emerge from mistakes.

While the film isn’t perfect, its performances and engaging premise make it an enjoyable watch. For that reason, it earns 3 out of 5 stars.

Rating: 3/5