Nigerian actor Daniel Etim-Effiong makes his big-screen directorial debut with The Herd. The feature premiered worldwide earlier this year at the Marché du Film segment of the Cannes Film Festival. And was released across cinemas nationwide on October 17, 2025. The title is also one of FilmOne Entertainment’s final releases for the year 2025.

The film sends a powerful message to the industry, showcasing Etim-Effiong’s impressive skill behind the camera. Beyond that, it delivers a thought-provoking commentary on the nation’s growing insecurity. The Herd isn’t just another crime thriller—it’s a cinematic call to action.

A Thrilling Tale Anchored In Chaos and Survival

The crime thriller is set in the southwestern part of Nigeria. However, it makes an effort to tie together various cultures across the country. It tells the story of a newlywed couple and the groom’s best man, who are ambushed by a group of kidnappers. And face death if their families fail to pay the demanded ransom.

Drawing from the ongoing menace of insecurity in Nigeria. The film sheds light on themes of kidnapping, love, family, and survival. It succeeds in delivering the essential elements of a crime thriller, maintaining a fast pace that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The story unfolds in a linear style, which helps to make the chaos less confusing and easier to follow.

However, in its attempt to tell a rich and layered story, the film takes on several heavy subplots. That would have been developed into a much larger narrative. This, at times, disrupts the momentum it builds. For instance, the revelation that Gosi steals money from his company emerges amid the chaos. But eventually leads nowhere, making it feel unnecessary and unresolved. The detective’s family and financial issues could have made for some intensity for his character during the course of the drama.

There is also a scripting error that nudges Gosi’s wife to head to Kogi to drop off the ransom. But ended up still being somewhere in Ekiti. That little error could have thrown the realism off a little.

An Unsatisfying End for the Villain Who Started the Chaos

The 90-minute crime thriller brings to life one of Nigerians’ greatest fears, a day of joy turning into tragedy within minutes. Fola (Kunle Remi) and Derin (Genoveva Umeh), newlyweds eager to escape their demanding relatives, leave their wedding with the help of their best man, Gosi (Daniel Etim-Effiong). But their happiness is short-lived when they, along with other motorists, are ambushed by kidnappers.

Gosi narrowly escapes but returns to join the other captives taken into the forest. Fola’s attempt to flee ends in his death, leaving Derin in shock. One of the kidnappers, Yakubu (Ibrahim Abubakar), cruelly orders her to butcher her husband’s body, a gruesome task Gosi is forced to complete when she cannot.

News of the abduction reaches their families, and we are introduced to the detective (Adam Garba) in charge of the case in Ekiti. The kidnappers demand ₦50 million and cigarettes as ransom. Meanwhile, Gosi’s wife battles a recurring illness, two children, and family disapproval as she struggles to raise the money.

Tension grows among the kidnappers as Yakubu clashes with Halil (Abba Ali Zaky), their leader, and his wife Habiba (Amal Umar). A lead from Fola’s Apple Watch directs the police to a pastor (Lateef Adedimeji) who had bought victims’ bodies from the gang. But it soon proves a dead end when the pastor leads them astray.

As Derin becomes the target of Yakubu’s twisted desire, chaos erupts within the camp. Halil is killed by his own captives, spearheaded by his wife, who is also a former captive seeking freedom. In the ensuing confusion and police intervention, which almost risks the lives of the remaining captives, Gosi and Derin are finally rescued.

The ending feels somewhat underwhelming for the trail of pain and chaos the kidnappers had left. Their death felt very much less chaotic and bloody than that of their victims. Also, Derin fails to get some revenge for the death of her husband at the hands of the same Yakubu who tried to make her his.

Great Performance Hinged on New Faces on the Big Screen

When it comes to performances, one of The Herd’ss strongest achievements is its excellent casting choices. It boasts a star-studded ensemble that enhances rather than overwhelms the story, resulting in a cohesive and compelling delivery.

Another commendable aspect is that some of the standout performances come from relatively new faces on the big screen, who nonetheless leave a lasting impression—even in antagonist roles. Yakubu’s character, in particular, commands a powerful presence. His hatred, anger, and motivations are vividly conveyed through his tone and actions. His unwavering loyalty to chaos and thirst for blood never falters, even in the face of imminent death.

Halil, on the other hand, complements Yakubu by being dangerously soft-spoken yet calculating—a villain with a soul. The chemistry between him and his wife, played by Amal Umar, lingers long after his death. However, theirs is not a bond built on romance or genuine love, but rather on fear and a shared craving for freedom and power.

Etim-Effiong also delivers a noteworthy performance, especially as he plays the dual role of directing. And then Linda Ejiofor, who plays his wife. Even miles apart, their love echoes loudly, which makes their scenes somewhat teary to watch.

And then we have Derin by Genoveva Umeh, which isn’t a transformative character as we are used to seeing her deliver. But rather a silent yet very loud performance. For most of the ordeal, she is quiet and in shock, but through her expressions and mannerisms, we can feel the weight and pain which she carries.

Production Details Further Tighten The Story

When it came to elements necessary on the part of the technicalities as a crime thriller, The Herd also succeeds. From the special effects used during the gunshot scenes, to the gory yet almost real bloody scenes. It shows that some attention to detail was kept in the edits as well as synergizing the actors’ words and actions to some of the outcomes, like the corpses, the blood and the gunshots.

There is also a good blend of theme and the score and music choices throughout. This aids the story to have some sentimental feel to it and not just another sad story. We also see some precision and careful detailing with the settings and the props, from the location choices fitting the South West, the color schemes and of course the almost too real body parts.

Final Thoughts

If there is something, The Herd will stir up in your heart is an anger and reflection towards the nation we call home. It raises the question of: What if Nigeria happens to me or my loved ones? The common phrase used to say what if I find myself in a situation caused by the failings of the system I find myself in.

Also, why couldn’t Derin rip her wedding gown to make the possibility of escape somewhat easier, as it proved to be a major blockage several times?

Verdict

The Herd feels like a call to action, but sadly, only time can tell if it will bear fruit of possible change in our system. Although it struggles under its wings to tell it all, it still delivers a great story for all.

Rating: 3.75/5