Movie Review: ‘Inferno’ By Faith-Lift Production
Reviewed by Ajibare Abioye
2024 may still be in its early months, but we’ve already had a fair number of movies with good stories. Inferno is one such film, and it is refreshing that gradually, more attention is being given to the solid foundation of a good screenplay. Here, Seye Femi-Akintunde crafted one that just lives its own life, not tethered to an excessive consciousness of an audience watching. Through the dialogue and actions of its characters, it builds a story world that we do not fully understand at first, but one that the audience can follow as it unravels, despite its elements of mystery.
Inferno introduces us to the major players early on – Evelyn, Femi, their mothers, and members of the Sect of Honour. From the outset, there is talk of a certain prophecy nearing fulfillment, thereby giving the conflict a constant sense of danger looming. Consequently, each character flows downstream to achieve one thing – getting Evelyn on board. Interestingly though, she proves one too many for them all.
Lara Ayoola delivers a performance that is as irrepressible as her Evelyn character who lives up to everyone’s description of her. Within herself though, she knows she is not all-sufficient. Tobi Olumyiwa is the second protagonist in Inferno, and he produces an assured performance in consonance with his Dare character. Through him, we see the benefits of a good pastoral authority structure – every child of God needs that true church membership and not merely attendance. Furthermore, every other actor is spot-on in their presentations.
A merit of Inferno is its conscientious writing which results in sound biblical doctrine. Similarly, every seeming gap in the plot was eventually accounted for. The dialogue was good, though a few expositions were a tad long. Also, the subtitles on several occasions appeared on screen way before they were spoken, which is against standard subtitle practice. Contrastively, the sound design had a composure and intentionality uncommon to many gospel film productions. It therefore later came as no surprise when this was credited to music and SFX guru, Joshua Mike-Bamiloye.
Inferno puts on display, in a balanced proportion, the manipulations of the kingdom of darkness, and the power of God in the lives of His children. At a point, Evelyn moots that she just wants to live a normal life; this film accurately shows that Jesus is the only source of a ‘normal life’, and that life is an abundant lifestyle of victory over the world, spiritual sensitivity and divine covering.
Summarily, Inferno is a quite a remarkable piece founded on good screenwriting, so much that even what seems like a cameo scene is meaningful and powerful. I lay emphasis on the writing because as basic as this should be for all Christian movies, it has not been the obtainable thus far. I do hope earnestly that gospel films step up in this regard much sooner than later.
The link to the movie is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7SROXkWFjQ
Till the next review, stay blessed!
Film Credits
INFERNO
(February 3, 2024)
108 minutes
Faithlift Productions
Cast
Lara Ayoola as Evelyn
Jide Ogunmilade as Femi
Tobi Olumuyiwa as Dare
Olajumoke Akande as Dolapo Oti
Adeoye Omoniyi as Dele Oti
Isaac Femi-Akintunde as Pastor Israel
Crew
Director
Isaac Femi-Akintunde
Writer
Johnson F. Odesola
Screenplay
Seye Femi-Akintunde
Cinematographer
Sesan Afolayan
Editor
Abiola Babatola Nattytunez
Music
Joshua Mike-Bamiloye
