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Femi Branch stars as the titular character, a war hero in the old Oyo Empire whose rise to power is marred by betrayal from his kin.
At a time when there is almost saturation of Nollywood epic films on Netflix, House of Ga'a justifies its place in the pantheon of those that came before, with Femi Branch delivering an award-worthy performance.
Anchored by Bolanle Austen-Peters' impressive directing, this epic tale of power, lust, love and betrayal depicts the rise and fall of Bashorun Ga'a, a man whose ambition knows no limits.
Defying those who helped place him in the seat of power, the titular character embarks on a blood-soaked quest to satisfy his insatiable appetite, crushing heads along the way. All roads lead to the inevitable betrayal; what makes it more painful is that it comes from the protagonist's family.
Let me start with the bad: The VFX is a joke; I can't remember a single special effects or CGI scene that looked convincing. Nollywood still has a long way to go in this regard.
The opening battle sequence is embarrassing. Almost everyone involved gave priority to caution rather than striving for realism. Whoever choreographed and directed that sequence needs to look at epic Hollywood movies for inspiration.
The props are terrible. It's easy to tell that the weapons are fake and I literally cringed at close-up shots of them.
The first act makes the story drag for a bit as there are multiple backstories to explore. By the middle of the second act, the plot finds its momentum and soars to a fitting finale.
Now for the good; As I pointed out earlier, the lead star Femi Branch nails the role. He perfectly embodies a man who does any and everything to hold onto power. His inability to sense the betrayal within proves to be his undoing.
Funke Akindele, though not given enough screen time, makes the most of her rather limited appearance, bringing comic relief effortlessly.
Mike Afolarin, who plays Ga'a's last son, also stands out with an earnest performance of a lad who never gets the chance to enjoy the love he deserves.
The cinematography is good (this is a Netflix movie after all) and the costumes, set pieces, and locales are perfect.
In all, House of Ga'a is worth the time spent watching it. Bolanle Austen-Peters, Femi Branch, and the rest of the ensemble cast deserve commendation.
