A woman suffering from dissociative amnesia finds out that she is a person of interest when a corrupt politician decides to wipe out every trace of his dirty secrets going back many years ago.
As Sarah's memories gradually begin to come back, she must put together pieces of her troubled past and find a way to confront a formidable foe as she looks to embrace her present.
Niyi Akinmolayan employs the same intrigue and plot twists that captured viewers' attention in The Set Up, juxtaposing both past and present narratives to present a gripping story of love, secrets, power, and deceit.
Najite Dede and Efe Irele both play older and younger versions of the protagonist; a woman whose memories hold the key to a general's downfall.
While Irele is a feast for the eyes, it is Dede who completely owns this film. She shines in every way possible and her mesmerizing portrayal makes The House of Secrets one of Nollywood's best thrillers in recent times.
The black and white scenes for the past work very well, contrasting the colourful ones used to depict the present. In this regard, Akinmolayan proves that he is a master of the craft, handling both scenery and visuals with grace.
The set pieces are amazing and the attention to detail is commendable. A particular standout for me is the stupendous sound editing which perfectly captures the movie's tone and mood.
One positive of this film is the action scenes. As a critic who is always quick to point out flaws, especially when it comes to such scenes, I was impressed with what was pulled off here.
Actor Shawn Fuqua kicks ass (even if it's for a limited time) and looks really good and comfortable doing it. While one or two blows don't appear to land, the overall look is convincing.
The only complaint I have is the fire outbreak scenes; they are obviously computer generated and the CGI is horrible (it's a shame Nollywood hasn't found a way around this yet).
I was a bit sceptical about Akinmolayan not disappointing movie enthusiasts when he revealed that he was making a neo-noir film but now that I have seen The House of Secrets, the dude has made a believer out of me.
