'Slay' Review: An Apt Comedy From Netflix On Social Media Craze

With Slay, Adze Ugah creates a realistic depiction of the lengths people go to in living a fake life for the purpose of social media acceptance.

Starring Ramsey Nouah, Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa, Shaleen Surtie-Richards, Simphiwe Ngema, Uchemba Williams, Simphiwe Ngema, Idris Sultan, Amanda Du-Pont, and Lillian Dube, Slay entertains from start to finish, employing the use of outlandish humour, poignant themes, and the star power of its talented cast.

The key to enjoying this film is not to take it too seriously. Once the viewer has that in mind, he/she will just enjoy the ride.

SLAY movie poster/Image Source: IMDB

Set in South Africa, the plot of Slay revolves around different individuals (there isn't one protagonist) who will do almost anything to maintain the facade they have created on social media.

Ramsey Nouah is Richard, a jobless playboy who enters the role of a multimillionaire as soon as his cousin travels for business. He preys on unsuspecting ladies who are enticed by his silver tongue and charm.

After sleeping with the ladies, Richard does a 180-degree turn, becoming a hostile stranger who just can't wait to throw them out of the house. His gimmick has always worked and it continues to work until he messes with the wrong girl.

Ramsey Nouah in SLAY/Image Source: Snapshot

Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa is Penny, a girl whose obsession with being the number one 'Slay Queen' on social media has her always looking out for juicy and raunchy stuff to post online.

Penny's friend Lerato (Simphiwe Ngema) is reserved and just wants to be accepted. Penny tries to lecture her on how to 'slay' and this leads to a chance meeting with a man who may just be who she is looking for. Problem is, he is disguising himself as someone he is not to see who she is underneath.

A scene from SLAY/Image Source: Snapshot

Amanda Du-Pont plays Candy, a broke-ass girl whose quest to find the perfect guy to latch on to and suck dry always seems to backfire. She always seems to be on the receiving end of a scam or an elaborate ploy and she is tired of being the victim.

Uchemba Williams is a Nigerian houseboy living in South Africa who is content with deceiving a woman old enough to be his grandma that he owns the mansion he lives in. When he brings his Ghanaian friend to join him, both of them become embroiled in a love triangle that threatens their friendship.

A scene from SLAY/Image Source: Snapshot

The stories of the aforementioned individuals are portrayed in a fast-paced way and the viewer has to catch up from the early goings. Once he/she becomes familiar with the central characters, the movie becomes a thrilling ride filled with rib-cracking moments.

When it debuted on Netflix, Slay became a trending topic on Twitter in Nigeria, and the reason became quite clear after I watched it. It effectively uses satirical humour to address a societal topic, and all the actors deserve commendation for playing their roles well.

A scene from SLAY/Image Source: Snapshot

The cinematographer does a very good job of camera manipulation as a tool in showing some of the film's highlights; I enjoyed a scene where two ladies dressed to kill walked majestically with the effect of slow to fast motion.

As for the film's stand-outs, that would be a hard choice given that all the stars didn't disappoint. But if I were to pick two, I would choose Ramsey Nouah (the guy has range and his comedic skill here is very impressive) and Simphiwe Ngema.

Uchemba Williams goes between being a scene-stealer to predictably annoying at times. He is uniquely gifted as a comedy star but I feel his stereotypical roles are hindering him from flexing his acting muscles.

One of the best things about Slay is the music; almost every scene has that unique sound that perfectly describes the mood and keeps the action visually appealing.

I had a nice seeing this movie as I laughed a lot. It is a welcome distraction from the troubling issues of life and one I recommend to everyone who is looking for that movie to watch while chilling.

Rating: 6/10.