The Set Up Nollywood movie review, crime thriller packed with suspense, revenge and shocking twists

The Story

The film follows the journey of a young woman forced to abandon the innocence of her childhood as harsh realities push her into a life of crime. What begins as a desperate attempt to survive soon spirals into something far more dangerous.

Her life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes entangled with two manipulative individuals driven by vengeance. Together, they embark on a carefully orchestrated scheme against a wealthy family with whom they share a complicated and painful past. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, the young woman finds herself trapped in a web of deception where every move carries devastating consequences.

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What Didn’t Work

If there is one thing this movie has in abundance, it is twists. Unfortunately, the film becomes so obsessed with surprising its audience that it gradually sacrifices logic and credibility along the way.

Several plot points raise questions that the film never adequately answers. For instance, why would the United States government be pursuing a drug trafficker whose operations are centered between Nigeria and Malaysia? The narrative presents this as a major development without providing enough context to make it believable.

There are also glaring inconsistencies within the story. How does a daughter who accidentally kills her sister somehow know the exact location of a mistress who had previously been banished and cut off from the family? Moments like these feel less like carefully planted revelations and more like convenient shortcuts designed to move the plot forward.

The explanation offered by Chike regarding how the characters managed to evade capture is equally unconvincing. Rather than providing clarity, it leaves viewers with even more questions.

The dialogue is another weak point. While the film boasts impressive visuals and competent sound design, many of the conversations feel flat and uninspired. Some lines come across as awkward or unintentionally humorous, lacking the emotional weight required for the situations being portrayed. Statements such as, “Madam wants to see you… wear your glasses,” leave viewers wondering what purpose they serve within the larger narrative.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the film is the wasted potential surrounding the characters’ training. The audience is repeatedly shown that these young women have undergone extensive preparation for dangerous assignments, yet very little of that training is ever utilized. It feels like watching an action film that spends two hours discussing combat skills without ever allowing the characters to demonstrate them.

The result is a story that constantly hints at action and suspense but rarely delivers meaningful payoff. The characters barely engage in the kind of physical or strategic challenges the plot seems to promise. At times, it feels as though the film is all setup and very little execution.

There are also technical issues that become difficult to ignore. The repeated use of the same exterior shot of the Cubana outlet, featuring identical characters entering the club in identical outfits, creates a sense of repetition that breaks immersion and makes the production feel less polished than it could have been.

Ultimately, the movie suffers from a familiar problem, style often takes precedence over substance. While it succeeds in creating intrigue and visual appeal, it struggles to maintain internal logic, develop its characters meaningfully, and deliver satisfying payoffs to the many mysteries it introduces.