“EMERI” REVIEW

“Emeri” is a thought-provoking film that follows the harrowing journey of a garage boy, Gbolahan (nicknamed Emeri), whose life is shaped by domestic pain and violence, and moral decadence in the society.

The film abounds with many spiritual messages and moral undertones. It underscores how many destinies are derailed by the enemy through dysfunctional families and broken homes. The absence of love and guidance can make fertile ground for destiny manipulation. From time to time, Emeri has a vision that evokes Ecclesiastes 10:7 in my mind, illustrating how people with divine potential often walk the earth as slaves to cycles of poverty, violence and sin. Yet, it also shows that God can intervene, redeeming the worst of stories for His glory. Similarly, as we see in Daniel’s journey, what the enemy meant for evil, God can use for good.

However, though “Emeri” excels thematically, it only manages it technically. The movie’s runtime is unnecessarily prolonged by repetitive elements, most notably a recurring organ-based soundtrack that sings the movie’s title over and over again. While there are a few strong original compositions, the overuse of that one tune breaks the immersion and makes the film feel even longer than it is. In fact, every time it plays, it feels like a scene transition that drags instead of moves the story forward. A more intentional and varied sound design could have done wonders here.

In terms of the cinematography, there’s this slow-motion shot (and scene) that might have elevated the movie’s quality, but it comes off blurry and poorly executed. Likewise, while the film stylishly introduces a host of characters in the opening credits, only one or two of them are truly impactful, making that kind of introduction feel unwarranted.

Furthermore, “Emeri” tries to juggle too many themes, which affects its narrative cohesion. For instance, Officer Bayo, a Christian police officer, is introduced in a promising subplot that ultimately fizzles out. His character had the potential to become the central vessel of Emeri’s transformation, especially given that it was through a divine encounter involving him that Emeri began to seek the ultimate power of God. Instead, that role is given to Daniel, whose own arc is valuable, but feels like a layering that complicates rather than tightens the story.

I can’t help but wonder how much more compelling this production might have been if it had started from Emeri’s roots. His backstory is powerful and emotionally profound, but it comes in later as a flashback, denying the audience the emotional investment that a linear approach might have fostered. The film also veers into heavy sermonizing at times, forgetting that today’s viewers often prefer to connect the dots themselves rather than be led through every message explicitly.

There are also scenes that feel unnecessary or could have been condensed. For example, the outreach at the motor park could have been a brief montage rather than a full scene. The subplots/scenes involving Folasade and Keku further stretch the runtime, and the closing line “This is just the beginning” feels clichéd, especially considering how much has already been packed into this installment. If there truly is more to come, suggestive of a sequel, some of the current material could have been reserved for it instead.

In all, Emeri is a story with heart and spiritual depth, full of lessons about destiny, redemption and the role of Christians in reaching the forgotten. Despite structural and technical decisions that dull its impact, its message remains powerful: no life is beyond God’s reach, and every broken story can find restoration in Him.

Film Credits
EMERI (April 18, 2025)
102 minutes
Christ the Rock Media Communications

Cast
Bayo Yusuff as Emeri
Jide Ogunmilade as Daniel
Seyi Pedro-Adetola as Priscilla
Deborah Adeola as Folasade

Crew
Screenplay
Seyi Pedro-Adetola
Director of Photography
Awoleye Seyifunmi
Editor
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Director
Seyi Pedro-Adetola