“DNA” REVIEW

When you talk about creative movie titles, DNA is certainly one. Of course, not many people actually know what the popular acronym stands for (it’s deoxyribonucleic acid, by the way), but in this case, it stands for “Deceit Never Age(d).” Its grammaticality is questionable though, and I’m left to guess or assume what the title actually means.

The movie tells the story of a family in which the mother, Grace, despises her daughter because of the circumstances of her birth. This feeling is unnatural and only reveals how the trauma of the past can affect one’s present, and ultimately shape the future. The film highlights the importance of a patient spouse and caring spiritual figures who can cut through the thickest fogs of darkness and help traumatized individuals find the light.

There’s something I see about DNA: it holds within it the potential to become a widely discussed story; not just because of the weight of its message, but also because of the sheer dexterity it could have shown in its execution. The primary issue lies here: there is a story, but very little in terms of plot.

The narrative can be split into two parts that should have been interwoven, rather than presented one after the other. As it is, the opening third becomes trapped in a loop of Grace’s bitterness toward Deborah, her daughter. We see Grace refusing to let go of her pain, but when the shift finally comes, it’s abrupt and unearned. She seemingly lets go, but we never witness her process. There’s no visible emotional arc or tension afterward; just a sudden change.

The second loop involves a sudden shift in Grace’s behavior within her marriage. Events occur that should raise the stakes, but the tension is undercut by the story’s overreliance on convenience. Plot points fall into place too easily, and character decisions feel more like devices than organic reactions.

To avoid giving away too many details, I’ll just say there are plot twists that could have felt monumental, but their weight is lost in a haze of exposition and sermonizing; instead of allowing the story to speak for itself.

DNA deals with themes of shame, regret, forgiveness, and identity – weighty matters of the heart. What it needed was better development of its plot, characters, and especially its emotional arcs.
Nonetheless, “Deceit Never Age” is worth a watch.

The link to the movie is https://youtu.be/1hE_7ugqRJU?si=aC2E9ehn8vjaVoHZ

Till the next review, stay blessed!

Film Credits
DNA (July 16, 2025)
99 minutes
Calvary Movies TV

Cast
Seun Adejumobi as Johnson
Alice Jerimiye as Grace
Mercy Ogunniran as Deborah
John James Joshua as Pastor

Crew
Screenplay
Moses Korede Are
Director of Photography
Olabamiji Oluwafemi
Editor
Olabamiji Oluwafemi
Director
Moses Korede Are