"Ms Kanyin" is a Stylish Slow Burn That Pays Off (For the Most Part)

but wait first... is this a Ms Koi Koi story?

PSA: Please don’t forget to like, share, and drop a comment if you enjoyed reading this review.

More and more Nollywood films continue to hold my attention with their opening scenes, and Ms Kanyin is the latest to join that list. This is worth highlighting because the first few minutes of any narrative —visual, audio, or text— are crucial. They set the tone, establish stakes, and introduce elements that will matter later. Ms Kanyin uses its opening sequence to commendable effect, introducing a mysterious force lying in wait for over a century, biding its time for a perfect moment to strike.

From that prologue in the 1800s, the main story jumps forward to 1991, settling into the corridors and classrooms of a high school boarding campus. That period setting —though largely for aesthetic flair— adds an extra layer of flavour. The atmosphere is popping, thanks to the cool ‘90s vibe and crisp, vivid visuals that help bring the era to life. Even if it isn’t narratively necessary, it’s hard to complain when everything looks and feels this good.

Please Note: This review will contain spoilers

---

Ms Kanyin follows the events surrounding a group of boarding school students and teachers. When the titular Ms Kanyin becomes entangled in a plot by some mischievous students to access exam questions under her care, what unfolds gives Ms Koi Koi and Dracula a run for their money.

The school setting is well-tuned, a believable mix of hormonal teens acting out, worrying about their O-levels, their uncertain future, and navigating the tangled mess of adolescence. Sure, some elements stretch creative license, like boarding students hanging out loudly in the convenient woods for far too long, one male student keeping long flowing hair because he’s a star boy, or multiple students wearing mufti around the school premises with too much freedom. It is sometimes a lot, but overall, the depictions work. There’s an authenticity to the environment that stands out among similar Nollywood attempts.

And while we’re here, let me say this: Ademola Adedoyin is my standout performer in this movie. He plays Mr. Mustapha, a soft-spoken teacher of Hausa roots, whose presence adds grounding energy to the chaos around. His performance is nuanced and restrained, making him a scene-stealer not by doing too much, but by doing just enough, with mannerisms, body language, and quiet confidence. His Hausa accent may falter occasionally, a reminder that he’s not a native speaker or perhaps just too polished in English, but his acting? Never in doubt. He brings needed balance to the boisterousness of the teenage cast, giving the film a steady pulse whenever he’s on screen.

Michelle Dede also shines in one of her finest performances to date, anchoring the story with a sharp and committed presence in the lead role. I wish she got more lead roles. More seasoned lead roles. I wish a lot of our capable older actors relegated to the shadows of supporting roles had more intentional characters like this written for them. Dede’s performance here should herald that these guys soar best when great writing meets an ambitious production.

Temi Otedola, as the co-lead, holds her own well. She’s clearly still growing as an actor, but she manages to stay afloat even in scenes shared with more seasoned performers.

Heading into the third act, all the careful setup begins to pay off. The horror is slow-burning, and that’s what makes it satisfying. The filmmakers don’t rush to the gore; instead, they earn the chills by first establishing the characters, the stakes, and the world. So when blood finally starts to spill, it doesn’t feel random but earned. Like Sìnnérs (its Hollywood genre cousin from earlier this year), Ms Kanyin builds suspense intelligently, choosing not to go full-throttle until the timing is just right.

Temi Otedola in Ms Kanyin | Nemsia Films

There are a few nitpicky moments with Ms Kanyin, like with the special effects involving a less-than-convincing car crash or a couple of awkward floating shots of the titular character when she goes full-on horror. There’s also a bit of awkwardness from continuity in this one scene involving Amara (Temi Otedola) and a diary calendar while in the library. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of detail, but in a film trying to maintain its period setting, it makes you wonder if the movie wouldn’t have been better off just being set in the present day. Overall, these issues don’t distract much. The storytelling, acting, direction, and world-building do more than enough to keep you immersed.

What helps even more is that everything feels intentional. There’s care in the way the narrative unfolds. The pace is deliberate but never dull, the tone assured, and the tension layered. It all builds toward a final act that works for the most part.

Ms Kanyin is a stylish, spooky, and surprisingly grounded horror flick that gets more right than wrong. It’s a confident genre entry that proves once again that Nollywood horror, when done well, can thrill, chill, and deliver something meaningful beneath all the blood.

It’s streaming now on Prime Video.

Have you seen it? Let me know what you thought.