"The Beads" Features a Wedding Murder Replayed in a Haunting Time Loop
Despite a rocky start, "The Beads" finds its stride, delivering a compelling narrative that keeps you engaged until the very end.
Directed by: Moyinoluwa Ezekiel (aka Moyin Sage)
Screenplay by: Moyinoluwa Ezekiel, Akinbayo Morakinyo, Kehinde Quadri, and Olalekan Uthman
Starring: Zainab Balogun, Shaffy Bello, Efa Iwara, Lateef Adedimeji, Idowu Phillips, Segun Arinze, Chioma Omeruah, Bimbo Manuel, Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Juliana Oloyede, Tina Mba, and Jammal Ibrahim.
I wasnβt planning on taking The Beads seriously when it first began. Not sure what it was I was signing up for going into another movie that barely had any promotional material put out ahead of its dumping on Prime Video, I mostly went in for Zainab Balogun. Itβs been a while since I saw a movie starring her, and if youβve seen Sylvia or any of her other incredible body of works, youβd already know sheβs a class act, one who typically pays off the time invested watching her on screen. The early minutes of watching The Beads unfold almost wore me off, but I stayed for the plot [read as Zainab]. Thankfully, my dividends soon came through, somewhere around the 12-minute mark.
In The Beads, directed by Moyin Sage, a bride-to-be's wedding day ends up doubling as her day of death. For some not-too-subtly-put reasons, she keeps repeating the same day and fights for her life in the hope of turning back the hands of time leading her to a journey through the tangled web of human emotions.
The story does a commendable job with its execution, but I wish we had better insights into the psychology of the characters caught in the storm of a time loop. Almost as soon as the time loop logic is established, Ranti pulls aside her grandma and tells her, βI have been reliving the same day over and over again.β Ideally, this wouldnβt be a problem, but we the viewers have only seen her do this once, yet in this conversation, she alludes to having lived through this scenario multiple times. I admit this could be a simple case of a character exaggerating to drive home a point, but Rantiβs actions and expressions in that moment donβt match the heightened expectations her words raise. Fast forward to a few scenes later; more specifically, the second time loop we the viewers see on screen, and Ranti tells her girls, more accurately this time, βI have lived this day twice.β We now see a disconnect but your guess is as good as mine if it originated from a script that didnβt get vetted properly or tough editing choices on the cutting floor. Whatever the case, these inconsistencies cause harm to fully take in the story's world and the characters' reactions.
The Beads had some issues with in-universe continuity that disrupted the believability of the time loop concept. One very noticeable example is the TV screen in Ranti's room, which kept changing each time she came back to life. These inconsistencies were distracting and undermined the viewer's immersion in the story, making it harder to fully invest in the time loop narrative the film is trying to convey. While not as heavy as the other problems, I feel inclined to mention the film's dull choice of coloring detracts from the overall viewing experience. The muted palette makes scenes feel less vibrant and alive, contributing to an aesthetic that feels and looks cheap. This choice, whether intentional or a result of production constraints, diminishes the visual appeal and can make it difficult for viewers to fully engage with the story.
Zainab Balogun is an amazing actor, and even in places where things flutter, her performance continues to anchor us. In addition to this positive, the mystery posited by the story is interesting and has captivating hooks: who is the shooter? Who is that guy she keeps meeting at that strange beach? What does he want? And WTF is behind all this? These questions are important and The Beads takes its time to spread out the answers in a way that isnβt baffling or boring. After that mishap in the dialogue between Ranti and her grandma, this reprieve comes in very handy as it quickly puts things back in focus and remains the backbone the movie rides all the way.
Like most stories where the main character needs to learn a big lesson before the climax, it takes Ranti a while, but things soon start to come into perspective for her. A pivotal moment where she realizes gra-gra wonβt help her meander her way out of this one is when, after thinking sheβs successfully escaped being poured hot tea by the house help, she is bathed by her own usually graceful mother. At that moment, all she can do is laugh; thereβs no need to continue fighting pointlessly, and even though it takes her a while to stop seeking succor in other peopleβher friends, her grandma, her fiancΓ©βthat is the first step for her to start looking inward and listening to what the strange guy at the beach had been trying to tell her all along.
Against the high tides it faces, The Beads manages to tell a good story. By the time the narrative reaches its midpoint, it has laid out most of its cards and established important questions for its characters. Unlike some other Nollywood attempts at time loops, such as Day of Destiny and the more recent Japa!, The Beads takes a grounded approach, focusing on character development and emotional depth rather than relying on fantastical elements. This grounded approach not only adds authenticity but also allows the audience to connect more deeply with Ranti's journey. As things start to wind down, we get our answersβno unnecessary plot twists, just a simple character-focused story with the titular beads as the McGuffin at the heart of it all.
The exploration of forgiveness, both of oneself and others adds another layer of depth to the narrative. While Ranti navigates to forgive herself for past mistakes, her assailant grapples with self-forgiveness to let go of the grievance that sparked the desire to harm her. This dynamic of forgiveness plays a pivotal role in breaking the time loop, illustrating how personal reconciliation can lead to profound transformation.
I canβt help but sneak this in here: The Beads gave me a beautiful grandmother-granddaughter dynamic I enjoyed seeing, and that scores it some extra points.
The Beads has more good things going for it that make the rocky experiences at the start considerably less important the longer the movie goes on. It comes recommended. Go stream it on Prime Video.
Rinzyβs Rating: 3/5
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