Africa has stories to tell, ranging from fantasy fiction to action thrillers. The region is known for some fierce entertainers.
Some recent examples include The Black Book, Far From Home, The Queenstown Kings, The Brave Ones, etc. Another film with immense potential has premiered on Netflix.
Blood Vessel is two hours long and depicts a thriller with traits of a survival drama. My review will suggest if it is a deserving watch.
Blood Vessel Synopsis
When oil pollution leads to protests and violence, six people decide to leave the town, on the back of individual setbacks.
They illegally board a ship to reach their destination. However, limited space and resources make the journey a nightmare.
Add to it guns and violence and their hardships have no end.
Directed by Moses Inwang, Blood Vessel stars Adaobi Dibor (Oyin), David Ezekiel (Abbey), Sylvester Eka Nem (Tekena), Obinna Christian Okenwa (Olotu), Alex Cyr Budin (Igor), Jidekene Achufusi (Boma), and Levi Chikere (Degbe) in prominent roles.
What Works for Blood Vessel?
Oil spillage is a recurring phenomenon in Africa. It has been ongoing since the 20th century, destroying families, childhoods, and the lives of millions of people.
Blood Vessel is inspired by this never-ending tragedy that strikes the continent every now and then.
Six people set on a hideous voyage from their hometown to find a new life in a faraway land. Their acquaintance is limited, and in sets of two, they meet each other for the first time.
What’s devastating is that if they want to cross the ocean, they must travel in a tiny, underground compartment of a ship, without food, fresh air, and, most importantly, the liberty to move.
Visibly, the concept is striking. The movie does hook you to the screen for the initial half an hour with a strong background score and its clever emphasis on humanity.
It is bound to resonate with the local population of Africa, thanks to the plot’s real-life settings. Though the makers must have wanted to offer a gritty and resilient product, they only succeed to an extent in doing so.
Furthermore, the film is emotional in parts and, at times, deals a knockout blow to your senses.
Almost all the recent African movies and shows are inherently derived from parables or superstition. The same goes with Blood Vessel, which is another reason why it would ride more on local viewership.
How are the Performances?
All actors play their parts with finesse. The film is specifically helped by the likes of Adaobi Dibor and David Ezekiel. Both of them present strong features that establish realism in the tale.
Dibor brings a stealthy act that’s both emotional and soothing while Ezekiel’s restrained anger adds fiery touches.
What Doesn’t Work for Blood Vessel?
Some scenes are a bit off or rather scattered all over the place. You can notice visible gaps in storytelling and acting awareness.
Undoubtedly, Blood Vessel has a startling idea, enough to gain the viewer’s attention, and as I mentioned above, the first thirty minutes are compelling.
However, post that period, it gradually falls into a pothole. Especially, the survival drama part lacks conviction and could have been executed better.
When six strangers meet, you need to give them moments to connect. Only then a strong emotional response can come around in the end.
Blood Vessel fails to develop a bond between the occupants. Therefore, the sentimental flashbacks don’t evoke sorrow and longing.
They shouldn’t have used melodrama to depict suffering.
I also think the storyline suffers from forced surface-level writing for the screen. A bit more attention to detail would have avoided technical faults like transitions and scene handling.
As a result, what could have been a hard-hitting tale of resilience ends up as a petty revenge drama.
Lastly, at the risk of getting trolled, I would like to request African creators to avoid using superstition as a plot device in every story.
It would help them furnish fresh perspectives that will connect with the global audience. Just a thought.
Stream or Skip?
Blood Vessel is a watchable film. Had the technical aspects been taken care of, I might have suggested you stream it.
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