Movie Reviews

[Tribeca ’24] ‘The Weekend’ review: Well crafted Nigerian horror movie

A man of substance.

June 10, 2024

The Weekend is a Tribeca World Premiere that delves into the always creepy sub-genre of in-law horror. Orphaned at a young age, Nikya (Uzoamaka Aniunoh) has always longed for a family of her own. With her impending wedding to fiancé Luc (Bucci Franklin), she feels it is time to meet his mother and father. However, Luc has not been home in over a decade and is in no rush to return. At Nikya’s insistence, the two agree to visit is parents for a weekend. Everything is great until a dark family secret is revealed that changes the couple’s lives forever.

Daniel Oriahi uses careful pacing to maximize character development. Each person has a developed personality that audiences will quickly pick up on. Nikya is determined while Luc’s father has a commanding presence. The Weekend refrains from using exposition dumps. Every person in the film leaves an impression based on their actions and comments.

Zeido will end up being the standout for many – though it is for all the wrong reasons. Brash, oblivious, violent, and misogynistic, James Timothy Gardiner portrays the supposed man of substance in a way that will disgust audiences while also making them laugh at him. He definitely is not an endearing character, but he is a highlight of The Weekend.

the weekend

The movie does an outstanding job of building tension. There is already the mystery of why Luc has cut himself off from his family. Once the pair arrive at his parents’ home, he is in a constant state of high awareness. He seems to be keeping an eye out to the point of distraction and is clearly uneasy. It is an understated performance that also keeps the audience on edge.

The Weekend stumbles a little towards the end. It sometimes lacks a sense of urgency and Nikya makes some odd decisions. Still, its well told story and powerful ending make for a memorable watch.