Netflix has just dropped a new Nollywood thriller, The Herd, and this one is not your usual calm weekend movie. From the opening scene, you already know you’re not here to relax; you’re here to feel something. Daniel Etim Effiong, making his feature directorial debut, takes a day of celebration and turns it into one of the most unsettling, emotional, and thought-provoking crime stories Nollywood has released in a while.
The movie opens with joy: the wedding of Fola and Derin, played by Kunle Remi and Genoveva Umeh. Beautiful outfits. Family warmth. A perfect day. But that perfection shatters quickly. In a matter of seconds, the convoy heading to the reception is ambushed by gunmen disguised as herders, and what should have been a moment of happiness collapses into chaos, fear, and bloodshed. It’s shocking, but painfully familiar, a reflection of the insecurity crisis many Nigerians recognize too well.
One of the strongest points of The Herd is its refusal to fall into stereotypes. The criminals are not portrayed as “tribal enemies” or religious extremists. Instead, they are shown for what they are: part of a criminal network built on greed, exploitation, and a thriving economy of banditry. It makes the film feel honest, uncomfortable, and dangerously close to home.
The performances in this movie carry emotional weight. Genoveva Umeh is exceptional as Derin — a bride whose happiest day collapses into horror. You can feel every tear, every shock, every moment of forced survival. Daniel Etim Effiong, who also stars as Gosi, delivers a gripping performance as a man balancing fear, responsibility, and moral conflict. Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman brings a powerful presence to the role of Adama, a woman battling both her own health crisis and the terrifying possibility of losing her husband.
Beyond the kidnapping, The Herd digs into deeper themes: insecurity, corruption, social stigma, greed, and the many ways society fails its people. The mention of Adama’s Osu caste status, for example, is woven into the story in a way that exposes how cultural prejudice can be used as a weapon in someone’s weakest moment. Even the institutions meant to protect, from community systems to religious structures, are portrayed with a raw honesty that challenges the viewer.
Visually and emotionally, the movie is gripping. The contrast between the bright colours of the wedding and the dark brutality that follows creates powerful cinematic tension. Some scenes feel longer than expected, but the slow build forces the viewer to sit inside the discomfort rather than escape it and that’s exactly what the story demands.
The Herd doesn’t tie everything into a neat, happy ending and that’s intentional. Trauma doesn’t resolve easily, and the film stays true to that reality. It’s not trying to be a fairy tale. It’s trying to be a mirror.
In the end, The Herd is a bold commentary on Nigeria’s insecurity crisis and the human stories buried underneath the headlines. It is emotional, unsettling, and painfully relevant, a film that lingers long after the credits roll.
If you're looking for a Nollywood film that is raw, honest, and deeply reflective of the times we are living in, The Herd should be at the top of your watchlist. This is storytelling with purpose and it hits exactly where it should.
