The Trade Review… the film sadly couldn’t stand up straight

Year: 2023
Genre: Business, Police, Investigation, Chase, True Story, Thriller
Cast: Blossom Chukwujekwu, Ali Nuhu, Nengi Adoki, Shawn Faqua, Rita Dominic, Lami George, Stan Nze, Gideon Okeke, Waje, Chiwetalu Agu, Uru Eke, Chris Iheuwa, Charles Inojie, Abayomi Alvin, Kelechi Udegbe, Chimezie Imo, Greg Ojefua, Angel Unigwe
Director: Jade Osiberu
Writer: Jade Osiberu
Cinematographer: John Demps
Summary: “Eric” is a kidnapper at large making a fortune from abducting influential people; tracking him down is like chasing a ghost because he has no face, no identity, and no whereabouts

Overall Rating: Nuts       
We’re always excited anytime Jade Osiberu drops a movie as she has a brilliant mind and values quality.
Somehow The Trade wasn’t her style. The film had a good initiative but couldn’t stand up straight due to the misused cast and inadequate screenplay
~Yours To Explore~


Delicious
—The Trade was a great initiative to raise awareness on the rampant increase of kidnappings in Nigeria. The story gave us an idea of the current situation with the government pouring more resources on politicians than an intelligence body that can capture the kidnappers.
We saw Charles (Shawn Fuqua), a frustrated investigator, restrained in every corner by corrupt & passive officials and unavailable resources on his path to track down “Eric” (Blossom Chukwujekwu)
—Always a pleasure to see veteran actors like Franca Brown (playing a victim’s wife), Chiwetalu Agu (playing Eric’s driver), as well as other actors like Rita Dominic (playing a kidnapped woman) and Uru Eke (playing Eric’s sister)
—The story provided a good presentation of Eric, the kidnapper who left no trace behind. We got to see his entourage, connections, and activities.
We got a sense of his thirst for money, arrogance, stinginess, and care for his wife and kids. We felt like we knew him well

Bland
—The Trade had an ensemble cast but didn’t use the actors properly; many characters came and went abruptly.
We were looking forward to prominent faces like Emeka Nwagbaraocha (playing an armed man in the opening scene), Greg Ojefua (playing Eric’s broker), Sidney Esiri (playing a prisoner), Franca Brown, and so many more. Made us wonder why they were even included…
—It’s becoming a broken record to always mention sound engineering issues in Nollywood 😓 The Trade suffered immensely from sharp sound making it unattractive to hear
—Overall, the screenplay wasn’t gripping, the scenes were plain, not seasoned with suspense or terror. Eric could have been designed as that dreadful kidnapper whose path you don’t wanna cross with.
We were sadly not glued to our seats with acting being average except for Charles Inojie (playing officer Amadi), Stan Nze (playing Meshach, one of Eric’s men), and Chiwetalu Agu who saved the day.
Furthermore, the cinematography wasn’t edgy or intense unable to create a lot of visual contrast in the scenes


Viewers’ Guide
Language Violence Intimacy

Trailer

Available on
(Audio: English, Igbo, Pidgin English; English Subtitles: Yes)