With screenplay by Vivian Chiji, this movie titled “A Million Mercies” is directed by Akin Tijani Balogun, produced by Ima De-Great and Executively produced by Emem Isong Misodi. Released on the 15th of August, 2025, this Faith-based drama with a runtime of 2hours 45minutes is currently available for streaming on Royal Arts TV YouTube channel.

SYNOPSIS: (MAY contain spoilers)

Sylvia (Osereme Inegbenebor) & Sam (Daniel Etim-Effiong) are a married couple whose marriage was founded on some weird sexual ideas. When Sam gets converted after a frightening and life threatening experience, Sylvia would seek for ways to cope until frustration gets the better of her.

MY TAKE:

Straight up this movie had no business being that long with all that runtime. At least a whopping ONE HOUR could have been successfully sliced off and the message would have been passed even more effectively. Well, I have my ways as I watched on a 1.25x playback speed which still felt slow but I could manage that. 

Story/Plot:

The story highlights the challenges that come with repentance after living a life of crazy fantasies and sexcapades. This isn’t a new one. In fact, we’ve come to realise and have accepted that there are hardly any new stories out there. Hence, what we love to see is how the plot plays out. 

The plot here sees a couple who are trying to build a different life from what they are used to until things go south as one party feels suffocated. Quite an interesting angle, however, some scenes took too long and some were absolutely unnecessary. Some didn’t quite add up as they were a major source for some eye rolls. The movie is as predictable as predictable can be. Not a problem actually but the execution of the plot wasn’t particularly exciting. Nice flash backs but uncoordinated plot and direction with an unjustified resolution.

Performance/Role Delivery:

Chinonso Arubayi was the star in this movie. Her character interpretation as Onome was consistently charming throughout. Her switch from pidgin English to posh English is admirable. Daniel Etim-Effiong delivered but I find that he’s been casted over a million times now in this same role of sex crazy sinner boy-turned-temptation-fleeing Pastor. It now appears like he’s more comfortable with these kinds of roles as it comes natural to him. I would love to see him in more challenging roles. Osereme also delivered with her signature skill set. She always gives this aura of a smooth operator vibes. so, overall, acting was authentic from all the actors.

Crew:

Costume and makeup are good. Props and location are okay. Sound & audio are fair enough. Cinematography & editing are equally commendable. Continuity is not so impressive. 

Outcome:

This had me asking so many questions than I have answers to:

  1. What did the couple do for a living before and after Sam’s conversion?
  2. How was Sylvia able to afford the 10million she promised to give to Onome out of which she gave her 5 for a start?
  3. How was that accident by the road side any fault of Sam’s. For all we know, Onome walked into the road unconsciously yet we found Sam was the one having to apologise and even had to give Onome some sort of compensation
  4. Did Sam have to follow Onome to her house? And I’m asking “REALLY?” Like seriously “REALLY?” It was even more annoying how he stayed back. What kind of a Pastor follows a lady home ALONE simply because you almost ran her over? Worst and most infuriating part was him eating in a person’s house he just met for the first time. Again “REALLY?” Who does that? Lemme guess, a food-starved Pastor on a soul-winning mission! Yeah, right!
  5. How was Sam then so upset later on? You respect your wife, yet you were super comfortable to eat in a stranger’s house prior.
  6. Where did Sylvia travel to?
  7. What was all that shenanigans between Onome & Sam in the kitchen. It is almost as if sometimes the director forgets he is supposed to be a Pastor-character.
  8. On what basis did Sam give Onome 10million naira? In fact where was all those monies coming from? I’m pretty sure it’s not proceeds from his congregation of less than a hundred people and definitely not with that setting of the Church.
  9. Was that diagnosis & consequent death necessary in the end? It felt more like a route borne out of convenience for the writer than a necessity for the plot. Matter-of-factly, that death betrayed the title of the movie. One is forced to ask…where then is the million-dollar mercies…erm sorry “A Million Mercies”? 

Conclusion:

The movie is interesting no doubt especially because of Chinonso’s interpretation of her role. Other than that, a viewer like myself would find it a bore as it is not all that entertaining nor inspiring. At the end of the day, you’ll find yourself wondering what moral lessons one can hold on to here. Absolutely not as compelling as I had hoped and certainly not as charismatic for a faith based film. The totality of the movie feels underwhelming for me.

Verdict: 4.8/10