This movie titled “LANDLINE” which premiered on Prime Video on the 25th of April, 2025 is written, directed and produced by Dele Doherty. With a runtime of 1hour 23minutes, this psychological thriller utilises the time-loop element as a tool for storytelling. Stretching its audacious approach further, the movie only consists of a three-man cast – starring Gabriel Afolayan, Zainab Balogun and Bucci Franklin.

Synopsis: (MAY contain spoilers) 

Kola (Gabriel Afolayan) is a Military Sergeant stuck in a safe house. He is in possession of a classified document. Consequently, his life is in danger.

Shalewa (Zainab Balogun), Kola’s wife is heavily pregnant and is home, alone. Kola, at the safe house experiences a time-loop as he receives multiple eerie calls from a mysterious caller on an unconnected landline warning him of an impending doom – his wife Shalewa is to be attacked.

On several occasions, the caller’s prediction is proven precisely accurate as Shalewa dïes each time, no matter how much Kola tries to save her (over the phone) until there’s a plot twist.

Will the time-loop have an end? Will Shalewa eventually die for real? Well, why not grab your popcorn and or favourite drink, munch, sip along as you follow events unfold (that is if you can).

MY TAKE:
At first impression, the pacing is a turnoff for an impatient viewer as the movie took off with a seeming unending calls between husband and wife.

Nevertheless, as the sequencing plunges into the main act of the time loop, the choice of cast saves the day as both Zainab and Gabriel delivered a stellar performance with an impeccable delivery of emotions.

However, it soon becomes tiring as the repetitive scenery of de ja vu moments becomes excessive that the short duration felt like a life-time!

The cinematography, location, costume, lighting and sound score all work together with the story but the plot is one lacking of depth. The movie holds your emotions or interests to ransome but never truly sustains the feelings as it leaves you with more questions than answers.

It’s gripping with some good level of suspense and intrigue as it could send your heart racing, keeping you at the edge of your seat sometimes but then, in the end, it just drops you at a junction of “is that it?” 

 Quite a number of Hollywood movies within this same genre often give viewers that feeling too so I’ll give it to the cast and crew here.

Be that as it may, I find there were head scratchers and some loose ends here, hence:

OBSERVATIONS/QUESTIONS:
1. How was the landline ringing without the cables being connected? Or was it just a figment of Kola’s wild imagination? 

2. Why does Shalewa not call the police herself (well, not that the Nigerian police have been particularly portrayed to be that swift though)?

3. On the kitchen attempt, firstly, immediately the kïller closed the door, Shalewa started to talk on the phone. So the kïller did not hear her? Wait! One minute she’s climbing the stairs, the next, she’s seen in the kitchen. That was rather confusing. It cleared itself soon enough though.

4. On the last attempt, why did Shalewa attack when the kïller was supposedly already incapacitated? 

5. Shalewa, we’re made to understand is under threat unbeknownst to her as her husband, miles away experiences a time loop pertaining to her. Now, how come, Shalewa, on the last bit becomes so enraged like someone who had also been consciously part of the time-loop so much so that she appeared to have had enough of the whole thing, seeming exhausted? 

6. The plot twist didn’t really make much sense. And after its realisation, why did Kola remain in the ‘safe house’ like he was handicapped? 

 That would have made for a change of scenery at least; seeing Kola come out of his hideout. Perhaps, we would have seen the exterior of his place of hiding or a roadside, a car or something for a change. Or is that too much to ask? Didn’t think so! 

7. The reason given for Shalewa’s attack wasn’t very clear. It sort of contradicts some other parts of the story. 

8. When Kola’s dad (over the phone) mentioned “your pregnant wife…carrying I and the Secretary’s grandchild…!” what did he mean, please? I genuinely want to know! 

9. The reason behind the time loop isn’t explained nor explored if you ask me. Was Kola experiencing some psychological trauma? Was he in some kind of trance? 

 Well, I guess we may never know now, will we? 

Conclusively, although the effort to delve into an area of filmmaking that many dread is quite commendable, this however appears to be a somewhat missed opportunity for a major hit of a WOW-FACTOR. The focus was probably more on the time-loop tool than the vehicle containing the tool – the story & plot.

Not a bad watch actually, but could have been way better than its outcome.