5 reasons why you should go watch ‘Banana Island Ghost’

Right from the trailer, I knew ‘Banana Island Ghost’ would be a problematic movie. From then, I could see there was genre confusion, mismatched tones and a general unevenness to what was made available in theaters. I patiently waited till I watched the film, and while I was mostly right – the bad parts were […]

Right from the trailer, I knew ‘Banana Island Ghost’ would be a problematic movie. From then, I could see there was genre confusion, mismatched tones and a general unevenness to what was made available in theaters. I patiently waited till I watched the film, and while I was mostly right – the bad parts were very bad – the good parts were very, very good. 

Chioma Omeruah (or Chigul as she’s more famously known) plays Ijeoma, who will do anything to save her father’s house on Banana Island from the bank coming to reclaim it in three days. Her world collides with Patrick’s who’s died and has struck a deal to return as the titular ghost, and get her to fall in love with him in, yes, three days. It all does sound a bit like a hot mess, but it surprisingly works on some levels, even while it failed on others. 

The cinematography, while striking and visually arresting in some places, was threatened many times because it became too old too fast to see shots obviously done with camera-fitted drones. It helped worsen the film’s woes, as it seemed conflicted: a deeply moving fantasy/drama one minute, and an over-the-top drama the next. A case of throwing loads of stuff in the air and hoping something would stick, perhaps? We’ll never know, I guess, like the fate of the villain at the end. But I get ahead of myself.

The screenplay, too, might have benefitted from a few rewrites to tighten it a bit. This is because there are many missed opportunities for solid payoffs, with one being when Chigul’s character Ijeoma eggs Patrick to cheat at a poker game, with him refusing with a simple ‘no’, when “God wouldn’t be happy with me; I know him” would’ve been perfect. Speaking of the poker tournament, it wasn’t properly set up in any way, and was just sprung on viewers, a most annoying Deus Ex Machina indeed. 

Back to the trailer, it also didn’t indicate that the film itself would be full of raunchy jokes, and even some risqué scenes, and unsuitable for children. Certainly too much, even for a film rated 15. 

But with all its flaws, some of omission, and most by commission, ‘Banana Island Ghost’ still managed to thoroughly entertain, which makes the missed opportunity of a perfect Nigerian blockbuster movie even more painful. But one thing remains clear with the film: It has heart, and a soul as well. And in the end, that’s what any movie needs to succeed.

In the final analysis – while in all honesty it would’ve been easier to parade ten reasons why you shouldn’t bother watching it – director B.B Sasore’s effort at putting out such a stylized, effects-heavy offering is worthy of support, hence the following list:

1. Special Effects

This is the movie’s biggest draw. Subtle, and top-notch, the special effects are no doubt the job of a talented team. Vanishing phantoms, omnipotent beings, an Indian ninja, and more are all given life most flawlessly. Thumbs up, way up. 

2. Over-The-Top Action

Just like No.1 above, the SFX people outdid themselves with kinetic fight scenes, well-executed enough to rival some Hollywood offerings. Ijeoma gets thrashed by the ‘Indian Ninja’ in such a brutal-but-funny way that you won’t even notice that she has zero bruises afterwards. Over-the-top fun has never looked this good in a Nigerian movie. The choreography is that good, paired with solid sound effects. It also proved that newbie helmsman Sasore is one to be watched, and keenly too.

3. Soundtrack

The original score for ‘Banana Island Ghost’ is so moving, so haunting, that I found myself humming it after the show. Atmospheric and grounded at the same time, it is the perfect choice for a film that regularly comes off as schizophrenic. But I digress. Then the masterfully selected Nigerian songs that were played intermittently, proved quite a treat indeed. Chief among them, Runtown’s ‘Mad About You’ remix. A compilation CD/album of the soundtrack would sell like gangbusters. 

4. The Jokes

Yes, the script is in an identity crisis as earlier mentioned, but some of the comedic bits work. The well-timed jokes, a lot of them bawdy, were genuinely funny with almost none feeling forced or inorganic. Did I say almost? Yes, because the first time we see the police sergeant, he is not funny at all, with his over-the-top campiness and Zebrudaya-era goofiness coming across as annoying, when it should be endearing. But the best bit? Wait for a major revelation involving Ijeoma and the ‘Indian Ninja’. Pure gold. 

5. The Cast (Or Parts Of It, Anyway)

Featuring Patrick Diabuah as the ghost called, well, Patrick, we see a male lead who starts off shakily, gradually solidifying into a great character. Chigul, also, shines as Ijeoma, shifting from funny, sassy, vulnerable, and strong, all practically within seconds. Bimbo Manuel, as ‘Papa God’, carries the role with all the dignity and gravitas it deserves. Saidi Balogun’s DPO is an acquired taste, though, but one which grew on me after I ignored his fever-blistered upper lip. Ali Nuhu, as usual, performs like the natural he is, even if the lines he’s saddled with are generally corny, devoid of any originality that would have made for a truly memorable villain. But hey, there could be a sequel, right?