Insecure Movie Review: A Mind-Boggling Depiction of a Complicated Love Story

P.S: This Movie Review Has a Few Spoilers

Insecure is an intriguing Nigerian Psychological drama written and directed by Benneth Nwokike and the film takes us through the love story of an interior designer and an artist in suburbia Lagos, Nigeria.

In the movie, we watch the couple’s love blossom from their days of working together as a couple to build an art gallery. Then, the movie shifts towards their marriage, becoming parents and owning a successful gallery.

As their life progresses, the couple’s sweet love story takes a dramatic turn with the emergence of another woman, cheating suspicions, violent confrontations and attacks.

The wife: Mabel Ajayi is played by the British Nigerian Actress and producer: Beverly Naya. The husband: Kunle Ajayi is played by Efa Iwara and the other woman; Amara is played by the former BBNaija housemate: Venita Akpofure.

Also, the daughter of Mabel and Efa: Mariam Ajayi is acted by Darasimi Nadi.

Here is my take on what makes Insecure a good film to watch at the cinemas.

Beverly Naya Takes Us through Emotional Turmoil from Watching Mabel’s Personality Switch

Beverly’s role as Mabel is one that initially appears to be very much in love and supportive of building her partner: Kunle’s dreams.

In their early stages of dating, Kunle tells Mabel he is a struggling artist: doing what he can to pay the bills and Mabel encourages him.

She also helps him to open an exhibition and he later has a thriving art gallery but things take a dramatic turn in their relationship.

From the once happy-in-love wife, Mabel’s character changes with the emergence of another woman.

The audience then goes through a roller-coaster of emotions as we witness Mabel’s personality switch, from loving and caring to obsessive and vindictive over the affair.

Beverly’s acting is truly superb as the tension heightens with the scene of her in the car, wearing black and with her hood on. She holds a gun and contemplates what she should do with it. Should she take revenge and how?

The viewers of Insecure go through emotional turmoil as we watch Beverly’s character turn somewhat psychotic in her reaction towards Kunle’s betrayal.

Audience questions society’s Normalisation of Men’s Infidelity

In a vulnerable moment where Mabel reveals her suspicions of her husband’s infidelity, the mother tells Mabel quite succinctly that it’s happened to her and has happened to her mother. That men cheat.

However, Mabel does not want to accept that cheating for men is normal. The response of Mabel’s mother to her daughter’s suspicions causes us to question whether it is acceptable for men to cheat.

Is the mother’s reaction okay?

Should women accept men’s infidelity because it’s a common occurrence?

Venita’s Role Causes Doubt as to Whose the Real Villain

Venita Akpofure plays the role of the conniving other woman: Amara who wreaks havoc on the life of the happily married couple.

Kunle meets Amara at a gallery and he’s drawn to her. Later, she becomes his employee and their relationship then becomes questionable from a kiss to intercourse.

Through the role of Amara, the audience is left with doubts as to who is the villain.

Is Venita the villain because she partakes in an affair with a married man and ruins a happy home or is it Mabel that’s the bad woman as the audience watches her obsession over Amara and Kunle’s whereabouts with a malicious intent to harm them.

Through Venita’s role of Amara, the viewers are left in doubt as to whether to judge her based on her actions or based on harmful motives towards her.

Also, though Venita does a solid job in the role of Amara, her performance could have been more captivating if we saw more emotions from her.

In a heated scene, Mabel is ready to attack Amara as her arms and legs are thrown in the air screaming. Mabel calls Amara an Ashweo, a homewrecker but Amara’s reaction appears a bit obtuse.

Is Kunle Completely Bad or Can He Be Redeemable…

As for Efa’s role as Kunle, we can also view him in two ways.

On the one hand, he could be easily seen as the bad guy for cheating on his wife and breaking up their home.

On the other hand, Kunle is still a likeable character as the audience watches him strive to remain in his daughter’s life as a good father would.

There is an endearing moment where Efa’s character Kunle rolls in on his wheelchair with a gift for his daughter at her birthday party.

Kunle apologises to Mabel and their daughter is reluctant about what to do when she sees her father.

Eventually, Mariam walks up to her father and accepts the gift as Mabel wipes off tears from her eyes.

Final Thoughts

Insecure is an intriguing love story that lets us into the intricacies and complexities of Kunle and Mabel’s love. How a once happily married couple’s life falls apart due to deceit and betrayal.

When you watch the movie, you are not only utterly drawn into the movie and the lives of these characters but you begin to question the way life works.

You question societal standards of what marriage means and what one should endure.

You question the traits of people: are things completely black or white or are there multiple lenses which you use to judge a person?

We are used to love stories in the Nigerian cinema but Insecure is a film with many twists, turns and suspense that leaves you at the edge of your seat, turning your head and wanting more.

If you haven’t yet watched it, then I encourage you to do so.