Ms. Kanyin

Ms. Kanyin (2025) is a stylish and refreshing supernatural thriller that reimagines the popular Madam Koikoi legend in a bold new way. Set in a Nigerian boarding school during the 1990s, the film explores the pressures of academic excellence through the story of Amara, a student struggling with her French grades under the tutelage of the enigmatic Ms. Kanyin. Beyond the suspense and mystery, Ms. Kanyin teaches important life lessons. It shows how the pressure to succeed at all costs can harm students emotionally and also reminds us that teachers have a deep influence - they can either inspire or break a student.

One of the best things about the movie is how real everything looks. It was shot in proper locations, not fake sets, and the props and school setting feel very authentic. The quality of the filming is also impressive, with beautiful visuals that pull you into the story. The acting is strong, especially from Michelle Dede and Temi Otedola. They bring a lot of emotion and depth to their roles, making the story more powerful.

Although the movie has a few weak spots - it still keeps you hooked with suspense and mystery. Ms. Kanyin is a great addition to Nollywood horror, offering a mix of fear, nostalgia, and a good story that's worth watching.

A lot of the story revolved around mysticism and folk lore, the stories that naive kids believed and told ourselves growing up while in Boarding School in Nigeria. The mischief and the dynamics of the classrooms, the interrelationship between the cast, the significant improvement in the lead actress's performance in comparison to past movies, all thoroughly engaging. It would be a nostalgic watch for anyone that had the personal experience of going to boarding school in Nigeria.

My favourite part was hearing a diverse number of Nigerian languages in the movie, started off with someone speaking Esan (an Edo language), then Igbo, then Hausa, then Yoruba. More movies need to be as representative as this or even more than this to should the full diversity of the cultures in Nigeria. This is what has been missing in Nigerian movies, more cultures being represented, more horror stories that are based on long standing cultural legends & tales that were passed on from generation to generation and a story that keeps you guessing!

There could have been more depth around the "lady koi koi" lore, like a scene of someone telling the story of lady koi koi so that the viewers who don't know much about it can learn.

Overall, I enjoyed this watch. Looking forward to more movies by the writers.

"Ms Kanyin" is a masterful entry in Afro horror, tautly directed by Jerry Ossai and anchored by Michelle Dede, whose performance "devours the role...leaves nothing but brilliance and awe". Set against a vividly rendered Nigerian boarding school, the film marries folklore, academic pressure, and supernatural dread into a haunting, emotionally grounded thriller. While the beginning unfolds deliberately, the payoff chilling mythic terror and top-tier production deliver a spooky, culturally rich experience. A bold, stylish leap for Nollywood horror. This movie had great Sound and great cinematography.