The Herd (2025) – A Review

The Herd is a Nollywood crime thriller directed by Daniel Etim-Effiong capturing the urgent and pressing issue of insecurity and insurgency in Nigeria today. The film premiered in Nigerian cinemas on October 17, 2025, before making its debut on Netflix on November 21, 2025.

Through powerful storytelling and groundbreaking performances, The Herd explores survival, conflict, identity, and the consequences of unresolved tensions within society through storytelling. The movie is deep, emotional, and relevant in today’s world, drawing light to the pressing issues in the Nigerian society.

The story follows how the lives of several families are turned upside down by what initially seems like a harmless decision. The movie’s protagonists find themselves at the mercy of amateur bandits driven by conflicting interests, killing intent, and an insatiable hunger for money. It was compelling to watch how each character confronted their inner demons while seeking a way out of impending doom. The story shows just how easily families can unite or turn against one another when survival is at stake.

I did not fully grasp the meaning of the film’s title until the opening scenes, where a herdsman blocks the road with his cattle. The meaning became painfully clear after the kidnapping, when the captives were herded into the forest to be sold and ransomed. The symbolism is striking, drawing attention to the growing cases of bandits disguising themselves as herdsmen to raid farmlands and abduct civilians. The whole irony when the bandits ditch the cattle(s) to lead the human captives into the forest. Humans quickly became cattle(s) forced to do the bid of the herdsmen. In kind, they became The herd.

Characters and Performances

Adanma, Gosi’s wife, stands out as one of the most emotionally layered characters. She goes to great lengths to rescue her husband from the bandits while quietly battling cancer, a struggle she keeps to herself. Her character reflects deep helplessness, frustration, and resilience as she fights to secure her husband’s ransom even if it meant that she had to confront her past.

The bandits are portrayed exactly as they should be violent, ruthless, and inexperienced. We watch them learn on the job, make money, lose their humanity, and create enemies along the way. Their evolution is unsettling yet realistic.

Habiba, the brain behind the operation, is one of the film’s most intriguing and complex characters. I just had so many questions; How does she stomach the killings and kidnappings? How is She so kind one minute and cruel the other? Why does She help the kidnappers so much and is so comfortable with them? What led her to this life, and how did she end up with Anas? As the story unfolds, these questions are gradually answered, showing how vulnerability, fear and past traumas can push people to abandon their humanity. We get to understand how She was once a captive herself before she became lost in the game of kidnapping and how she took the reins of her survival. As Anas’s wife, Habiba gains a sense of protection and dignity, and her intelligence especially her ability to speak and understand English is an asset to the bandits. She is later presented the chance to redeem herself in the movies climax when she provides aid in testimony against the kidnappers to aid the case.

Gosi’s parents are some of the most infuriating characters in the film. Their coldness and cultural rigidity, even in the face of life-threatening danger, are difficult to comprehend. The deal they strike under such circumstances is suprising. Their actors delivered outstanding performances, portraying selfishness and moral blindness with chilling accuracy. We see them at the end accepting their misconceptions.

The Pastors

The pastors introduced a surprising dose of comic relief amid the tension. Their presence highlights the irony of modern society, wolves in sheep’s clothing and evil disguised as righteousness. Their calmness, despite the atrocities they housed next door, should be studied. Lateef Adedimeji once again proves that he is not just an actor by name but by skill. His performance was entertaining. To think that an Apple Watch would help expose the body-parts trade, it was especially clever and unexpected.

And the grandma; I have no words, she’s so unbelievable. This is definitely how these bandits get away with their evil deeds in real life.

Derin and Fola

Their love is the perfect kind; we see them love with all their hearts and are a great fit for each other. Watching their wedding scene made me think of great love and marriage instantly. It was sad that Fola had to be killed and it was heartbreaking to watch Derin try to live without him. There was a bit of comfort in knowing that his watch was used to get a step closer to the case.

Can We talk about this man?

I didn’t want this to be a lengthy piece, but Adam Garba was an absolute fave throughout the movie, quick-witted, smart and He saw details with the mind of microscope. I think we all agree that we would like a lot of Adam Garba in our country’s security system.

Direction, Themes, and Technical Strength

The Herd presents a narrative that is raw, emotional, and ultimately hopeful. Through nail-biting scenes and real-life situations, characters from diverse tribes, beliefs, and backgrounds are forced to work together, even as they lose loved ones along the way. Rather than offering a one-sided narrative, the film humanizes its characters, showing how desperation, misunderstanding, and long-standing grievances can escalate into devastating consequences.

Daniel Etim-Effiong proves himself not only as a capable director but also as a good actor. Successfully balancing both roles is no small feat, and his performance reflects tenacity and emotional depth.

One of the film’s strongest elements is its atmosphere. The cinematography captures both the beauty and brutality of rural and semi-urban landscapes, reinforcing the emotional weight of the story. The pacing is deliberate, allowing tension to build naturally, while moments of silence are effectively used to heighten emotional impact.

The use of diverse languages is a massive plus and it didn’t hinder their communication or the movie flow.

The performances across the cast are convincing and emotionally charged. Scenes of grief, anger, fear, and moral conflict feel authentic, grounding the film in realism rather than symbolism.

 The movie challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths without becoming preachy, allowing the story to speak for itself.

Final Thoughts

The movie had its flaws especially with plot follow ups and some characters deserved more background stories, and we didn’t get to see Gosi’s parents' character developments. Aside from these reservations, the movie brought solid storytelling. They were able to incorporate so much in a single movie and the depth to the scenes held deep reflections for me.

The Herd (2025) is a bold Nigerian film making a statement, the timeliness of the movie captures fully the various cases of insurgence in Nigeria and with the intervention from the US has left many speculations throughout and we are here for it.