Movie Review – “The Storm” – A Thriller With Intent, Timeless Tropes But Faltering Execution.

Art is a reflection of our society, and film is certainly the art that our society needs. For me, when a film attempts to capture the experiences of a society I’m familiar with, it always feels like a step in the right direction. Ben Owusu’s crime thriller “The Storm” is one such attempt, offering a timely exploration of the urgent tropes that affect many societies, such as crime, corruption and decadence.

Set in the heart of Accra, this film plunges us into a world where the police task force, led by Detective Danso (played by Adjetey Anang), is tasked with combating a rise in organized crime. This spike in criminal activity is driven by a crumbling economy and a government mired in corruption, a theme that resonates deeply with many societies today. As Detective Danso and his partner Detective Lynn (played by Ama K. Abebrese) navigate these treacherous waters, the film reflects the challenges faced by law enforcement officers who are trapped within a flawed system, yet still motivated to bring about justice.

On the other hand, activist Milly Forson (played by Lucky Lawson) starts a campaign mounting pressure on the authorities to intensify their search for the missing girls. Her campaign ruffles feathers and equally attracts sympathisers who consider funding her to run for the presidency. But like everything else, that too comes at a cost that she might not be willing to pay. Even with her good intentions, she finds herself in the crosshairs of the political powers and their financiers. This subplot highlights the challenges of determined citizens forced in political situations as they attempt to stand up 9for the rights of others.

Lucky Lawson in The Storm (2024)

Originally shot around 2020, “The Storm” is only now getting its release, which feels strangely appropriate. Ghana’s upcoming general elections are only a few months away and there swirling conversations about the current government’s failures and allegations of corruption. This makes the film’s message feel even more relevant today as the story it tells.

Yet, despite its thematic strengths, the film falls short of its potential. While it tackles the critical issues of crime and corruption, it struggles with narrative cohesion and character development. The script, written by Ben Owusu, Anna Hanson Segbefia, and Dee William, attempts to juggle too many plotlines without fully exploring any of them. The result is a film that feels unfocused, with characters introduced in ways that make it difficult to understand their significance or motivation.

Adjetey Anang is not new to roles like this and delivers a decent performance as Detective Danso, a man driven to rid the city of its criminal underworld but shackled by the flawed system he works within. In the opening scene, he brazenly walks into a hostage situation at a bank robbery and almost single-handedly stops the 3 robbers. Later on we are introduced to the moral complexity of his character when he apprehends a young boy for snatching a purse. Rather than arresting him, Danso rather considers talking some sense into the young man when he sends him to the police station. This young robber runs away from the police station and rather ends up getting tortured, killed and dropped in an alley by a criminal gang who thinks he must have been working with the police.

The balance of toughness and compassion gives the character Detective Danso some depth but the film doesn’t capitalize enough on this.

Ama K. Abebrese, who plays Danso’s tech-savvy partner Detective Lynn, offers an equally decent performance though her character is somewhat underdeveloped as well. The partnership between the two lead detectives seems almost functional, but it lacks the emotional or narrative weight that could have made their dynamic more engaging and perhaps more integral to the film’s central plot. Rather, there is another police officer (played by Fiifi Coleman) who seems to be Danso’s nemesis. That too is not fully explored.

The film boasts of a couple of big names as well, including Edward Kufor who plays the role of the president of the state gracefully. It is almost as though he was born to be a statement and the role comes easy to him considering that he is the son of Ghana’s 2nd president of the 4th republic John Kufour.

Ama K. Abebrese & Adjetey Anang in The Storm (2024)

For a film shot a few years ago, “The Storm” can boast of its impressive visuals, particularly in its portrayal of Accra’s slums. The cinematography captures the harsh realities of life in these areas without sensationalizing or romanticizing the conditions. These moments are some of the film’s most visually striking, grounding the story in a real-life experience that many viewers might recognize and find relatable.

However, despite the strong visual storytelling, the film falters in pacing and structure. The trailer sets expectations for a tense, action-packed thriller, but the film itself lacks the urgency and energy to match that promise. While there are a few decently executed action scenes, they are too few and far between. The film’s promising upbeat energy feels toned down by its slower narrative stretches. The VFX and sound design very much complement these action scenes well enough.

It is almost as though the film tries to tackle so much that it struggles to find its distinct voice and direction. It would have sufficed if it was just a simple good and against evil with the police task force led by Detective Danso trying to bring down a particular crime boss and his criminal network.

‘The Storm‘ ends in an almost unceremonial fashion. It feels abrupt, almost as though the filmmakers are setting up for a sequel. But rather than wrapping up the story in a satisfying way, this unresolved conclusion leaves viewers feeling like they’ve been left hanging, just as the pieces of the plot were starting to fall into place.

Edward Kufour in The Storm (2024)

In the end, this feels like a film that brims with potential but doesn’t quite live up to its name. While it has timely themes and some strong enough performances, its narrative struggles to find focus while many of its characters are not given the depth they need to truly resonate with the audience.

I will score it 6/10. It is a film intended to provoke change or inspire reflection, it just lacks the narrative strength to do so powerfully. It may not create the storm it intends to, but its effort to mirror society’s struggles is a commendable one.

I am tempted to think this film adds to the tall list of Ghanaian action thrillers that would most likely not get a sequel even after it sets up one. Should that sequel be made with tighter writing and more character development, it could have been a standout in the genre.