Going into Son of the Soil, I genuinely thought I was about to watch the Nigerian John Wick.
With Razaaq Adoti leading the cast and Chee Keong Cheung behind the camera, I expected slick action, relentless gunfights, and an unstoppable one-man army tearing through Lagos’ criminal underworld.
That isn’t the film they made.
And, honestly, I’m glad.
Instead, Son of the Soil takes a much more grounded approach to the revenge thriller. Yes, there are brutal fights and moments of explosive violence, but this is a film driven by character, grief, and the devastating effect a drug epidemic can have on an entire community. Rather than creating an untouchable action hero, Adoti and Cheung give us someone who feels painfully human.
I’ve been a fan of Razaaq Adoti’s work for years, although not because of films like Resident Evil: Apocalypse or Doom. For me, it was his role in The Hard Corps that really stood out. Going toe-to-toe with Jean-Claude Van Damme during the unforgettable gym fight, Adoti proved he could more than hold his own against one of the genre’s biggest stars. The confrontation ended in a draw before the pair eventually joined forces, and it remains one of the film’s most memorable moments.
Seeing him finally take centre stage here feels long overdue.
Not only does Adoti deliver a commanding lead performance as Zion Ladejo, but he also wrote the screenplay, and you can immediately tell this is a deeply personal project. Zion isn’t written as an invincible action hero. He’s haunted by his past, burdened by grief, and driven by a desperate need to uncover the truth behind his sister’s murder.
He gets beaten.
He gets stabbed.
He gets shot.
When he’s outnumbered, he struggles.
Every confrontation has consequences, making the action feel tense because victory is never guaranteed. That vulnerability is what makes Zion such a compelling protagonist. He’s not a superhero. He’s simply a man refusing to stand by while his community is destroyed.
What really caught me off guard was how raw the film is.
The overdose scenes are genuinely difficult to watch, not because they’re overly graphic, but because they feel frighteningly believable. There are no flashy montages or exaggerated Hollywood moments. Addiction is presented as an everyday reality destroying families, leaving scars that extend far beyond the people taking the drugs. That honesty gives the film a level of emotional weight I wasn’t expecting.
Chee Keong Cheung has built a reputation for delivering ambitious action cinema, and while Son of the Soil certainly contains several hard-hitting action sequences, he wisely refuses to let spectacle overshadow the story. Every fight exists for a reason. Every act of violence carries emotional consequences. The action serves the narrative rather than distracting from it.
The Nigerian locations also become one of the film’s greatest strengths. Shooting on location gives the film an authenticity that simply couldn’t be recreated elsewhere. The streets, neighbourhoods, markets, and communities feel lived in, immersing you in Zion’s world while reinforcing that this is a story rooted in real places and real issues.
Supporting performances are equally strong, with Taye Arimoro making a lasting impression as the ruthless Shaka Bulla. He brings an unpredictable energy to every scene, effortlessly switching between charm and menace, making him a villain you can never quite second-guess. The wider ensemble helps create a believable community, giving the film emotional stakes beyond Zion’s personal mission.
What impressed me most about Son of the Soil is that it never tries to be something it isn’t.
It would have been easy to chase stylish action for the sake of it, but Adoti’s screenplay constantly brings the focus back to the people affected by violence, corruption, and drugs. The revenge story may provide the framework, but the emotional heart of the film lies in the community fighting to survive.
By the time the credits rolled, I realised this wasn’t the Nigerian John Wick I had expected.
It was something far more grounded.
A street-level revenge thriller that values character over spectacle, authenticity over style, and emotional truth over impossible action heroics.
Son of the Soil is a powerful collaboration between British and Nigerian filmmaking that delivers far more than an action movie. Driven by Razaaq Adoti’s heartfelt performance and assured writing, alongside Chee Keong Cheung’s confident direction, it tells a gripping story of vengeance, redemption, and resilience without ever losing sight of the people caught in the middle.
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