There are films you watch for fun, and there are movies like Ms Kanyin, which is the kind that makes you sit at the edge of your seat, breathe faster, and you think deeper.

Directed by Jerry Ossai, (a visual effects supervisor in early Nemsia days), the movie is a supernatural thriller set in a boarding school, drawing inspiration from the Madam Koi Koi folklore. The flick is exclusively on Prime video and marks a striking entry into the Afro-horror space

Ms Kanyin follows the life of Amara, a promising student at Sterling Academy. Driven by academic pressure, she makes a fateful decision, one that awakens an ancient spirit said to roam the campus and just like that, Lagos turns from ‘Eko for show” to “Eko for ghost” as strategic gamble spirals into terrifying fight for survival. Here, the spirit is Ms Kanyin, a vengeful presence bound to sterling secret.

Also Read: Netflix’s “The Origin: Madam Koi-Koi” fits a heart that can withstand Nigerian horror

Otedola’s Amara is caught between fear and determination; she is driven, flawed and quietly desperate. She delivers an emotional depth that grounds the supernatural narrative. Her silence carries weight, her resilience makes each creak of the hallway feel personal.

It is a major step forward from her debut in Citation, showcasing her ability to carry a genre-driven film anchored in cultural nuance.

The production itself is tight, there is no dramatic thunder crashes and lightening; just a dim hallway, awkward silences with enough screams and tension.

Director Jerry Ossai keeps it simple and stylish that rings a reminder that suspense does not need only bells and whistles. This movie taps into something many Nigerians grew up fearing – Madam Koi Koi, the red-heeled ghost of Nigerian boarding school legends.

Yes, that same eerie figure that clacked through schools in hallways at night. The film does not mention her directly but the spirit of Madam Koi koi is definitely in the building, and Ms Kanyin turns childhood fright into a grown up psychological horror.

In this spooky but grounded movie, Jerry Ossai does not rely on the OG ghost or the overly dramatic rituals we are so often used to. Instead, it borrows from the Nigerian myth, the scares and whispers of the dorm rooms of the urban legend that made childhood terrifying fun.

If you are in the mood for something chilling, nostalgic, and distinctly Nigerian, Ms Kanyin, which is available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, might just serve that. Just don’t watch it alone or if you do, make sure your slippers do not sound like heels. You might never know who is waiting for you around the corner.

Anita Chinedu