Common Sense Media Review
By Jose Solis
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense Nigerian thriller has disturbing violence, peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Blood Vessel
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Trying to save Oyin (Adaobi Dibor), the woman he loves from her abusive father, Abbey (David Ezekiel) teams up with a group of men wanted for protesting against the regime to become stowaways on a ship headed to Brazil. Their plans go awry when they end up in the hands of Igor (Alex Budin), a violent smuggler in charge of this BLOOD VESSEL.
Is It Any Good?
A Nollywood legend in his own right, director/producer Moses Inwang has delivered some of the grittiest films in the country's history while pointing to societal issues that deserve wider attention. With Blood Vessel, however, his knack for the melodramatic runs away with him as he delivers a piece that borders on the unwatchable due to the gruesome suffering he puts his characters through.
Young and adult viewers alike will most likely be shocked by the villainous Igor (Alex Budin), whose outlandish cruelty is depicted in such a way that it takes away from the message Inwang wants to deliver about the violent treatment of migrants. A scene in which Igor waxes rhapsodically about the pleasures of skinning an animal, only to learn he's about to do it to a man, belongs in the Saw franchise. Although movies don't need to convey hope in desperate situations, the absolute hopelessness of Blood Vessel will leave viewers in search of calmer waters, if they haven't abandoned the ship halfway through.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the trials and tribulations faced by migrants, like the ones in Blood Vessel, trying to leave their countries for a better future. How can the world be more receptive and helpful to migrants?
How does Abbey show resilience and teamwork as he tries to help his loved ones on the ship?
The film touches on the damage done by humans to the planet in search of oil and other materials used for fuel. How can renewable energy sources help?
Was the violence excessive or necessary for the story? How much is too much?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 8, 2023
- Cast : David Ezekiel , Alex Budin , Adaobi Dibor
- Director : Moses Inwang
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 118 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 16, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate