In the late ’90s, a mythical character named ‘Madam Koi Koi’ haunted the dreams of many girls, especially those who attended boarding schools. The eerie legend told of a mysterious woman in high-heeled shoes, wandering the darkened hallways at night, seeking revenge.
No one knew where this story originated, until now with an attempt from Jay Franklin to tell us where Madam Koi Koi actually originated from.
Netflix’s latest offering, ‘The Origin: Madam Koi Koi, marks the first Nollywood horror series on the platform and aims to shed light on the gaps in this haunting legend. The series’ first episode, titled “The Awakening,” was released on October 31, 2023, giving us a spine-tingling taste of what’s to come.
The movie consists of an ensemble cast that features Ireti Doyle as Mother Superior, Chioma Chukwuka as Sister Ruth, Martha Ehinome as Amanda, Jude Chukwuka as Baba Fawole, Nene Nwanyo as Edna, Chuks Joseph as Lashe, Kelvin Solomon as Tokunbo, Temidayo Akinboro as Kayode, Ejiro Onojaife as Ibukun, Deyemi Okanlanwon as Inspector Theophilus, Baaj Adebule as Inspector Oscar, Bolaji Ogunmola as Omolewa, and Omawumi Dada as Madam Koi Koi among others.
The plot unfolds at St. Augustine Catholic College, where Amanda has been enrolled by her financially distressed mother. On her first day, Amanda crosses paths with four arrogant and criminally inclined boys, whose actions are indirectly enhanced by Mother Superior in a bid to win a competition and secure funding for the school. Tragedy strikes when the boys gangrape a schoolmate, leading to a gruesome and mysterious death. This sets off a chain of unsettling events and investigations. Who, or what, is behind these gruesome incidents? We can only find out in the second episode.
The characters did good with their roles, from the ones not talking at all to the ones talking too much as we see from Sister Ruth, even though she doesn’t say anything, the fear conveyed in her expression when she hears about the return of Madam Koi Koi was chilling and said a lot.
Ireti Doyle did a great job embodying the role of Mother Superior, a nun and school principal, although her accent at the beginning when she was on call seemed overly forced. Chuks Joseph also did a great job playing the character Lashe, as he totally depicted every form of arrogance and narcissism possible through his character, it adds depth to the movie.
One notable aspect of the series is its meticulous attention to detail. The ’90s ambiance is vividly recreated, from the vintage Volkswagen Beetle driven by a police officer to the old Mercedes parked in the school compound. The costume of the characters and even their hairstyles as seen from some characters like Inspector Theophilus transport us back in time, and the set design successfully encapsulates the era. The costume and set design depict that the crew in charge did their assignment before delivering.
The first episode concludes with a glimpse into Madam Koi Koi’s past and the events that ignited her chilling thirst for revenge. As we await the second episode’s release on November 7, 2023, one thing is certain: ‘The Origin: Madam Koi Koi’ takes us on a riveting journey into a school legend, reminding us that some tales, no matter how terrifying, hold secrets waiting to be unveiled.
