The Herd (2025) — Nollywood Movie

Director: Daniel Etim-Effiong BellaNaija+2TheDailyTorchMedia+2
Producers: FilmOne Studios, ToriTori Films, Serendipity HHC, Airscape Nairametrics+2BellaNaija+2
Release Date: October 17, 2025 (Nigeria) News Express+2NEWSVERGE+2
Runtime: About 1h 51m Silverbird Cinemas
Language: English Silverbird Cinemas+1

📖 Synopsis / Plot

• The story follows Gosi, who is privately dealing with his wife’s recurrent cancer scare while attending his friend Derin’s wedding. Silverbird Cinemas+1
• On their way back to the hotel after the celebration, Gosi, Derin, and others are ambushed and kidnapped by gunmen who disguise themselves as cattle herdsmen. G2G Cinemas - Experience Relaxation+1
• The kidnappers are part of a breakaway gang, and violence escalates as secrets, survival, and betrayal come into play. The Guardian Nigeria
• There’s also a subplot involving Garba, a DSS (Department of State Services) officer, who gets pulled from his personal life to lead the rescue/opposition. The Guardian Nigeria
• Themes: survival, love, family, generational change, and terror. ThisDayLive

👥 Cast

Some of the main cast includes:

• Daniel Etim-Effiong Silverbird Cinemas
• Mercy Aigbe NEWSVERGE+1
• Deyemi Okanlawon NEWSVERGE
• Kunle Remi NEWSVERGE
• Genoveva Umeh NEWSVERGE
• Tina Mba Silverbird Cinemas+1
• Bolaji Ogunmola, Norbert Young, Patrick Doyle, Jaiye Kuti, Emeka Nwagbarocha, Abba A. Zakky, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman NEWSVERGE

💥 Significance & Highlights

• This is Daniel Etim-Effiong’s directorial debut. TheDailyTorchMedia+1
• It’s a crime-thriller / psychological drama — more layered than typical Nollywood romance or comedy. Nairametrics+2The Guardian Nigeria+2
• The film opened strongly at the Nigerian box office: ₦30.1 million in its first week. Nairametrics
• Before its wider release, a shorter version screened at the Marché du Film during the Cannes Film Festival — giving it some international exposure. Nairametrics+1