For a generation of Nigerians, the name Isawuru still carries a chill. The fearsome herbalist of Mount Zion’s early-1990s gospel classic Agbara Nla haunted living rooms on VHS and state television, and the character’s creator, Mike Bamiloye, became one of the most recognisable faces in Christian filmmaking.
More than three decades later, Bamiloye’s sons, Damilola and Joshua Mike-Bamiloye, have brought the story to cinemas, with their father back in the role. Agbara Nla: The Return broke records in Nigeria, has been playing in UK cinemas since mid-October, and opened in selected US cinemas on 30 October. It is big, bold and often thrilling, and it is also a very long sit.
Nostalgia opens the door, but it is Mike Bamiloye’s magnetic, gleefully wicked Isawuru that keeps you in your seat.
Movie at a Glance
- UK release: In UK cinemas since Friday 16 October 2026
- US release: In selected US cinemas from Friday 30 October 2026
- Nigeria release: 1 October 2026, distributed by Nile Entertainment
- Directors: Damilola Mike-Bamiloye and Joshua Mike-Bamiloye
- Writer: Damilola Mike-Bamiloye, based on an original by Mike Bamiloye
- Producer: Chris Odeh
- Starring: Mike Bamiloye, Aanu Kolade Abiodun, Philip Olubakin, Remilekun Mosiko, Damilola Mike-Bamiloye and Gloria Mike-Bamiloye
- Runtime: 154 minutes
- Certificate: 15 (UK)
- Languages: Yoruba and English
- Genre: Faith-based supernatural drama
Viewer Match
- Best for: Fans of the original Agbara Nla, Nollywood audiences, and anyone who enjoys faith-driven stories of spiritual warfare.
- Maybe skip if: You want a tight two-hour film, or you are uncomfortable with a story that frames traditional Yoruba spirituality as pure evil.
- Mood and pace: Grand, intense and melodramatic, with chilling set pieces and a slow final stretch.
- Cinema or streaming? Cinema. It is designed as a communal event, and the crowd reactions are part of the fun.
- Spoiler level: Spoiler-free. We stick to the opening set-up.
Back to Muwonleru
The village of Muwonleru has lived for years under the power of Isawuru, who demands that even its king bow before him. When God calls Bose and Kola, played by Aanu Kolade Abiodun and Damilola Mike-Bamiloye, to take the Gospel to the village, they find reasons not to go. The mission passes instead to Olaboye and Olatomi, played by Philip Olubakin and Remilekun Mosiko, a couple who give up comfortable city jobs to face the darkness.
The moral shape is simple, and the film does not pretend otherwise. But Damilola Mike-Bamiloye’s screenplay does a good job of condensing a sprawling story into a coherent feature, and the most interesting conflict is a human one: the pull between personal comfort and the duty to help a community in pain. Kola’s reluctance gives the film a relatable edge that its supernatural battles cannot.
Isawuru Rides Again
The main attraction is Mike Bamiloye himself. He plays Isawuru with enormous relish, a villain who clearly enjoys his own terrible reputation, and the performance has a wicked, almost playful charge that makes an audience laugh nervously even as it flinches. He dominates every scene he is in, and his absence is felt whenever he is off screen.
Aanu Kolade Abiodun also impresses as Bose, especially when the character’s story takes a frightening turn, balancing horror with real pity. Elsewhere the acting is heightened in the classic Mount Zion style, which suits the material, even if it will feel broad to newcomers.
A Real Step Up
The production is a big leap forward from the original’s VHS roots. The forest coven, the shrine and an elaborate underwater kingdom are designed with genuine imagination, and the costumes, especially Isawuru’s, are striking. The film leans proudly into practical horror effects, and the camera moves with purpose, building tension rather than showing off. These are not cheap scares; the supernatural world feels tangible.
Joshua Mike-Bamiloye’s score is largely effective, though at times it swamps quieter scenes that might have been more powerful left alone.
Too Much of a Good Thing
The biggest problem is length. At over two and a half hours, the film often mistakes duration for depth, and its final stretch drags as conflicts and explanations pile up and lessons already made clear are underlined again. Audiences unfamiliar with Mount Zion’s storytelling may find the resolution predictable. The film also never engages with long-standing criticism of how it portrays traditional Yoruba spiritual practices, which it presents as wholly malevolent.
Even so, its success is a genuine event for Nigerian cinema, proving that a homegrown faith story can draw huge crowds outside the December holiday season. For more new releases, see our latest Weekly Cinema Pack, and for tonight’s viewing, try What to Watch Tonight.
Spoiler-Free Verdict
Agbara Nla: The Return is an ambitious, handsomely made revival of a beloved classic, powered by Mike Bamiloye’s terrific villain. It is far too long and will not convert sceptics, but fans will be thrilled.
- Performances: 7.5/10
- Direction: 7/10
- Screenplay: 7/10
- Score: 6.5/10
- Cinematography: 7.5/10
- Entertainment Value: 7/10
- Overall score: 7/10
Star rating: 3.5/5
Verdict badge: One for Fans
One-line verdict: A lavish, frightening return for Isawuru that tests your patience as much as your faith.
Watch the Official Trailer
Return to Muwonleru with the official trailer.
Did you grow up with the original Agbara Nla, and does the new version live up to it? Share your spoiler-free thoughts.