Dark October is a 2023 Nigerian film executively produced by Linda Ikeji and released to Netflix on 3 February 2023. The film is centered on true story of the lynching of four young students at the University of Port Harcourt, popularly known as Aluu Four lynching, the four were falsely accused of theft in Aluu area of Port Harcourt, and they were all lynched. The film which aims at documenting the events that led to their killings and the aftermath of the event features new actor casts like Chuks Joseph, Munachi Okpara, Kem-Ajieh Ikechukwu, Kelechukwu Oriaku and others.
The cast includes several up-and-coming actors from Lagos, including Olaide Oyeneyin who portrays the main character with her fiery determination and strength in the face of hardship.
Dark October Synopsis
Based on actual event, Dark October tells the story of four university students in Nigeria, who went to a particular area in search of a debtor who owed one of the. Unfortunately, the debtor raised a false alarm and alleged that the boys came to rob him of his valuables, mobs then paraded the boys as thieves and lynched them, this mob attack however sparked a nationwide crisis.
“Inspired by true events” is what the title card of the film reads and indeed it is. Directed by Toka McBaror, the moviedramatises the October 2012 Nigerian Aluu Four lynching. Four men, Lloyd Toku, Ugonna Obuzor, Tekena Elkanah, and Chiadika Biringa, were falsely accused of stealing in the Aluu community. Then all four of them were lynched. The event shocked the country and made people aware of extrajudicial killings.
The film opens with a shot of a half-naked man who has been beaten up badly
He is disoriented, heavily injured with blood oozing from his wounds, and looks scared. It’s a haunting shot that makes viewers realize the gravity of the incident the film is trying to portray. But the film doesn’t jump into the point about jungle justice it is trying to make right away. It first builds up the four characters who were involved in the lynching.
All of them are college students who dream of being world-famous rappers
In fact, the movie dedicates a good chunk of its runtime familiarizing the audience with the dreams and hopes of these innocent boys. It’s bittersweet because we know what’s coming. But that’s not it. The film doesn’t skimp out on showing the relationships these characters have with each other and with other people in their lives. We witness the deep friendships and the conflicts they have with others regarding their school work and dreams of being musicians.
Also, the movie makes the core conflict clear from the get-go. We are told that Uchenna, who went to London and brought back jeans and sneakers, sold them to Wisdom. But the latter didn’t pay Uchenna. So the four head up to Wisdom’s place to get the money. The first time they head there, two of them are warned about the perilous social situation of the area. A lady selling plantains warns them that they should get the food and go back to where they came from.
But the amount is too big to let go and Uchenna doesn’t want to be played for a fool. So the boys hire a bodyguard and head to Wisdom’s place in the early hours of the day to get their money. But things take a wrong turn in the dangerous community where Wisdom lives and the four of them get accused of theft. The people living there are incensed and no one believes the boys’ narrative.
Gradually, the situation escalates further and ends in mob justice as a horde of men brutally kills the students
The camera doesn’t shy away from showing the extreme violence inflicted on the boys. We see the blood, gore, wounds, and humiliation the students faced in crystal clarity. Overall, ‘Dark October’ is a haunting portrayal of real-life events where four innocent boys lost their lives. While it does feel that the film simplifies the circumstances and incident, the message about extrajudicial killing still works.
Ghostly Happenings Reported During Dark October True Story
As October draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to look back on one of the most bone-chilling real-life horror stories in recent memory. Dark October True Story is a terrifying tale of ghostly happenings and unexplainable events that occurred during the month of October.
The story began when residents living near the small town of Meltonville reported sightings of an eerie figure, an old woman with long white hair and glowing eyes. Witnesses also recounted hearing strange noises coming from the woods and nearby cemetery at night. Despite all this, no one was able to explain what was happening or who the mysterious figure might be. As reports spread throughout town, locals became increasingly fearful and rumors began to circulate about supernatural occurrences taking place during dark October nights.
Unexplained Phenomena From Dark October True Story
The tale of Dark October True Story is shrouded in mystery and horror. It began on a cold night in October, when a group of friends went out for a walk around the woods near their homes. What they experienced that night was something no one could have ever expected – an inexplicable phenomenon which could not be explained by science or logic.
From reports, it seems that the group were subject to various unexplainable sights and sounds during their walk. They heard strange voices coming from the shadows and saw strange moving lights amongst the trees. Some even reported seeing ghostly figures dancing around them as they ran away in fear. All of these experiences remain unexplained to this day, but it has become known as one of the most horrifying real-life events ever recorded.