Rattlesnake is a 1995 action film written and directed by
Amaka Igwe
Amaka Igwe (2 January 1963 – 28 April 2014) was a Nigerian filmmaker and broadcasting executive. Igwe was the owner oTop Radio90.9 Lagos and Amaka Igwe Studios. She was recognized as one of the second-generation filmmakers who helped begin ...
and produced by Austin Awulonu. It was Amaka Igwe's first foray into making a feature length film and was made in 3 parts.
It features Francis Duru, Okechukwu Igwe, Nkem Owoh, Anne Njemanze and Ernest Obi.
Synopsis
''Rattlesnake'' tells the story of Ahanna Okolo who loses his father under suspicious circumstances as a child and ventures into a life of crime. Following the death of his father, Ahanna's uncle becomes his stepfather as he marries his mother. Ahanna's uncle sends Ahanna and his siblings to the village while he takes over Ahanna's father's property in Lagos. Ahanna ventures into crime and fends for his siblings with the proceeds of his criminal dealings. He goes on to lead a double life as a respectable businessman and an armed robber. He had however become a respectable member of the society when his dealings were exposed.
Cast
*
Francis Duru
Francis Duru (born July 27, 1969) is a Nigerian actor who in 2007 received the ''United Nations Ambassador of Peace award'' for his positive influence on the youths. In 2010 Duru was appointed as the interim president of the Actors Guild of N ...
as young Ahanna Okolo
*
Nkem Owoh
Nkem Owoh (born 7 February 1958) is a Nigerian actor and comedian. In 2008, he won the African Movie Academy Award for "Best Actor in a Leading Role" for his role in the Nigerian film, "''Stronger than Pain"''.
Early life
Nkem Owoh was born in E ...
as Odinaka, Ahanna's uncle
*Sunny McDon as Ahanna's father
*Ebele Uzochukwu as Ahanna's mother
*
Anne Njemanze
Anne Njemanze, is an actress in Nigerian cinema. She is most notable for the roles in the films ''Domitila'', ''Tinsel'', ''Ìrètí'' and ''Colourless.''
Personal life
She was married to fellow Nollywood actor Segun Arinze, which later became ...
* Okechukwu Igwe as older Ahanna Okolo
* Ernest Obi as Sango
*
Julius Agwu
Julius Agwu (born April 7, 1973) is a Nigerian stand-up comedian, actor, singer and MC. Julius Agwu is the MD/CEO of Reellaif Limited, music, and movie production company. He is also an entertainment consultant and motivational speaker. He is the ...
as young Peter
* Ejike Methuselah as older Peter
*Remy Ohajianya as Peter's father
*
Bob-Manuel Udokwu
Bob-Manuel Obidimma Udokwu (born 18 April 1968) is a Nigerian actor, director, producer and politician. In 2014, he received the ''Lifetime Achievement'' award at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards. He was nominated for Best Actor in a suppo ...
*
Uche Odoputa
Uche Odoputa is a Nollywood actor and television personality.
Early life
Uche Odoputa is from Orlu, Imo state
Imo State ( ig, Ȯra Imo) is a States of Nigeria, state in the South East (Nigeria), South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria ...
*Okey Okoronkwo
*Tony One Week
*
Stella Damasus
Stella Damasus (born April 24, 1978) is a Nigerian actress and singer. She was nominated for ''Best Actress in a Leading Role'' at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009. She won the Award for Best Actress at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards in ...
as Peter's sister
*
Genevieve Nnaji
Genevieve Nnaji (; born on 3 May 1979) is a Nigerian actress, producer, and director. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2005, making her the first actor to win the award. In 2011, she was honoured as a ...
*
Chris Okotie
Christopher Oghenebrorie Okotie (born 16 June 1958) is a Nigerian televangelist and the pastor of the Household of God Church International Ministries, a Pentecostal congregation in Lagos since February 1987.
Personal life
Okotie was born to Fra ...
Production and release
''Rattlesnake'' is a biographical film which tells the story of a man named Big Fish who was regarded as one of Amaka Igwe's childhood cultural heroes. He was the toast of many until his death when his real story as an armed robber was revealed.
It is described as the first
Nollywood
Nollywood is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term dates back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history of evolving meanings and contexts, there ...
attempt at making an action film.
It was listed as one of the 100 greatest foreign-language films.
''The Last Operation'' was made as a sequel to ''Rattlesnake''.
Remake
Charles Opaleke of Play Networks Africa obtained the rights to Rattlesnake, made and released the remake titled ''
Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story'' in November 2020.
In a review by Precious Nwogu of Pulse Nigeria, the remake was said to "pale in comparison to the original in terms of the depth of the original's plot and themes".
But despite the storyline criticism, the acting of main character (played by
Stan Nze
Stanley Ebuka Nzediegwu (born 15 May 1989) known professionally as Stan Nze is a Nigerian actor known for his role in the 2020 remake of Amaka Igwe's ''Rattlesnake.'' Stan won the 2022 AMVCA Award under the 'Best Actor in Drama' category for his ...
) was critically acclaimed.
References
{{Reflist
Nigerian action drama films