"Dangerous Lies" is about as generic a title for a mystery movie, but this Netflix original movie truly is none of a thriller, with a tantalizing setup and a non indulging series of events leaving the viewers to guess the end. The ending feels flat and there is nothing to be intrigued of. It sounded brilliant on paper and in the trailer, but when it came to viewing, it felt that this movie could have been much better just like it's cast.

Another Netflix original movie which disappoints and falls flat from being a genuine mystery thriller.

My Rating : 2/5

A few months after the tragic events at the diner Katie Franklin (Camila Mendes - Riverdale) worked at, she finds a job as a caretaker to a wealthy elderly man in his rather large, empty Chicago estate. The two grow close, but when he unexpectedly passes away and names Katie as his sole heir, she and her husband Adam (Jessie T. Usher - The Boys) are pulled into a complex web of lies, deception, and murder. If she's going to survive, Katie will have to question everyone's motives - even the people she loves.

Dangerous Lies' main plot sounds intriguing, but fails on multiple levels. Especially because the film just feels so "been there done that". It's not only incredibly predictable, it also just lacks anything remarkably interesting. It all starts with the plucked-out-of-Riverdale looking diner, drizzled in pink neon lights, where a robbery goes wrong. Not only does it all look like your ordinary pop music video, it also sounds like it, with songs playing every now and then during the film. After a four month time jump, our happily married couple is still worrying about their finances and the most mysterious people start entering their new lives.

Mendes might be a fan favourite as the iconic Veronia Lodge in Riverdale, but clearly lacks the skills and maturity to pull off the emotion that is necessary to lift David Golden's feeble script to another level and save herself out of this train wreck. Golden, who has written about ten Christmas films for Hallmark, misses the mark and stacks cliché after cliché, until the formulaic and unsatisfying ending feels like you've been given a lump of coal. Together with director Michael M. Scott, both are clearly in over their heads and feel a bit lost when it comes to leveling up to a genre that's rather new to them.

If it wasn't for Rizzoli & Isles-star Sasha Alexander's professional and convincing work playing detective Chesler, the supporting cast consisting of former heartthrob Cam Gigandet (The Magnificent Seven) and Jamie Chung (The Gifted) would've been a complete waste of energy and anyone's time.

When trying to find some positives in a film of this kind, you go looking for the smallest things. Unfortunately the weak score and displeasing colour grading doesn't help with setting the mood in what could've been a decent thriller. The only pleasant technical aspect of the film is the charming house most of the story takes place in. Hardwood floors, an authentic old stained glass skylight and spacious rooms make this film a wee bit more pleasant to look at. Not quite sure if this was an actual location or a set build for the film, but what did get annoying was the amount of times the city of Chicago had to be mentioned, as if it was some sort of bizarre product placement by the bureau of tourism.

Despite all of its weaknesses, Dangerous Lies isn't boring. It's one of those Netflix films that looks appealing to the masses, and it also helps to have one of your own stars playing the lead in what will for sure keep the die hard Riverdale-fans out there entertained during this worldwide lockdown. As a '90s thriller this might've worked, but even for the streaming giant this low budget "teen-thriller" is unacceptable.

I don't believe for a minute that this is the #1 movie on Netflix! Funny how they list whatever they want us to watch in their list of top 10 trending movies!

This is maybe one of the worst movies I have ever seen and I'm not even sure I can finish it. The acting is terrible, the couple has no chemistry and it's just cringe to watch them kiss. So an old man leaves you his home and all his possessions. In that home you find a chest full of cash that isn't even $100k and they're trying to figure out how to launder it?! Really?! This couple behaves nothing like any normal person would that just inherited a large house and a lot of money. They caused all of the problems for themselves. This was an awful movie that you will spend the whole time saying "who would do that" and "oh come on"... Just a terrible movie that you should avoid watching at all costs! Such an irritating movie.