REVIEW: Camila Mendes and Jessie T. Usher Are a Winning Pair in “Dangerous Lies”
Netflix’s new movie, Dangerous Lies is filled with a twisted web of clues that will keep you guessing until the final minutes. Starring Camila Mendes and Jessie T. Usher as Katie (Mendes) and her husband, Adam (Usher), respectively. Katie is a caretaker for an older gentleman, Leonard (Elliott Gould), while Adam is trying to find a job after dropping out of school. When Leonard offers Adam a job working for him, things seem to be turning around for the couple; all that soon goes out the window when Leonard unexpectedly passes away.
Out of jobs and back at square one, they’re unsure of their next move when they learn Leonard has left his entire fortune and home to Katie. Excited by the news, Katie and Adam move into Leonard’s house ready to start the next chapter in their lives and find themselves knee deep in a mystery that threatens their relationship and their lives.
Camila Mendes and Jessie T. Usher make quite the pair as Katie and Adam. Each actor took to their role with gusto and the end result is extremely convincing. You can’t help but feel for Mendes’ character, who is clearly trying to navigate a rollercoaster of emotions while trying to support Adam. Usher’s Adam will have you questioning his every move and whether his feelings for Katie are true. Their performances have me excited to see what these two will do in their next roles as the potential is there.
Jamie Chung, Sasha Alexander, and Cam Gigandet round out the cast and their characters are used well to help propel Katie and Adam’s story. Their characters were introduced logically, used in moments that felt right, and do their part to drive the story forward. Chung, Alexander, and Gigandet execute their roles effectively which contributes to a very entertaining suspense film.
Dangerous Lies has all the making of being an enjoyable thriller. As the mystery unfolds, director, Michael Scott, hits every mark, never overdoing it. Each scene is laid out to add to the story rather, with few filler scenes and unneeded storylines. The focus remains on the mystery and the couple trapped in the mystery.
The only negative is for some there may not be enough jump out of your seat moments. As someone who prefers not having to cover their eyes for the entire movie, I was pleased by how the film handled those moments. Dangerous Lies is worth checking out this weekend. It is a fun thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Grade: A-