With more modernized concepts and diverse definitions of relationships, many films are boldly exploring concepts of love, freedom, manipulation, sexual intimacy, cheating, etc. One such movie is “A Widow’s Game”, directed by the famous Carlos Sedos, based on a true event. Let’s get into a detailed review and see if this new Netflix is Yay or Nay!
Infidelity vs Justice
“La Viuda Negra” revolves around the life of a newly widowed Maje. Her husband Arturo dies in a mysterious car hijack, and the attending detective of the Valencia Police, Eva, and her team believe this murder is a smart setup. Initially, she agrees to have an affair, but nothing regarding his death. They soon tap her phone as a security precaution, but realize that Maje is having relationships with not one but three men simultaneously, and any one of them can be the prime suspect and killer of Arthuro. So, what are Maje’s intentions? Is she the killer? Did police catch the criminal? The rest follows.
Vibe: Lies, Manipulation, and Justice Prevails
If the genre is manipulation & infidelity, then “A Widow’s Game” did justice to its nature. The heroine, Ivana as Maje, single-handedly commands the film, from being in an affair with one man to second and third, she shows her variations of emotions and manipulates them very smartly to suit her situations. However, the loose ends, like phone tapping at the very beginning of the whole scenario, make it easy for the police to catch the culprits.
The makers claim most of the film is based on the real event, i.e., both Maje and Salva Rodrigo got 22 & 17 years of jail time for their crime, which shows that justice prevails in the end for the Valencia police. If only they give the police more scope to investigate, otherwise, this is a very ordinary case of cheating and selfishness.
Crafting Characters
The film’s director is specialised in showcasing a story from different perspectives. He tried the same in “A Widow’s Game” as well, but it wasn’t suitable for such a short time length. However, the main leads Ivana Baquero, Carmen Machi, and Tristan Ulloa acted good to keep watching the drooping and predictable plot.
I think that within the first minutes, you will understand that the wife is cheating police will go into a serious investigation. As time moves, we’ll see the story more from Maje’s perspective, which doesn’t create any extra suspense, but a suffocated wife going on an extramarital affairs extravaganza for her selfish freedom of being rich.
Also Read….
And Just Like That Season 3; Is This Comedy-Drama Worth Watching?
Soundtrack and Suspense
The background score is nothing worth mentioning, dubbing in other languages is also meh, not suitable for many foreign fans. As for suspense, don’t expect too much, just go with a flow type of plot. There’s no special mystery to unfold; maybe the way they lined up the scenes might not create the vibe, but definitely a missed opportunity.
Final Verdict
Well, Adultery is not something we prefer to support purely on emotions, but this film fails to bring that suspense or significant impact. Well plot is quite predictable too, still you can watch for the heroine’s good acting, nothing more than that. A Widow’s Game is a So-So infidelity film that you can skip if you have something better to watch!
IMDb: 6.2/10 Common Sense Media: 3/5 My Rating: 2.8/5
Written by: Meghana Pinninti