Camila Mendes
Katie
Overview
After losing her waitressing job, Katie Franklin takes a job as a caretaker to a wealthy elderly man in his sprawling, 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 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.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
7 min readThe House That Lies Built
I’ll admit it: I watched Dangerous Lies at 2 a.m., the glow of my laptop screen the only light in the room, a half-empty bag of popcorn slowly going stale beside me. It’s the kind of movie you don’t so much choose as surrender to—the kind that arrives when you’re too tired to argue, too restless to sleep, and just desperate enough for the illusion of stakes. Netflix’s 2020 psychological thriller doesn’t ask for much.
It doesn’t demand your attention, your intellect, or even your suspension of disbelief. It just wants you to keep scrolling, to let the next twist unfold like a grocery-store tabloid headline: *Inheritance! Murder!
A Chest Full of Cash!* And yet, for all its flaws—or perhaps because of them—it lingers in the mind like the aftertaste of something just shy of poisonous. Something that might kill you, but oh, how sweet it tastes going down.
The film’s opening minutes are its most promising. Katie Franklin (Camila Mendes), a waitress drowning in debt, takes a job as a live-in caregiver for Leonard (Elliott Gould), a wealthy, reclusive old man in a Chicago mansion that feels like it was airlifted straight out of a gothic novel. The cinematography here is surprisingly lush, all neon-tinged shadows and inspired framing that makes the estate feel like a character in its own right.
Ronald Paul Richard’s camera lingers on the details: the way the light catches the dust motes in the air, the creak of the floorboards underfoot, the eerie stillness of a house that’s too big for the two people rattling around inside it. For a moment, you think you’re watching something that might actually have something to say about loneliness, about the strange intimacies that form between people who have nothing in common but proximity.
Leonard, with his wry smile and his quiet observations, feels like a man who’s lived a life full of secrets. Katie, with her exhaustion and her quiet desperation, feels like someone who’s just trying to keep her head above water.
Then Leonard dies. And that’s when the movie remembers it’s not a character study. It’s a thriller. A very dumb one.
The plot kicks into gear when Katie inherits Leonard’s entire estate—house, fortune, and all—and suddenly finds herself the target of every grifter, con artist, and opportunist in Chicago. There’s her husband Adam (Jessie T. Usher), whose motives are immediately suspect; Julia (Jamie Chung), a nurse with a shady past; Mickey Hayden (Cam Gigandet), a smarmy real estate developer with a penchant for monologuing; and Detective Chesler (Sasha Alexander), who shows up with the subtlety of a sledgehammer to announce that Leonard’s death might not have been natural.
The film’s central mystery—who killed Leonard, and why—should be the engine that drives the story forward. Instead, it’s the narrative equivalent of a car with its wheels spinning in mud. The twists are telegraphed miles away, the red herrings are about as subtle as a fire alarm, and the logic is so porous you could drive a truck through it.
Audience Opinions
Audience 5.2/10
"A forgettable thriller with a promising cast but weak execution and predictable twists."
Viewers appreciate the efforts of the lead actors, particularly Camila Mendes, who bring some energy to an otherwise formulaic plot. However, the story is criticized for its lack of originality, with many noting that the twists are telegraphed early and the pacing drags in places. latestnetflix.com's take is that the supporting cast is often described as underutilized, and the overall tone fails to build sustained tension.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performance Camila Mendes is frequently praised for her engaging and charismatic portrayal of the protagonist.
- Decent production value The film’s visual style and production design are noted as competent, giving it a polished look.
- Watchable for casual viewers Some find it an easy, if unremarkable, watch for a lazy afternoon or background entertainment.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story’s twists and turns are widely criticized as clichéd and easy to see coming.
- Weak pacing Many viewers feel the film drags in the middle, failing to maintain tension or momentum.
- Underdeveloped characters Supporting characters are often described as thinly written and forgettable, adding little to the story.
- Lack of originality The film is frequently compared to better thrillers, with viewers noting it feels like a rehash of familiar tropes.
- Disappointing payoff The ending is criticized as unsatisfying or anticlimactic, leaving viewers underwhelmed.
Recommended for
Fans of Camila Mendes Casual thriller viewers Netflix binge-watchers Light mystery seekers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Dangerous Lies: Netflix’s Twisty Thriller and Its Star-Studded Cast
Dangerous Lies (2020) arrived on Netflix as a slick, twist-packed thriller, but the behind-the-scenes story of its making is just as intriguing as the film’s on-screen deception. Directed by Michael M. Scott—best known for his work on TV movies and series like Cedar Cove—the film stars Riverdale’s Camila Mendes and The Boys’ Jessie T. Usher in a high-stakes game of secrets, inheritance, and murder. latestnetflix.com's view is that while the movie’s plot keeps viewers guessing, the production itself offers a few juicy details worth unpacking.
A Director with a TV-Movie Pedigree
Michael M. Scott, born in 1955, has built a career helming made-for-TV films and series, and Dangerous Lies fits neatly into that wheelhouse. His filmography includes projects like Trading Christmas (2011) and the Hallmark-style drama Cedar Cove (2013–2015), suggesting a knack for crafting tightly plotted, character-driven stories 
. While Dangerous Lies leans into darker territory than his usual fare, Scott’s experience with pacing and suspense likely helped shape the film’s brisk 96-minute runtime .
The movie’s tone—equal parts glossy and gritty—reflects Scott’s ability to balance mainstream appeal with thriller elements. Though he hasn’t directed a blockbuster, his work on Dangerous Lies proves he can handle a star-studded cast and a convoluted plot without losing the audience.
Camila Mendes and Jessie T. Usher: Chemistry and Challenges
Mendes, fresh off her breakout role as Veronica Lodge in Riverdale, took on the lead as Katie Franklin, a struggling caregiver who inherits a fortune—only to realize it comes with deadly strings attached. Her co-star, Jessie T. Usher (The Boys, Shaft), plays her husband, Adam, whose own secrets add layers to the film’s web of lies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYmhVjweON4
In a promotional interview, Mendes and Usher discussed the challenges of filming a thriller with so many twists. While they didn’t spill major behind-the-scenes drama, Mendes hinted at the fun of playing characters whose loyalties are constantly in question. "It’s a rollercoaster," she said in a YouTube clip, though the exact context of her quote isn’t clear from the snippet . Usher, meanwhile, praised the film’s ability to keep audiences guessing, calling it a "wild ride" .
The duo’s chemistry is one of the film’s strongest assets, even if some critics found the plot’s twists a bit too convoluted. Their dynamic—equal parts charming and suspicious—drives the story forward, making the eventual reveals all the more satisfying (or frustrating, depending on who you ask).
A Mixed Reception and Goofy Twists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJXDmf17nAs
Dangerous Lies didn’t exactly set the world on fire with critics. On SensCritique, a French review aggregator, the film holds a modest 4.3/10 rating based on 628 votes, with some viewers calling it "goofy" rather than genuinely thrilling . A YouTube video titled "Dangerous Lies Is Goofy - Let Me Explain" breaks down why the film’s logic often strains credibility, from its time-jump twists to its over-the-top villainy .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzJJo0whbJ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crLsanrskwk
That said, the movie’s campy charm might be part of its appeal. Netflix’s official trailer leans into the melodrama, with Mendes and Usher reacting to shocking reveals in true soap-opera fashion . The film’s ending, in particular, has sparked debate—so much so that a reaction video featuring Mendes and Usher dissecting the finale exists, proving that even the cast can’t resist the movie’s absurdity .
The Netflix Factor: A Streamer’s Playbook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlsk4fM19qc
As a Netflix original, Dangerous Lies fits the platform’s strategy of churning out mid-budget thrillers with recognizable faces. The film’s production value is solid, if not groundbreaking, and its streaming release ensured it reached a wide audience without the pressure of a theatrical run. The trailer alone racked up millions of views, capitalizing on Mendes’ Riverdale fame and Usher’s rising star power .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z4rjEFoPHI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO9-8Lvc9A4
Netflix’s marketing also leaned into the film’s twist-heavy nature, with reaction videos and spoiler-free reviews teasing just enough to hook viewers . Whether or not the movie holds up under scrutiny, it’s a prime example of how streaming services package and sell thrillers in the 2020s.
The Verdict: Style Over Substance?
Dangerous Lies won’t be remembered as a cinematic masterpiece, but it’s a perfectly serviceable thriller for a lazy weekend binge. The behind-the-scenes story is light on scandal or drama, but that might be part of its charm—sometimes, a movie is just a fun, twisty ride with a solid cast and a director who knows how to keep the plot moving.
For fans of Mendes and Usher, it’s a chance to see them in a different light (literally—no Riverdale or The Boys here). For thriller enthusiasts, it’s a reminder that not every twist needs to be Gone Girl-level to be entertaining. And for Netflix? It’s another notch in the belt of their ever-expanding library of binge-worthy content.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.