A Widow's Game

I don't get the rave reviews. It's an ok show to watch while doing something else. However I watched it with full undivided attention. Honestly it's a tad boring. At the end I was like ok that's it? Ok so we are done now? Ok cool.

This is based on a true story but it's a story that's been told a thousand times. I kept waiting for some twist or turn or excitement but nope. Just your regular run of the mill crime. I wouldn't even expect this to be a main plot point in a soap opera. This doesn't bring any intrigue or thrills. Honestly a mediocre true crime podcast is better than this movie.

PROS it's watchable and the acting is good and everyone seemed like real people. This is a breath of fresh air from Hollywood where everyone is great looking and is overly dramatic. CONS you find out pretty early on that the widow is a lying trash person. And soon after you find out everything else. The rest is just watching cops do their job. And it's not thrilling. It's just like ok welp i hope they wrap this up soon cuz I've got bed.

EXTREMELY forgettable, but a decent background movie to have on that doesn't require a lot of attention. Honestly a regular Law and Order SVU episode is leaps and bounds better than this movie. Actually they've showed this plot on THAT show a hundred times but only better.

I am Spaniard so I have watched this one without subtitles, what is a plus.

So, If you love Spanish series like "El cuerpo en llamas", A window's game is for you. The movie is amazingly real as cruel the case it is.

First, the case is sad and at the same time makes you think about how cruel a woman can be.

Second, cast is superb. Great acting from Tristan Ulloa and Carmen Machi. Ivana Baquero is great too.

Last, the settings and production are superb. Pretty close to reality. Around 95% of the movie happened. Also the scenarios are real too.

So, overall an ugly crime, but a great movie. I mean, if you love true crime, this one is for you.

Netflix offers us a surprising offering, based on true events that shook Spain and Europe in 2017, based on Patraix's Black Widow. Directed by Carlos Sedes and starring Ivana Baquero, Carmen Machi, and Tristán Ulloa.

The film offers a powerful true crime thriller that captivates you as we learn about the brutality of the events and the underlying story of its two main perpetrators. The film is further enhanced by the excellent script and the decision to tell us from the perspective of its three protagonists, concluding with the unfolding of the events that saddened all of Spain in 2017.

Carlos Sedes's direction offers no grand extravaganzas, but it does employ an absolute seriousness when confronting the stories and the rawness of his characters. The director's work, rendered with a documentary essence, helps us truly capture the crime in its entirety, and we want to confront the events with complete unease and uncertainty. His leading trio plays an essential role in making everything work smoothly. Machi, Baquero, and Ulloa give their all to their characters, which means we see the true protagonists of reality in the skin of their cast.

Its two-hour running time, which may seem a bit long, really flies by once we're completely hooked on the events and the way it tells us everything behind the horrendous crime. The use of sound and narration are fundamental pillars that make Netflix's offering a pleasant and well-chosen pastime. The streaming platform surprises with a very interesting film that manages to pique our interest thanks to all its virtues and a story that is effective in every aspect, and whose director knows how to handle everything with the necessary caution, so that the necessary fiction never interferes with the reality of a brutal crime.

One of Netflix's pleasant surprises this 2025.

I watched this movie without knowing it was based on a true crime story.

By the way, the movie has no climax - it seems like from the very beginning you can figure out everything that is going to happen.

You can clearly understand the entire plot by the middle of the movie. So, in the end, I asked myself: what's the real problem with this film? If I stopped watching after the first 20 minutes, I would have already drawn all the conclusions.

The movie also includes some side stories that make no sense, like the detective's child having problems at school, or the policeman's death that has no real connection to the main plot.

Despite all that, I liked the lead detective's performance.

"A Widow's Game" was a compelling watch. As a true-crime enthusiast, I appreciated its deep dive into a real Spanish murder case I knew nothing about.

The actress playing María (Ivana Baquero) delivered a strong performance, skillfully portraying a manipulative character who exploited men's weaknesses in relationships. The film's overall story about manipulation in love was well-told.

My main critique is the lack of chronological clarity at times, which made following the sequence of events a bit challenging. Also, I would have liked to see real footage or photos of the protagonists at the end, which often enhances true-crime adaptations.

Despite these minor points, it's a worthwhile and thought-provoking film, recommended for fans of true crime and psychological thrillers.