DANGEROUS LIES
A flawed Netflix mystery with strong lessons about truth and trust.
Should You Watch It?
Dangerous Lies gives you a morally serious mystery with an attractive surface. Its cinematography is compelling and professional, its visuals are striking, and Camila Mendes and Jesse T. Usher give believable performances. The story also clearly shows that dishonesty and violence produce painful consequences.
The cost is a slow, jumbled narrative. The script is poorly executed, and the final twists feel unbelievable and silly. The movie also includes strong violence, brief foul language, and a scene that implies marital sex.
If you are choosing for teenagers or adults who can handle those concerns, this flawed mystery offers worthwhile messages about truth, trust, and communicating with the people you love. For younger children, choose something else. For families with middle schoolers and older teens, watch it with discernment on Netflix.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESKatie is a broke caretaker in Chicago, struggling financially with her unemployed husband, Adam. Her life changes when her wealthy patient, Leonard, dies and leaves her a massive inheritance.
The unexpected gift quickly attracts the attention of the authorities, especially because Katie knew Leonard for only four months. As evidence begins to gather, Katie finds herself caught in a web of lies and starts questioning whom she can trust—including Adam.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means Dangerous Lies is watchable and polished but held back by serious flaws. The cinematography is the film’s standout feature, with striking visuals and a professional, creative look. The performances by Camila Mendes and Jesse T. Usher are also believable.
The story moves slowly, and the poorly executed script creates a jumbled narrative. The ending is especially weak, with final twists that feel unbelievable and borderline silly. The result is a good-looking, well-acted mystery that does not fully deliver on its promise.
The Worldview
The movie presents a strong moral worldview. Deceit and violence lead to severe negative consequences, while trust, truth, and honest communication are treated as essential. These are valuable themes for families and couples to discuss.
The film also contains mild humanist elements. Its central characters often look to themselves to solve their problems, and money frequently motivates their decisions. The movie’s moral lessons are worthwhile, but its answers remain focused largely on human choices rather than dependence on God.
The film’s central warning about dishonesty aligns with Scripture: “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral worldview where deceit and violence lead to severe negative consequences, and trust and truth are stressed, marred by light humanist elements where characters are often motivated by money and look to themselves as a solution to a problem
Foul Language
Two profanities (one use each of GD and OMG) and two light obscenities (a**, h***), one instance where a character says “jeez”
Violence
Strong violence includes a diner gets robbed, and the man is violently shouting and pointing a gun at a man while holding a woman against her will, a man is shown to be shot and lying on the ground, and later it’s revealed he died, the gunshot wound is visible but far away, a character gets knocked out with a cast iron pan after two hits to the head, another character is hit in the back of the head and is knocked out, several people are shot multiple times in the chest and die shortly after, mild gunshot wounds and blood are shown, and a character finds a rotting corpse
Sex
Married couple kisses passionately in the back of a car, and another scene briefly implies marital sex
Nudity
Brief upper-male nudity as man gets out of shower
Alcohol Use
Characters briefly drink beer to celebrate
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
The plot hinges on characters lying to one another.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Why do lies create consequences that continue long after the original deception? How does Scripture describe the value of truthfulness?
Proverbs 12:22 · Ephesians 4:25The characters struggle with whether they can trust the people they love. What helps build trust in a marriage or family?
1 Corinthians 13:6–7 · Ephesians 4:15How can financial pressure tempt people to make dishonest choices? What does Jesus teach about money and the heart?
Matthew 6:19–21 · 1 Timothy 6:9–10When a problem appears overwhelming, where do you instinctively look for help? What does Scripture say about relying on God rather than only yourself?
Proverbs 3:5–6 · Psalm 121:1–2The Final Word
Dangerous Lies is a polished but uneven mystery. Its strongest qualities are its cinematography, believable acting, and clear warning about deceit and violence. Its slow story and flawed ending limit the experience. For teenagers and adults who can handle the content, WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 13 AND UP.
