Lies We Tell

Play trailer

2:19

Lies We Tell

2023

1h 29m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Ireland, 1864. Newly-orphaned heiress MAUD RUTHYN becomes ward of her notorious uncle, SILAS RUTHYN. Maud, grief-struck and proud, rejects support from her two trustees, Dr. BRYERLY and CAPTAIN ILBURY, and welcomes Silas, his children EMILY and EDWARD, and governess MADAME to her isolated manor. But the arrival of Maud's estranged family is in fact a malign home invasion. Silas plans to secure her inheritance for himself, and compel Maud to forfeit her position by marrying her cousin Edward--or dying. Threatened, betrayed, and outnumbered by Silas and his allies, teenaged Maud now has to fight for her birthright. Instead of breaking her, the escalating danger sparks gambit after gambit against her charming, dangerous uncle---and a final, murderous showdown. A subversive take on J.S. Le Fanu's gothic sensation novel: our Maud is anything but a victim.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Oct 13, 2023

3/5

The film feels brighter and bolder than would best suit the material. Happily, O’Casey’s strong presence offers much compensation.

Go to Full Review

Leslie Felperin

Guardian

Oct 11, 2023

4/5

It insightfully reworks some classic feminist literary notions, filtered through a very 21st-century approach to period material with its unsettling score, jittery editing and nods to horror tropes.

Go to Full Review

Fionnuala Halligan

Screen International

Jul 19, 2023

A singular performance by young talent Agnes O’Casey in the lead role gives this pretty period piece a serrated edge.

Go to Full Review

Graeme Tuckett

The Post NZ

May 21, 2025

4/5

A smart and acerbic piece of writing, beautifully put together and performed.

Go to Full Review

Kevin Harley

Radio Times

Jan 30, 2025

4/5

O'Casey delivers a compelling twist on the Victorian heroine, projecting controlled survivalist instincts in every withering stare.

Go to Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Sep 17, 2024

Though it remains within the bounds of old-fashioned period melodrama, Lies We Tell is pretty strong stuff…maybe a little too strong for those who expect something comparatively cozy...

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Kashgar A

@AllFunAndGames Aug 18, 2026

I haven’t read the novel so I don’t know how much this version deviates from it, but I found this movie to be a bit of a hard slog, with no real payoff at the end. The heroine of the story is as unlikeable as every other character in the story and I’m not really sure why she keeps those who have wronged her so substantially around when she regains the upper hand. Altogether forgettable

See more

Julie C

@RT81239458 Jul 17, 2026

Brilliant. Emotionally accurate testament to the brutalities of womanhood under patriarchy.

See more

Ned N

@Nedskape Jul 9, 2026

The villains are all overplayed and the supposed heroine is underplayed. Like a block of wood, she sleeps while villains creep, apparently so brain-dead she does not realize she's being mentally and physically groped by uncle and cousin. No reaction whatever to seeing the other two couples fornicating in her house. So proper. So properly daft. If this is the standard for riveting entertainment in 2026 then the film world has slipped a cog in its moral values. Good night and good luck. Did not watch after the rape.

See more

Noel F

@RT75607646 Jun 21, 2026

Great concept for a thriller but feels anticlimactic given how much the main character is made to endure.

See more

Boast A

@RT99507563 Jun 12, 2026

I had to stop it part way through, as it's quite traumatic. However, so extremely well done, I watched it all. Fantastic.

See more

Jovana M.

@J_loves_movies May 22, 2026

What a tragic family drama full of suspense! Great watch - Ending was quite satisfying.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Lisa Mulcahy

Director

Agnes O'Casey

Maud

David Wilmot

Silas

Chris Walley

Edward

Holly Sturton

Emily

Grainne Keenan

Madame

The Stepdaughter 2

%

%

The Stepdaughter 2

Watchlist

Deep Water

35%

25%

Deep Water

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Deep Water

The Origin of Evil

93%

84%

The Origin of Evil

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Origin of Evil

Never Too Far Away

%

%

Never Too Far Away

Watchlist

The Weekend

81%

%

The Weekend

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Lies We Tell: Trailer 1

2:19

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Ireland, 1864. Newly-orphaned heiress MAUD RUTHYN becomes ward of her notorious uncle, SILAS RUTHYN. Maud, grief-struck and proud, rejects support from her two trustees, Dr. BRYERLY and CAPTAIN ILBURY, and welcomes Silas, his children EMILY and EDWARD, and governess MADAME to her isolated manor. But the arrival of Maud's estranged family is in fact a malign home invasion. Silas plans to secure her inheritance for himself, and compel Maud to forfeit her position by marrying her cousin Edward--or dying. Threatened, betrayed, and outnumbered by Silas and his allies, teenaged Maud now has to fight for her birthright. Instead of breaking her, the escalating danger sparks gambit after gambit against her charming, dangerous uncle---and a final, murderous showdown. A subversive take on J.S. Le Fanu's gothic sensation novel: our Maud is anything but a victim.

Director: Lisa Mulcahy
Producer: Ruth Carter
Screenwriter: Elisabeth Gooch, Sheridan Le Fanu, Elisabeth Gooch
Distributor: Quiver Distribution
Production Co: Blue Ink Films, Fís Éireann/Screen
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 13, 2024
Runtime: 1h 29m
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings