The Lie

R

2018

1 hr. 37 min.

Mystery & Thriller

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List

45%

80 Reviews

Tomatometer

33%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

A man and his wife fall into a web of lies and deceit when they try to cover up their teenage daughter's horrific crime.

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Critics Consensus

Queasily compelling without ever truly coming together, The Lie won't fool many viewers seeking worthwhile horror fare.

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J M

This is an overwrought, overacted and unconvincing melodrama that spirals out of control like a snowball speeding downhill collecting contrivance after contrivance until reaching its eye-rolling finale. The initial first moments actually tempt us with a potentially interesting, suspenseful set-up, but it quickly becomes one of those movies where the script requires the characters to make the stupidest, most inane choices possible, because if they acted like normal human beings, the film would be 23 minutes long. A small, racially insensitive moment in the middle of the film feels particularly egregious and totally unnecessary. And not to give too much away, but I'm getting a little tired of movies that seem to exist only for the sake of having a twist ending. I suppose the enormous success of THE SIXTH SENSE back in '99 has inspired countless filmmakers to try to top one another with the most amazing twist ending imaginable - unfortunately 99.99% of them are unsatisfying and pretentious. I suppose one could ponder while watching this to what degree parents could or should go to protect their children, but King is such a spoiled brat here in a disappointingly one-note performance, it defeats the purpose. - Jeff Marshall, Movie Blogger (Facebook)

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/18/24

Full Review

Lakatos J

Have you ever watched a movie where you're waiting for it to get better, but it doesn't? The story starts off well, but it seems like the writer wanted to wrap it up quickly, as if she ran out of ideas. There are parts where the actions are unclear, as if some important scenes were cut out. Overall, it was a waste of time to watch it.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/24

Full Review

D G

Let's conjure up a plot twist then attempt to write an entire movie to accommodate such twist. Result is predictable.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/16/24

Full Review

Katie T

*spoilers!!!!!* I have so many issues with this movie dear god... The characters are SO unlikable like a insane amount of unlikable. Especially kayla. Some specific scenes made me want to vomit like : -Kayla's dad looking at Britney like that SHE'S A TEENAGER. -Kayla's dad running away and not even attempting to look anymore or call 911.(they literally could've saved it and Kayla would've told him it was a joke and a bad plan) -the cop saying "the girl was pretty hot" 🤢🤢🤢 -literally every choice that Kayla and her parents make. -the uncomfortable shot of a dead body (obviously it's fake but still) -the uncomfortable drowning and stalking and murder scene -the parents washing the car off 🤢 -THE SCENE WHERE KAYLA SHOWS HER FATHER HER SELF HARM SCARS AND THE MOTHER SAID AND I QUOTE: "she started a few months after you left. I had her talk to someone but she didn't stop. .. So I don't know what to do " UM EXCUSE ME?!?!?!?! TAKE AWAY WHAT SHE'S USING AND GET HER INTO PERMANENT THERAPY. I had very high hopes for this movie just to have them all crushed. I don't know if the point was to absolutely loathe the characters but... If it was then they did their job. I will say Joey kings acting was really good and I would love to see her do more serious roles (possibly in a horror movie thriller?)I just hated her character. I did love the surprise ending until it got disgustingly uncomfortable.one and a half stars is GENEROUS. All in all I would never recommend this movie to anyone ever.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/24

Full Review

Alejandra C

WORST MOVIE. I wasted my time watching this. The story and acting was awful and I couldn't believe that it ended when it did. This was a joke and such a bad movie. I wish I could give negative stars.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/24

Full Review

Dave D

We enjoyed the movie, especially the ending, which surprised us. The premise was believable, the acting good, especially the mother. The daughter was obnoxious, but that was the whole point of the character

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

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Veena Sud

Director

Peter Sarsgaard

Jay

Joey King

Kayla

Mireille Enos

Rebecca

Cas Anvar

Sam Ifrani

Dani Kind

Trini

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Kate Erbland

indieWire

Too stupid to be the hard-hitting drama it was first sold as and too self-important to be the black comedy it really should be, Sud's film is a master class in bad decision-making, improbable choices, and overwrought acting.

Rated: D+

Oct 16, 2020

Full Review

A.A. Dowd

AV Club

Still, after roughly 90 minutes of unbelievable behavior and botched suspense, the twist ending is too audaciously ridiculous to entirely resist. You'll scream, but not in fear.

Rated: C-

Oct 14, 2020

Full Review

Brian Tallerico

The Playlist

The actual lie is that anyone will find this entertaining.

Rated: D

Oct 13, 2020

Full Review

Jordy Sirkin

Jordy Reviews It

A sort of cautionary tale, the film is an extremely bleak story that spirals out of control, with an ending that packs a shocking punch.

Feb 22, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

I still enjoyed the meat of the movie, the committed performances, and a few scenes of genuinely good tension. Unfortunately it ends with one of the most ho-hum, nonchalant reveals imaginable.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 23, 2022

Full Review

Annlee Ellingson

CineWomen

It’s frustrating that Jay and Kayla don’t do the most obvious thing. ... But other than puzzlingly eschewing that option, Sud’s script and controlled use of focus compellingly build tension."

Aug 17, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

A man and his wife fall into a web of lies and deceit when they try to cover up their teenage daughter's horrific crime.

Director: Veena Sud
Executive Producer: Aaron Barnett, Jeanette Volturno
Screenwriter: Veena Sud
Production Co: Blumhouse Television, MAD DOG FILMS
Rating: R (Brief Sexuality|Some Violence|Language Throughout)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 6, 2020
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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