A Widow's Game Review
Director: Carlos Sedes
Date Created: 2025-05-30 19:00
2.5
A Widow’s Game Review: La Viuda Negra is a Spanish thriller film directed by Carlos Sedes and starring Ivana Baquero as Maje, a young widow whose husband is found dead under dramatic conditions. Tristán Ulloa and Carmen Machi join her as Salva and detective Eva, and Pedro Casablanc, Marta Belenguer, and Joel Sánchez appear in supporting roles that reinforce the dark and emotional atmosphere of the film.
The story is inspired by true events and gets off to a grim start with the murder of a man in the car park of a shopping mall in Valencia. He had been stabbed seven times, and when the police begin their inquiry, the prime suspect is the man’s own wife, Maje, a shy, sweet-faced woman who turns out to be very much more complicated than at first appeared.
A Widow’s Game Review
From the beginning, it’s really not difficult to realise that this film A Widow’s Game, is not trying to be your average “whodunit.” It’s not worried about figuring out who did it — that’s settled pretty early on. Instead, the film tries to uncover the reason why the murder was committed and how everything fits into that.
While the idea is good, but in my opinion, I didn’t think the movie did its best to make the story compelling. The story is pretty simple — a lying husband, a mistress, and a woman who could be more dangerous than she looks. It’s the type of story that we’ve all heard before, and the movie doesn’t do much to innovate on that, either.
One thing that I did enjoy about the Spanish movie A Widow’s Game was the acting of Ivana Baquero. She did great as Maje — calm, mysterious, and hard to read. There is something about her that is appealing. Even when you know she is not going to be the innocent one, you want to know her. That could be the best part of the film.
Carmen Machi, too, as the detective, performs adequately. Her persona is stern and serious, and I liked the seriousness with which she approached the case. But the film does nothing for her apart from her regular role. It would have been good to learn more about her personal life or views.
Now, coming to the cinematography, Netflix’s A Widow’s Game looks lovely. Camera and lighting are excellent, particularly in scenes such as the cafè dialogue, where tension is gradually created. The score is sufficient in mood without going overboard. The movie itself is professional-looking and clean.
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But to me, the problem is that the style dominates the story. Too much time is spent on lengthy scenes where nothing really happens. The movie tries to create a dark and enticing atmosphere, but there is also a point where it is just slow. I do not object to slow-burning thrillers, but only where they are worth it somewhere down the line — and this one is not quite that great.
There were a few things I disliked about A Widow’s Game movie. The first one is that it is too slow, especially in the middle. There are some scenes that are too lengthy without adding much to the story. I was distracted and waiting for something to finally happen. Second, there is a sub-plot about the detective and her police chief not getting along, but it goes nowhere. It appears to have been added only to provide some extra conflict, but it didn’t actually impact the story.
Lastly, I was disappointed in the ending. Given all the build-up, the final scenes felt too laid-back. I was hoping for something more — a surprise or a bigger emotional impact. But it just ends on something that’s “just okay” and leaves me with a half-hearted feeling.
Spanish Movie A Widow’s Game Review: Summing Up
Overall, I’d say that the movie has its moments. The acting is phenomenal, especially by Ivana Baquero, and the movie is much to look at in general. If you like slow-burning thrillers that are more dependent on character than on action, you might still be able to find something to enjoy. But it didn’t reach its full potential for me. The plot is too one-sided, the pace too slow, and the ending not dramatic enough. It tries to be deep and psychological and ends up too superficial.
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