Lies and Deceit aka Mentiras a Spanish mystery thriller is now out on Netflix. It is a remake of the British series Liar. Curro Novallas has directed and penned the screenplay. The show stars Ángela Cremonte as Laura Munar and Javier Rey as Xavier Vera in the lead roles. The rest of the cast includes Paco Tous, Miquel Fernández, Clara Segura, Eva Llorach, and Manuela Velasco. There are 6 episodes of 45-50 minutes each with English dubbing and subtitles.
The synopsis reads, “A literature teacher seeks justice against a surgeon she claims date raped her, while he vehemently denies her accounts of the encounter.”
Netflix’s Lies and Deceit Review Contains No Spoilers
Laura Munar teaches at a high school where a single father and surgeon, Xavier Vera’s son studies. After Laura’s breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Xavier asks her out on a dinner date, and she agrees. The date goes well but doesn’t end up well for Laura. The next day, Laura tells her sister that Xavier drugged and raped her post-dinner. Xavier refutes the allegations and says that everything was consensual.
In these 6 episodes, we find out who’s lying and telling the truth. Laura’s accusations against Xavier change their lives completely. People around them pick sides. Who’s telling the truth, and who’s lying? Did Xavier really rape Laura? Is Laura lying to frame him falsely? Who’s the main culprit? You have to watch the show to know the answers.
Spanish thriller Lies and Deceit on Netflix is a story we have seen many times. But the narrative is set in a very intriguing manner. The makers didn’t waste time in bringing in the main plot. So you are curious to know how they will reveal the answers. The first three episodes are quite well-made. As a viewer, you think you’re shown both sides. But there’s more than what meets the eye.
The makers reveal the main culprit halfway through the show. The remaining few episodes are utilised to prove the person guilty. We all know that rape cases, especially when both the people are drunk, are not easy to investigate. Both Laura and Xavier try their best to prove their innocence and blame each other for spreading lies.
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Along with Laura and Xavier, the show also focuses on another couple. The couple seems happily married with kids. But their marriage is also full of lies and deceit. Curro Novallas has shown us two different sides of people in dating and relationships/marriage with one title.
Ángela Cremonte, as Laura Munar, is quite strong and unwilling to give up, even if people doubt her story. Cremonte plays Laura with conviction, who wants justice for herself, even if it costs everything. Actor Javier Rey plays the charming, well-behaved and polite doctor Xavier Vera. Xavier is nice to everyone around him. Both the characters have a dark past. Once the past angle is touched upon, you’re again confused about who should be trusted.
Lies and Deceit Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, the latest Spanish thriller is worth watching. It highlights everything that can go on a date, the importance of consent, lies, and how justice is not easily served every time. The story is quite familiar, but the execution is quite gripping. Once you start watching it, you don’t want to stop until you seek answers.
The show is now streaming on Netflix.
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Was hard to make it through the first episode!
That’s no lie!
This reviewer is simply simple; the series…SUCKED big time. A child could have written the script.
I don’t think it worked at all. We learned at the end that he raped about 17 women. She was so relentless that I started to hate her and thought of her as a troublemaker. It was never fully explained why his wife committed suicide. Some of the subplots were unneccesary especially his son and his relationship with a fellow student. It was never explained why she broke up with her boyfriend and why he, in turn, has an affair with her sister. The ending is disappointing as we don’t know how he dies. Did he commit suicide ? She ends up laughing and smiling which is absurd after all she went through.
Some shows don’t impress us so I understand your point of view. However, they did answer why his wife killed herself. The relationship and cheating part was just another lies and deceit story.
Agree; so much STUPID in this series. And since Laura looked too much like Marjorie Taylor Greene, I hated her and still so, for that stupid reason alone.
exactly, it is the most stupid movie I have seen in a long time, nothing make sense, the plots are totally idiotic, the people unpredictable, the rapes don’t make sense, why would a handsome doctor need to tape anybody? and the blonde one, I wanted to slap her face, she was so obsesssed, she needed therapy
The reason they showed a handsome doctor as a rapist is because criminals and sick-minded people can also “look good”. Appearance has nothing to do with someone’s character.
Uh yea, just look at Ted Bundy 🤣
Who did the English voice over for Xavier vera
Agree, stupid series, I realize he raped numerous women, but she was so obsessed with him, she got away with breaking in, stealing, carrying her ex-husband’s (cop) gun and nothing ever happened to her. I wanted to slap her too, she was so annoying,
It’s a little sad to see so many women upset at another woman for relentlessly pursuing a RAPIST who raped 17 women. No wonder the cops don’t care about us when we report sexual assaults. We don’t even care about each other.
Exactly. The fight to prove that someone raped you is never easy. One isn’t annoying because they’re fighting for justice. I wish people understood what the show was trying to show.
You wanted to like her because someone who is a rapist deserves to get caught. But no court would ever be able to use what evidence she uncovered. She stole it, broke into a private residence, harassed others. Once his case was dismissed what she was doing would have turned against her. She’d be slapped with harassment law suit immediately. And the cops would never have been so on her side, She came across as obsessed and deranged from the start. Cause she was off kilter. She would have lost her teaching job to be around children easily. It never made sense and ridiculously unbelievable. A great story line that was totally ruined. I always have empathy for women who have been hurt and taken advantage of, but this character I wanted to strangle. I was hoping they both drowned in the end.
It was such an unrealistic and absurd movie plot.
1. Why would a handsome, reputable man want to rape anyone when he can easily sleep with her?
(specially the blonde who invites him in, drinks wine with him and kisses him first!). Who would enjoy
raping an unconscious woman when he can easily sleep with her and benefit from mutual participation
in the act? You say, because he was sick. Maybe, but he was definitely clever. Who would rape 19
women and tape all the scenes thinking that he can get away with it? And more ridiculously watching the
recorded movie over in a shed in his mother’s house?
2. His plan of raping the detective was also bizarre. In this movie, people break in to others’ houses left and
right, without being noticed. This smart guy even enters the detective’s house who was on his case, knew
exactly which glass of juice the detective will have and at what time. He was so precise that as soon as the
drug knocked the detective unconscious, he entered the house and took advantage of her. No neighbor,
no security camera, nothing.
3. The doctor was smart. Why he didn’t get a restraining order against the blonde and save himself a lot
of trouble after the case was dismissed? In this movie, both the plaintiff and defendant contact each other, see each other and threaten each other at will.
4. I know this topic is beaten to death but where is the line between a consensual sex and rape? I have read
a lot about this topic and the law makes it so complicated that the poor guy is so intimated to approach the
woman when the time comes even if he is given super big green signals, he was kissed first and his clothes
were taken off first, etc. At any moment, he could violate the boundary and commit rape! Even if he
is super careful, just the thought of the possibility of being accused of rape, will render the man impotent.
Even he can overcome all the difficulties, at any time he must be able to put on the brakes if he senses a
sign of discontent or refusal from his partner! This is not my idea of making love…it is Squid Game!!!
and the list goes on and on. I give the movie -2 stars (0 for this movie and 2 minus from the score I give
to this director for his next movie!)