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Logging onto Netflix, there might be a title that has caught the eyes of curious viewers and made them think it sounded similar to the streamer's various true crime documentaries. However, it couldn't be further from the case, and it's leaving viewers in shock, and not in a good way. Searching the title online will pull up recent negative reviews from Netflix forums and Facebook pages, with many saying they couldn't believe what they had just watched was a real movie.
However, what they had watched was, in fact, real. The Paradise Murders is a 2025 Lifetime movie that was recently added to the Netflix library and has been climbing the streamer's Top 10 list ever since. While yes, it may not be the most polished or best movie in the world, if viewed in the right perspective, it might also be one of the streamer's best and perhaps unintentionally funniest guilty pleasure movies to date.
The Paradise Murders is a Bizarre, Twisty Romp
There is quite a bit that goes down in the film, so here is a brief rundown before truly diving deeper. The Paradise Murders is the story of the workaholic Emma (Kayla Raelle) and suspiciously romantic Jake (Mo Sehgal), who try to reconnect at a resort Emma frequently went to as a child. There, they meet Sarah (Taija James) and Tom (Christopher Dover) and are instantly friendly toward them, as they appear to be perfect.
Of course, this is all a facade, and it comes with consequences. Sarah is found dead by the hotel pool, sending the vacation into chaos. Although they try to move past it, there are secrets and bodies throughout the hotel that threaten to come to light.
The Many Bewildering Elements of The Paradise Murders
There's a lot to unpack with The Paradise Murders, from the wildly European yet somehow local bartender Lee (James Wiles) to Sarah and Tom's decision to continue their romantic vacation at a place where someone died. The way that Tom, when questioned about his role in everything that's gone down, tries to defend himself might as well be waving every red flag he could physically hold; it's that comical. Not to mention, the queen that is Isla (Boyana Avdjieva), with the bobbiest bob and the most exaggerated rich American woman accent she could muster.
The film is constantly right at the intersection between campy and infuriating, the latter of which rises with each police interrogation scene because there are only so many of these scenes in a 90-minute movie one can take. At the same time, it's also hilarious when it flashes back to scenes it thinks the viewer forgot about 10 minutes ago or when each performer delivers their lines like they're at the first table read for the project.
Once the finale rolls around, the villain twist (if one can call it that) is what truly sends it over the edge into potential satire territory. The reveal is so corny and bizarre that, even though it's fairly obvious once the film gets going, the viewer just kind of has to sit back and watch it happen. This is even when the villain monologues for far too long about his ultimate, terrible plan and the backstory behind it, none of which feels properly set up, and the horrible way it all wraps up. It's absolute cinema.
The Filmmaking Philosophy Behind The Paradise Murders
Let's just get things straight: objectively, The Paradise Murders is not a great movie. At the same time, though, it's not trying to compete with the likes of Seven or other acclaimed thrillers. Lifetime movies such as this are notorious for their melodramatic plots and tongue-in-cheek performances. There was a period in the early to mid-2010s where the brand attempted to be more serious, with fare such as Flowers in the Attic and even an Angela Bassett-directed Whitney Houston biopic among its offerings. However, it has since reverted to the sensationalist dramas and thrillers that made it a staple of cable television.
“People love a great story,” said Rob Sharenow, former Lifetime executive vice president, to The Washington Post in 2015. “And I think at their heart, Lifetime movies are always about great drama and pure storytelling. That’s what it is, as simple as that.”
This is what many might be getting wrong when going into The Paradise Murders. It is not supposed to be a high-class thriller. It's supposed to be something cheesy to put on while having a drink and maybe passing more than a few quips about its ridiculousness. If that is the mindset that the viewer has going into it, perhaps they will have a better time with it than if they were expecting a straightforward drama. The latter is the mindset many online seem to have when turning it on on Netflix, leading to the idea that there can't be any fun had with the film.
Ultimately, The Paradise Murders might not be for everyone. Watching Lifetime movies simply for the guilty pleasure and fun aspect of it is certainly an acquired taste. However, if it is up anyone's speed and one can find humor in it, grab a drink of choice and maybe some takeout, and indulge in this terrible couple's vacation on Netflix.
