A Widow’s Game A.K.A. “La Viuda Negra” is a 2025 Spanish crime drama that premiered on 30th May 2025 and is currently streaming on Netflix. It is based on true events and written by Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira, David Orea, and Jon de la Cuesta and directed by Carlos Sedes.
The movie is rated 18+ and not suitable for viewers younger than 18. It runs for 2 hours and 2 minutes.
The Premise
On August 16th, 2017, Arturo Ferrer Puig — the husband of María Jesús — is found murdered. As the police look into the case, María’s seemingly perfect life begins to unravel, revealing a hidden double life riddled with infidelity, deceit, and manipulation.
The film is about love, deceit, greed, betrayal, forgiveness, murder, and manipulation.
Cast and Performances
Ivana Baquero as Maria Jesús
Maria was commonly called Maje in the movie; she is Arturo Ferrer’s wife. As the film’s central figure, María Jesús is portrayed as a complex character living a double life. She did a great job as Maje — calm, mysterious, and hard to read.
While initially appearing as a devoted wife, the investigation peels back layers of deceit, revealing her as manipulative and driven by greed. The actress captures this transformation with subtlety. María’s character embodies themes of betrayal, vanity, and moral decay.
Tristán Ulloa as Salvador Rodrigo
Salvador is a tragic figure whose downfall is marked by poor decisions and moral weakness. His role as a nurse, a position associated with care and responsibility, contrasts sharply with his reckless choices—especially his affair and willingness to kill for it. The performance conveys frustration and desperation.
Carmen Machi as Eva Torres
Carmen Machi played Eva Torres, the inspector determined to uncover the truth behind Arturo Ferrer Puig’s murder. She is intelligent, observant, and persistent — the kind of character who doesn’t back down when things start getting murky.
What I Liked About A Widow’s Game
Cinematography and great picture quality
One thing I really liked about the movie was the cinematography. It really enhanced the dark and tense atmosphere of the story. The moody lighting and tight framing created a claustrophobic feel that mirrored the characters’ entrapment in their lies and schemes.
Moral Ending (Spoiler ahead)
I appreciated the movie’s ending — the fact that María Jesús and Salvador Rodrigo were held accountable and convicted for their crimes brought a satisfying sense of justice. They didn’t get away with murder, and that made the conclusion all the more impactful.
Lessons Learnt
A leopard never changes its spots — once a cheater, always a cheater. Forgiving a partner who cheats often feels like giving them permission to betray you again. Cheating is never just a single betrayal — it comes wrapped in lies and even more lies to cover it up.
When married couples don’t spend quality time together, they leave room for discord to take root.
If one is unhappy in a relationship or marriage, it is better to walk away than to stay and inflict emotional and/or physical harm on their partner — no pain justifies ending a life.
Human greed and desire can drive people to commit unimaginable atrocities. In María’s case, her hunger for life insurance money, the house, and everything else led her to make the despicable decision of murdering her husband.
Every action has its consequences. María believed she could murder her husband and walk away unscathed, forgetting that justice always has a way of catching up with us.
What Didn’t Work
Poor Pacing
The movie was filled with unnecessary scenes that dragged the story endlessly. What was meant to be a thrilling experience ended up being painfully dull. Too much time is spent on lengthy scenes where nothing really happens.
Plot Holes
Despite knowing they were under investigation, María and Salvador continued using their burner phones without ever switching them out — a detail that feels like a glaring plot hole.
The movie never clearly explains Maje’s motivations for her actions. On one hand, she’s juggling two demanding jobs in the nursing profession—a challenge that requires immense dedication and energy.
On the other, she’s frequently seen partying and engaging in multiple affairs, which creates a puzzling contrast. This contradiction leaves you as a viewer questioning what truly drove her behaviour.
Character Downfall
I was frustrated by Salvador’s foolishness. He had a beautiful wife, a son, a stable home, and a good career — he was even a nurse, for crying out loud. Yet, because a younger woman offered him sex, he chose to throw it all away and commit murder for her, completely disregarding the devastating consequences for himself and his family.
Poor Character Development
The lives of the main characters were scarcely explored. This really made it difficult to form any real emotional connection with them. Even worse, the supporting characters were almost entirely overlooked, leaving them feeling flat and underdeveloped.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, A Widow’s Game is a gripping drama with moments of tension and justice served, but it could have benefitted from richer character exploration and tighter plot logic. It very well portrays the true nature of human desires, corruption, and excessive greed. The film is a must-watch for lovers of crime drama genre.
Rating
I would rate the movie 3 out of 5 stars.
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