Unmasking family secrets: why 'We Were Liars' is the psychological thriller you can't miss
Image: X
When I stumbled across 'We Were Liars', a new release on Amazon Prime Video recently, I wasn't expecting to be left in tears and still thinking about this powerful series, long after the credits rolled.
Having not read the young adult novel of the same name by E. Lockhart, I was expecting to escape into a teenage summer romance, much like with shows such as 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' and 'Outer Banks.'
But soon into the show, I was also pleasantly surprised to discovered that it resembled Nicole Kidman-esque psychological thriller such as 'The Perfect Couple' and 'Big Little Liars', while also featuring elements from "Succession" - with 'We Were Liars' also centering around a billionaire American family who are desperate for their patriarch's validation.
But what truly set this story apart was the devastatingly emotional manner in which it placed family dynamics, greed and racism in the spotlight, forcing viewers to contemplate these and other issues in their own lives.
'We Were Liars' centres around teenager Cadence Sinclair (played by Emily Alyn Lind), the granddaughter of media magnate Harris Sinclair (David Morse) and one of the heirs to his multi-million dollar empire.
She appears to be a picture-perfect teen who is arriving with her newly divorced mother, Penny (Caitlin Fitzgerald), to summer at their family's private island located off the Massachusetts coast.
Called Beechwood Island, there she meets her grandfather, her grandmother Tipper (Wendy Crewson), her cousins, Johnny (Joseph Zada) and Mirren (Esther McGregor), as well as her aunts Bess (Candice King) and Carrie (Mamie Gummer).
Shubham Maheshwari, Emily Alyn Lind, Esther McGregor and Joseph Zada in 'We Were Liars'.
Image: X
Dubbed 'Summer 16' after her age at the time of her visit, Cadence and her cousins, who are all around the same age as her, kick off the summer festivities.
They are joined by their childhood friend, Gat Patil (Shubham Maheshwari), whom Cadence is secretly in love with.
They party on the beach, live it up poolside and spend their days being young and carefree.
The group formed such a close bond during the annual visits to the island since they were children that the group earned the nickname 'The Liars', given to them by their grandfather as a consequence of their mischievousness.
But this image of the perfect family is quickly shattered when a flash forward shows a severely injured Cadence lying naked on the beach, alone and afraid.
This disturbing turn of events leaves viewers desperate to know what could have led the teenager to end up in such a state. And more importantly, who could have possibly wanted to harm her?
With her family members as suspects, secrets begin to unravel.
'We Were Liars' does a stellar job at discreetly giving viewers clues about each of the characters, allowing them to try and solve the mystery for themselves.
Could it have been one of the cousins? Johnny has a drinking problem, and his family wealth is the only reason he isn't behind bars following a violent incident at this private school.
Then there is Mirren, an aspiring artist with mommy issues who is always cast into the background. Could she have been envious of Cadene, the oldest grandchild who is eligible to inherit the family's entire fortune?
Even Gat, who arrived on the island just days after spending months in India, where he awoke to the idea that he no longer aligns with Sinclair's racist and bullying tactics, is not as innocent as he seems.
There are many other factors at play with the adults in her life. Cadence's mother is struggling with a dirty divorce battle with her father.
Her aunt Bess's husband is mixed up with some shady business deals and her other aunty is a recovering addict who agreed to take her father's money in return for not marrying her partner, Ed (Rahul Kohli), who is deemed the wrong race by Harris for the Sinclair brood.
And as the truth about what happened to Cadence is finally revealed, viewers are left with a reality that is far worse than even I could have imagined.
With such a powerful and poignant ending, 'We Were Liars' excels in suspense, keeping viewers constantly guessing.
The cast should also be commended, and although many of them are relatively unknown, with King the most familiar of the faces following her role on 'The Vampire Diaries', they each did their characters justice.
Meanwhile, the use of flashbacks and flashforwards as well as the inclusion of a young romance to add depth and layer to the story also contributed to the intrigue of 'We Were Liars.'
* I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
25-07-2025
- Daily Maverick
Amid heaps of political chaos, Heads of State delivers humour and heart in unexpected ways
There is much to enjoy in this comedy that has its stereotypes, but manages to avoid the pitfalls that would make it feel outdated. On paper, Heads of State seems like the usual half-baked action comedy that relies on low-brow humour and big explosions to keep its audience interested. But even though this Amazon Prime Video release does contain moments like that, it's much smarter, better made and more entertaining than most 'straight-to-streaming' action movies. The far-fetched but fun premise sees US President Will Derringer (John Cena) and British Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) forced to work together to survive when Air Force One is shot down over Belarus and they're the only survivors. They've been targeted by Russian arms dealer Viktor Gradov (Paddy Considine), who's also responsible for wiping out a CIA-MI6 task force led by British agent Noelle Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) sent to capture him in the film's opening sequence. In the absence of Derringer and Clarke, US Vice-President Elizabeth Kirk (Carla Gugino) must keep Nato from disintegrating during a summit in Trieste, Italy, after a leak of classified documents revealing that the allies were spying on each other. The least implausible part of this set-up is that Derringer used to be an action movie star whose bravado irritates the buttoned-down Clarke, who worked his way up from a housing estate. This forms the basis for a classic mismatched buddy action comedy in which antagonism between the leads turns into grudging respect and eventually friendship. The two main characters could have been nothing more than broad stereotypes of Americans and Brits, but screenwriters Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec (Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol) give the characters some depth and nuance, providing Cena and Elba a lot to work with. Despite the impression his big-lug appearance and professional wrestling past creates, Cena is surprisingly good at playing characters who lack self-awareness. Derringer might be brash, but he's also naively optimistic and genuinely wants to make the world a better place. This grates on veteran politician Clarke, the typically more cynical Brit grumbling about the clueless American. But underneath it all, Clarke has the same ideals, and it's highly enjoyable watching his tough exterior slowly start to warm to the golden retriever persona by his side. Elba's charisma is on full display and he and Cena make a likeable double act. It's refreshing to watch a film that shies away from gratuitous violence or the nasty, cruel tone that permeates many modern action movies. There's a sense of fun and lots of wit in the action sequences and fights, which contain many clever, tongue-in-cheek moments, as Clarke with his army background ribs Derringer, who's only been in movie stunt fights. It's no spoiler to reveal that Bisset survives the opening sequence and catches up with the two politicians, whom she tries to keep alive while they're being pursued by Gradov's assassins. Chopra Jonas' no-nonsense, ultra-competent spy is a welcome element to the central dynamic as she has a past with Clarke and also frequently shows up the men in the fight scenes (it's emphasised that Derringer is happily married, so there's no love rivalry between him and Clarke). Unexpected shots and humorous sequences Though the film does feel a bit long at the halfway mark, director Ilya Naishuller (Nobody) has a firm grip on balancing the comedy and thrills, while using some unexpected shots and humorous sequences (such as a fast-paced flashback capturing Bisset's search for Derringer and Clarke) to add some originality. South African viewers will spot Sharlto Copley in a cameo role, a possible nod to his working with Naishuller on the director's first film, Hardcore Henry (2015). Jack Quaid (The Boys) also enlivens an action scene as a young CIA agent whose excitement at meeting Derringer belies his ingenuity as a spy. It all culminates in a hugely enjoyable final act in which Clarke must drive the US presidential car in reverse through the narrow streets of Trieste while Bisset and Derringer try to fend off a seemingly endless number of assassins with an infinite amount of weapons. Given that the film was mostly shot in 2023, it's also unexpectedly timely and even daring in the current political climate as it earnestly defends Nato and the merit in working together to protect democracy. But this movie isn't focused on messaging — it's focused on entertaining its audience, and viewers looking for a film that can be enjoyed by the whole family should definitely give this throwback to the buddy action movies of the '80s and '90s a chance. DM
IOL News
23-07-2025
- IOL News
Star power unleashed: 'Heads of State' blends action and comedy for a hilarious ride
Idris Elba and John Cena take the lead in 'Heads of State'. Image: X Some of the biggest Hollywood stars from different backgrounds have come together for 'Heads of State', an action comedy which highlights the value of leaning into commonalities. The Amazon Prime Video movie has been receiving rave reviews since its release earlier this month, and for good reason. Its star power includes three heavyweights. Award-winning English actor Idris Elba is one of the leading men, and his over three decades of experience shine through as he portrays the role of UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke. Starring alongside him is John Cena, who broke into the industry following a successful stint as a WWE wrestler. His charismatic charm enhances the appeal of his character, Will Derringer, a former action movie star who now occupies the highest office. Priyanka Chopra and John Cena in 'Heads of State'. Image: X Joining this dynamic duo is Priyanka Chopra, who started her career in Bollywood after winning Miss World 2000. In the movie, she stars as senior agent Noel Bisset, and with similar roles like in 'Quantico', where she plays an FBI agent in training, Chopra thrives as an action star. And as 'Heads of State' continues to rank amongst the Most Watched Films on the platform, including in South Africa, it does a captivating job of satirically commenting on topical world issues such as terrorism, diplomatic relations and data breaches. The movie opens with a joint team of MI6 agents and CIA officers, led by Bisset, at the La Tomatina festival area in Spain, where they are tracking Russian arms dealer Viktor Gradov. But the criminal mastermind outsmarts them, killing the team and seizing control of a link to a global surveillance program. As their bodies lay in a tomato-infested rot, the UK Prime Minister receives a state visit from the newly elected Derringer. The mutual disdain between the statesmen is palpable. Clarke is not impressed with Derringer's obsession with his celebrity status and his lack of political credentials. The US president thinks that the UK Prime Minister is no fun and is still offended that he openly endorsed his running mate in broad daylight in London for all to see over a plate of fish and chips. With the massacre in Spain dominating the headlines,the pair board Air Force One together, aiming to present a united front to the world at the upcoming NATO summit in Italy. But as their bickering intensifies on the flight, the aircraft is shot down by Gradov's terrorists. With the world in mourning as they are presumed dead, Clarke and Derringer miraculously survive by using parachutes. But they are stranded in Belarus and realising that someone in their inner circles has betrayed them and worked with Gradov for the attack, they are forced to step out of their comfort zones and rely on each other in order to prevent further attacks. The movie's sharp but sometimes silly comedy then gets things going as the men hitch a ride to Poland with a friendly Belarusian woman. She comes to their rescue after they were struggling to fight off a gang of comical characters. Meanwhile, Gradov is enraged when he realises that they are alive and orders his team to track them down and murder them. With their life in threat and barely no allies or resources at their disposal, Clarke and Derringer are thrilled when they discover that Agent Bisset is alive. This trio now only have each other as they wage a three-person war on terrorism. Apart from its famous faces, another appealing aspect of 'Heads of State' is how females are represented in powerful positions, from world leaders to Chopra's character as the hero. At its core, 'Heads of State' has everything action fans could ask for - explosions, car chases, shoot-outs and epic fight scenes. But these elements are elevated by the movie's punchy and intelligent humour, although I did enjoy the slightly immature infusions of comedy in the movie too. Its reflection of crucial societal themes such as terrorism, diplomatic relations, social media and security breaches in this humorous way has resonated with viewers far and wide. 'Heads of State' also highlights the power of friendships and the value of partnerships with mutual respect. * I rate it a 4 out of 5 stars.
IOL News
30-06-2025
- IOL News
Unmasking family secrets: why 'We Were Liars' is the psychological thriller you can't miss
Shubham Maheshwari, Emily Alyn Lind, Esther McGregor and Joseph Zada in 'We Were Liars'. Image: X When I stumbled across 'We Were Liars', a new release on Amazon Prime Video recently, I wasn't expecting to be left in tears and still thinking about this powerful series, long after the credits rolled. Having not read the young adult novel of the same name by E. Lockhart, I was expecting to escape into a teenage summer romance, much like with shows such as 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' and 'Outer Banks.' But soon into the show, I was also pleasantly surprised to discovered that it resembled Nicole Kidman-esque psychological thriller such as 'The Perfect Couple' and 'Big Little Liars', while also featuring elements from "Succession" - with 'We Were Liars' also centering around a billionaire American family who are desperate for their patriarch's validation. But what truly set this story apart was the devastatingly emotional manner in which it placed family dynamics, greed and racism in the spotlight, forcing viewers to contemplate these and other issues in their own lives. 'We Were Liars' centres around teenager Cadence Sinclair (played by Emily Alyn Lind), the granddaughter of media magnate Harris Sinclair (David Morse) and one of the heirs to his multi-million dollar empire. She appears to be a picture-perfect teen who is arriving with her newly divorced mother, Penny (Caitlin Fitzgerald), to summer at their family's private island located off the Massachusetts coast. Called Beechwood Island, there she meets her grandfather, her grandmother Tipper (Wendy Crewson), her cousins, Johnny (Joseph Zada) and Mirren (Esther McGregor), as well as her aunts Bess (Candice King) and Carrie (Mamie Gummer). Shubham Maheshwari, Emily Alyn Lind, Esther McGregor and Joseph Zada in 'We Were Liars'. Image: X Dubbed 'Summer 16' after her age at the time of her visit, Cadence and her cousins, who are all around the same age as her, kick off the summer festivities. They are joined by their childhood friend, Gat Patil (Shubham Maheshwari), whom Cadence is secretly in love with. They party on the beach, live it up poolside and spend their days being young and carefree. The group formed such a close bond during the annual visits to the island since they were children that the group earned the nickname 'The Liars', given to them by their grandfather as a consequence of their mischievousness. But this image of the perfect family is quickly shattered when a flash forward shows a severely injured Cadence lying naked on the beach, alone and afraid. This disturbing turn of events leaves viewers desperate to know what could have led the teenager to end up in such a state. And more importantly, who could have possibly wanted to harm her? With her family members as suspects, secrets begin to unravel. 'We Were Liars' does a stellar job at discreetly giving viewers clues about each of the characters, allowing them to try and solve the mystery for themselves. Could it have been one of the cousins? Johnny has a drinking problem, and his family wealth is the only reason he isn't behind bars following a violent incident at this private school. Then there is Mirren, an aspiring artist with mommy issues who is always cast into the background. Could she have been envious of Cadene, the oldest grandchild who is eligible to inherit the family's entire fortune? Even Gat, who arrived on the island just days after spending months in India, where he awoke to the idea that he no longer aligns with Sinclair's racist and bullying tactics, is not as innocent as he seems. There are many other factors at play with the adults in her life. Cadence's mother is struggling with a dirty divorce battle with her father. Her aunt Bess's husband is mixed up with some shady business deals and her other aunty is a recovering addict who agreed to take her father's money in return for not marrying her partner, Ed (Rahul Kohli), who is deemed the wrong race by Harris for the Sinclair brood. And as the truth about what happened to Cadence is finally revealed, viewers are left with a reality that is far worse than even I could have imagined. With such a powerful and poignant ending, 'We Were Liars' excels in suspense, keeping viewers constantly guessing. The cast should also be commended, and although many of them are relatively unknown, with King the most familiar of the faces following her role on 'The Vampire Diaries', they each did their characters justice. Meanwhile, the use of flashbacks and flashforwards as well as the inclusion of a young romance to add depth and layer to the story also contributed to the intrigue of 'We Were Liars.' * I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
