Renowned TV director Benjamin Caron, celebrated for his contributions to hit series such as The Crown and Andor, steps into the feature film arena with this project, which boasts a stellar cast featuring Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan.
To fully appreciate the twist at the film’s conclusion, it’s essential to understand the elaborate setup that builds toward it. The narrative unfurl in a non-linear fashion, introducing a diverse cast of characters played by Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, John Lithgow, Justice Smith, and Briana Middleton, all intricately linked by a variety of deception and schemes.
Benjamin Caron makes a bold transition from television to film with a star-studded cast (Photo: Sharper/A24, Apple TV+, and Picturestart)In the film, Sebastian Stan and Julianne Moore depict Max and Madeline, a shrewd duo of con artists aiming to exploit the wealthy Richard Hobbes (Lithgow). Their strategy involves Max posing as Madeline’s troubled son, which enables them to swindle huge amounts from Hobbes. However, the plot thickens when Madeline decides to marry the billionaire instead of reuniting with Max, contrary to their initial agreement.
Earlier in the story, Max realizes that Hobbes’s son, Tom (Smith), could also fall victim to their schemes. Partnering with Sandra (Middleton), he cleverly deceives Tom, extracting a considerable sum from him. This event occurs earlier in the timeline.
This betrayal angers Richard Hobbes, leading him to modify his will to leave his fortune to his new wife, Madeline, rather than his son. Following Hobbes’s death, Madeline benefits from this change.
Instead of giving up, Tom takes action to reclaim his lost money from Madeline and enlists Sandra, with whom he has formed a genuine connection during their earlier con.
This decision results in a tense showdown as the film nears its end, culminating in Madeline fatally shooting Tom. To avoid law enforcement’s scrutiny, she is convinced to divert her inheritance to Hobbes’s foundation, which had originally been intended for Tom.
Madeline views this as a simple resolution, convinced that it won’t affect her finances since Tom is now deceased, thereby making her the owner of the foundation. Consequently, transferring the funds effectively returns them to her.
However, in the film’s final moments, while aboard a flight with Max, Madeline realizes that the blood on his shirt sleeve, which she assumed was Tom’s, is actually a deception. Tom is alive, and she has unwittingly relinquished all the money to him. Eventually, the expert con artist finds herself ensnared in her own web of deceit.
