Common Sense Media Review
By Megan Andersen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Luxury house swap turns deadly in twisty, graphic thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Couple of Lies
What's the Story?
In A COUPLE OF LIES, Scarlet (Emma Appleton) and her artist husband, Adam (Jakob Oftebro), exchange their Sicilian villa for Carl (Fares Fares) and his pregnant wife Helene's (Frida Gustavsson) luxurious island home in Sweden. What should be an idyllic getaway quickly becomes unsettling. Intrusive surveillance cameras, unexplained noises, and Carl's troubling gaps in memory suggest that something is wrong. When a body is discovered, both couples become entangled in an investigation that threatens to expose the secrets beneath their carefully maintained relationships.
Is It Any Good?
Beautiful vacation homes become increasingly menacing and may have you rethinking your own vacation rentals after this twisty thriller, where the biggest danger is often the person offering reassurance. In A Couple of Lies the contrast between sunlit Sicily and the secluded Swedish island gives the story an appealing visual backdrop, while intrusive cameras, hidden phones, and suspicious behavior steadily undermine any sense of safety.
The suspense is effective, particularly when Scarlet begins investigating her husband. The storytelling can be heavy-handed, with ominous music, exaggeratedly foggy woods, and conveniently loud background music pushing scenes beyond believable tension. Viewers who enjoy stunning scenery, wealthy characters behaving terribly, and suspenseful crime/thriller/dramas may find the escalating betrayals compelling, but know that the graphic violence, relentless cruelty, and gaslighting make this a dark Nordic noir escape.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how characters in the show use reassurance and affection to make others question their own perceptions. Has this ever happened to you? How did it feel?
Fans of the book can compare the it to the show. Was the adaptation faithful? What bits from the book did you miss seeing on screen?
Did you notice any stereotypes? How did they make you feel? How does money influence the relationships? When does support become exploitation? Why are accurate depictions in the media important?
Discuss the violence in the show. Do you think it was the right level or was there too much? What are some of the moments that stood out as particularly scary or gory for you? Would the show be as impactful without the violence? What makes the luxurious homes feel threatening? How do music, lighting, and camera placement build suspense?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 30, 2026
- Cast : Emma Appleton , Fares Fares , Frida Gustavsson , Jakob Oftebro
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : November 4, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate