Couples Murder Retreat(2024 Lifetime)
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Cast: Jessica Morris, Rib Hillis, Natalie Daniels, Corin Nemec
Director: Amy Barrett
Writer(s): Adam Rockoff
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Lifetime)
Trying your save their marriage, Becky and Jim head to a remote couple’s retreat which just so happens to include Becky’s ex from college. Things only get worse when one of the guests goes missing and their host is found dead, prompting them to wonder who else they are trapped with on this trip. Starring Jessica Morris, Rib Hillis, Natalie Daniels, Corin Nemec, and Alex Trumble (2024).
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Jessica Morris, a Lifetime Legend, plays a wife named Becky, who is in a volatile relationship with her husband Jim. After another fight, she storms off and joins her friend, Paulina, at the bar to blow off some steam. Paulina can relate; she and her husband, Phil, are in couples therapy. Paulina suggests that Becky and Jim join them for a getaway, and Becky agrees it is a good idea. As they leave the bar, a man gives Becky his card and puts it in her purse, annoyed. (This doesn’t come back, but it seemed important!)
Becky becomes even more annoyed when she comes home and finds Jim talking on the phone quietly in the closet. He claims to have been “working.” Becky tries to tell him about the couple’s retreat at Lotus Island, but he snaps at her. (Come on, dude!)
Jim eventually agrees, but he complains about the drive the whole way.
“What is this? South America?!?!” Jim isn’t a fan of Phil, a rich snob, but Becky is trying to save her marriage and will do whatever it takes.
A hippy guru/hot AF guy named Alan Brandt welcomes Jim and Becky. He tells the couple about his Ivy League education and career but is more about his revolutionary couples therapy program. (That may or may not be swingers.) There is no booze at the resort, so that is a bummer! The food is also vegan.
Phil and Paulina show up, and Phil is not into the therapy stuff either. Phil wants to find the bar, but they must attend group therapy first. There are two other couples there, which is surprising because Dr. Alan is quick to jump into everyone’s sex lives!!! Phil admits he cheats on Paulina, Becky, and Jim, who are in a sexual rut, and Joel and Jenny are dealing with his unemployment. Alan takes everyone’s cell phones to keep everyone tranquil.
Jim is unimpressed and tired, and Becky wants to recap the day. He asks his wife why Paulina is with Phil because he is a jerk. Jim met with Phil for investment advice, but Phil wanted to charge Jim an advisor fee. Becky agrees that it is rude and can tell that Jim is insecure about the size of his…. his bank account!!!
As the couple sleep, a figure dressed in all black sneaks in through the sliding glass window and watches them sleep. They steal Jim’s wallet from his nightstand. Jim has a full-on meltdown over this! Phil tries to talk his “friend” down, and Jim feels better after hearing Jim and Paulina haven’t had sex in a year.
Jim also talks to Becky, and he is surprised to learn that the retreat was Paulina’s idea. He was under the impression that it was Becky’s idea since they used to date in college. Becky laughs it off but tells Jim about the mix-up.
The friends all hike together as part of their therapy in the middle of nowhere. Paulina starts to feel woozy and almost faints, causing her and Becky to fall off a cliff. They decide to stop and make camp. Around the fire, they talk about being honest with one another. Jim brings up Phil and Becky dating in college, and things get awkward!!!
The following day, Phil is missing, and all his things are still at camp. Paulina accuses Becky of knowing more than she is letting on and has been harboring jealousy over the college relationship thing, too. Jim decides they should head back to camp, and Becky finds a letter from Phil.
No one else is at the resort, and all the cars are gone. The three friends search the resort for their cell phones and find Alan strangled to death. (Not Alan!) They tried to call for help on the landline, but the line was cut. They debate over who should search Alan’s body for his phone. They try to open it, but the face or fingerprint reader doesn’t register.
With no way to call for help, they decided to drive into town, but their cars had their tires and brakes slashed. Paulina sleeps in her room while Jim and Becky play detectives. Becky reluctantly shows Jim the letter.
While everyone apparently sleeps through the night, Becky looks through files and finds photos of her and fraudulent diplomas in Alan’s office. Jim walks in on her and is like, “WHY AREN’T YOU SLEEPING?!?!” He takes her back to the room and tells her to go to sleep while he goes back to the office to “turn off the light?” Becky follows him and see him kissing Paulina!!!!
Becky grabs the car keys and tries to call for help from the car Bluetooth. She Jim catches her again and takes her back to the room. Becky pretends that everything is normal and takes a shower. (She actually crawls out of the bathroom window.)
Jim and Paulina search for Becky with a loaded gun all around the resort. Becky looks for a weapon to defend herself, too. Picking up vases and weighing them in her arms. She eventually settles on a meat cleaver. (Good choice!)
Jim admits that he killed Alan because he was going to tell Becky about Jim and Paulina. Paulina killed Phil, and they planned to pin it on Becky. The letter would be proof, and they made up texts between Phil and Becky to create a backstory. All for double insurance money. Paulina and Jim have been sleeping together for a year.
Paulina grabs the gun and chases Becky outside. Becky tries to talk sense into her friend, but Paulina calls her a Pollyanna. (Haha, dated reference!) Becky goes with the cast iron and knocks Paulina out as the police pull up to rescue her.
The movie comes to an abrupt and unsatisfying end.
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
This did not follow the typical Lifetime Movie format. It is another Lifetime mystery in which the pieces don’t necessarily add up, and there are many loose ends.
The filming locations were so cool! What a waste!
Overall rating
Numbers of Kills: 🔪🔪 (2 knives)
Enjoyment Level (1-5 scale)
🍷 (1 Glasses of Wine)
Should you watch it?
Put a Cork in It (Skip It)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked & @patrickmiguel
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*Photo Credit: © 2024 Lifetime® | A+E Networks®
I was a bit disappointed when Rib turned out to be the villain once again. I don’t remember the last time he played a non-villainous role. And I’m also sad that Adam Huss had such a small part in the movie. I hoped to see more of him! The filming locations were nice and are the only reason I gave this movie 7 stars as opposed to 6. The abrupt ending reminded me of Fatal Fiancé (2021) with Brittany Underwood.
That cast tho! I thought it was going hardcore Lifetime! It did jump around a lot. Huge agreement on the scenery.. it was just a few glimpses but I’d Love to stay somewhere like that.. they could have focused more on it.
Well, that just sucked. I just came here to see if I was the only one who wants her time back.
Whenever I’m finished watching a lifetime movie I have a question. And that question is “HUH. WTF?” I always finish the movie feeling like I’ve missed something so inevitably rewind the movie but find out I didn’t miss a thing. And let’s face it,these movies are an insult to our intelligence. Do they think we’re not gonna notice all the loose ends, the inconsistencies etc. And the characters always do the dumbest things that make then look like blistering idiots. When I’m done with the movie I usually ask myself why I watched it. And more importantly why did I continue giving these movies a chance?!
First of all, when Jessica came home from drinking and her husband was whispering on the phone in closet. His excuse was thst the person on the other line had wife sleeping and Jim didnt wanna wake her. How would he wake her when he was on phone and not in bed with her?!?! Stupid excuse. And even dumber was that Becky didnt even question that. Do writers proof read what they write BEFORE airing it?! Also, there was no meat (no protein), no alcohol, no carbs. And the worst part was NO PHONES!!And the guru guy says that’s to clear people minds and heal their body and soul. First of all, how can anyone concentrate when they’re starving to death and don’t even have a phone to distract u?! Plus the body cant heal without nutrients. If I was there i get up and leave . This whole movie was a pretty big dude.
watching this a year later. But is it just me or does Coren (sp?) look like he has been through some stuff. Poor thing, he looks 10yrs older than he really is. I crack up every time you talk about your affinity for the actor who plays Alan. The main men give me skeevy vibes no matter what roles they are playing in these Lifetime movies.