The Lies of Life Beneath the Surface: Plot, Cast and Location Explained
Lifetime’s thriller Lies Beneath the Surface, also known as Deadly Suspicion, is directed by Jose Montesinos and revolves around a character named Hanna Nielsen. Hanna makes the decision to start over after her child dies and she files for divorce from her husband. She is paddling a kayak on a distant lake when she notices a cabin nearby. She understood that after a thorough inspection, the mother and daughter living on the property could be in grave danger.
Hanna decides to take care of the family on her own after authorities turn her away and she learns the truth — concerning an abusive husband and a menacing mother-in-law. The plot and locations are cited by fans of the film as the main reasons for its success. Naturally, this has caused many people to wonder how the film came about. Is it just fiction or was it influenced by actual events? Where exactly were the scenes for the eye-catching film filmed? We’re here to explore these topics and more
Is the Lifetime’s Lies Under the Surface story true?
No, “Lies Beneath the Surface” is not an accurate representation of a true event. Matt Fitzsimons, whose previous works include Psycho Intern and Murder on Maple Drive, wrote the film. Directed by Jose Montesinos, the film offers audiences a compelling, albeit made-up, plot that seems to draw some real-life aspects. As a result, the film gives the viewer a genuine feeling and makes them question how the story relates to reality.
Real events can be identified that are comparable to the crisis in the beach hut in the Lifetime film. We would like to draw your attention to the father and son team of Christopher Otero-Rivera and Angel Rivera in Florida. The last time Nicole Montalvo, Christopher’s ex-wife, was seen taking their 9-year-old child to school was on October 21, 2019. Her bones were discovered six days later at a property belonging to Christopher and Angel .
The custody of their son seems to be a point of contention between the couple. The father and son were taken into custody on suspicion of murder, while Wanda Nereida Rivera, Christopher’s mother, was taken into custody on suspicion of tampering with evidence. Christopher and Angel were sentenced in July 2021 to life in prison for murder, 15 years for dismembering Nicole’s body and an additional 5 years for tampering with evidence.
The crimes in Life Beneath the Surface are based on true events, despite their different circumstances and motivations. The notion of abusive spouses and dangerous in-laws is not far-fetched fiction, as such situations are common in everyday life. The Lifetime thriller uses these real-life themes to produce a storyline that many viewers may see off-screen.
Locations where Lies Beneath the Surface was filmed
Most of Lies Beneath the Surface was filmed in Clearwater, Florida. The first shooting of the film took place in November and December 2021. Lifetime Thriller’s original title, Deadly Suspicion, was still in use at the time of recording. Let’s take a closer look at the specifics of the film’s setting.
Jacksonville, Fla
Clearwater is a Florida beach town located in Pinellas County. It’s understandable that the film was shot there, given the amount of waterfront scenes in Lies Beneath the Surface. Clearwater is an important part of the Tampa Bay Area, bounded by Tampa Bay to the southeast and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. Crest Lake and Lake Bellevue are two well-known lakes in and around the city. As a result, the filmmakers had multiple locations to use when shooting the sequences, which took place in a cottage by a lake.
One of the most popular filming locations in the state of Florida is Clearwater. The St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Commission is responsible for projects filmed in the area. The group supports filmmakers in their efforts to produce quality work. In addition, they strive to support regional films and host seminars to spread the craft of filmmaking. Magic Mike and Cocoon are two popular movies that were filmed in Clearwater.
The cast is under investigation
Actress Lelia Symington plays Hanna Nielsen in Lies Beneath the Surface. You may be familiar with her other tracks like “Bury Me Twice” and “Brut Force”. Cooper is portrayed by Michael Perl in the Lifetime Suspense film; He has also acted in the films The Walls Are Watching and Aloha with Love. Ben Swilley as Lou, Sarah Malfara as Kate and Ashleigh Ann Wood as Liz also appear in the film. Jason Marks is played by Brad Worch II and Alice Marks is portrayed by Rhonda Davis.