In August 2017, Antonio Navarro Cerdán was stabbed multiple times near his car in a garage in Valencia, Spain. When his widow, better known as Maje, became the primary suspect behind his death, the case made headlines. Netflix’s latest Spanish film, A Widow’s Game, offers a deep dive into this real-life story, by focusing on three different perspectives: Maje’s, her lover’s, and that of the police. It is through these points of view that the audience comes to know more about Maje’s double life and her intentions for orchestrating her own husband’s demise. Directed by Carlos Sedes — whose previous credits include Netflix productions like The Asunta Case and most recently The Lady’s Companion— and written by the prolific Ramón Campos, A Widow’s Game sets out to be an intriguing portrayal of a high-profile case but doesn’t really hit the mark. The film opens with Antonio’s body found in the parking lot, followed by the arrival of Eva (Carmen Machi), the veteran inspector of the local Homicide Group. As she examines the clues presented to her, she comes to the conclusion that this is a crime of passion, where the murderer wanted to ensure that the victim didn’t make it to the light of day. When Eva goes outside to relay the news to Maje (Ivana Baquero), the latter breaks down in tears. Although her reaction doesn’t come off as alarming, soon enough, the cracks in her act begin to show. As the investigation moves forward, new findings prove that the widow had multiple affairs (even before she married Antonio), and she made everyone believe that her partner was abusive, when in reality it was all a lie. The evidence clearly points to her involvement in the crime, but the question that remains is who actually killed her husband?
‘A Widow’s Game’ Is Elevated By Its Cast

Even though the story at hand has all the components to make for another Netflix true crime hit, in reality, what makes the film is its ensemble cast. Baquero’s portrayal of Maje is just as enigmatic as Rosamund Pike’s performance in Gone Girl, a title that has drawn comparisons to this project. The actress, predominantly recognized for her collaboration with Guillermo del Toro in Pan’s Labyrinth, takes on a role that is glaringly different from anything she’s done in the past. Viewers who are unfamiliar with “la viuda negra” (how the real-life Maje was referred to in the media) will be surprised to see how convincing the character can be, luring her lovers, family, and close friends. That has much to do with Baquero’s acting, and how she seamlessly goes from being the unfiltered version of Maje to the person Maje wants others to think she is.

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In addition, Tristán Ulloa delivers yet another compelling performance as Salva, one of Maje’s lovers. In A Widow’s Game, he proves why he is one of Spain’s best actors. Having seen him in several Netflix productions, I can confidently say that he never ceases to impress with each role that he takes on. Salva is a quirky, middle-aged man, who develops an obsession with the protagonist from the moment she starts working with him at the hospital. Although the character is someone who is purposefully written out to be a gullible accomplice, The Asunta Case alum allows viewers to have at least a little bit of empathy for Salva. Machi might play a supporting part as the head of the homicide department, but the instances that she appears onscreen make her presence vital to the telling of this story.
‘A Widow’s Game’s Shift in Perspectives Harms the Film

Yet, A Widow’s Game lacks focus. The decision to follow multiple perspectives might work in an episodic format (as Sedes and Campos have been masterfully able to do in the past), but it isn’t as easy to accomplish in a feature film. The project starts off following the perspective of Eva, as she leads the investigative team to look at all possible angles to Antonio’s death. In an attempt to flip the script, about a quarter way in, viewers are redirected to Maje’s point of view, where we get to see her wedding, her relationship with her spouse, her secretive nightlife, and her interest in getting rid of her husband for good. Closer to the end, there is another focal shift, following Salva and how his affair with Maje leads to his ultimate downfall. Given that the film presents three different perspectives, the narrative flow feels awkward throughout. From the outside, it seems like a clever idea to get into each character’s shoes, but there will often be moments where you’d wish that the narrative were constructed more traditionally. If this film was told through a third-person lens, it would likely feel more complete than separating it into three different parts. When Eva is pulled back into the story later on, you almost forget that there is an investigation taking place, which prevents the film from having a more fulfilling resolution.
Netflix’s Latest True Crime Doesn’t Have a Satisfying Pay-Off

Image via Netflix

Despite this case being heavily publicized in Spain at the time, the film ends with the assumption that most audience members already know what will happen. For those who might click on this title without having previous knowledge of the real-life proceeding, the resolution comes off as abrupt, with only a written summary of what happened to Maje and other characters. A Widow’s Game would’ve been much better as a limited series. Considering Sedes and Campos’ previous successes in the TV realm, including my personal favorites Cable Girl and Gran Hotel, their vision for this true crime drama would’ve had the depth that it deserved. Their decision to follow three different characters would’ve been better developed, and viewers would’ve gotten the chance to see the cast flex their acting muscles for a while longer. I can’t help but wonder what each of them would’ve brought to the table if we had seen the trial and its aftermath transpire. A Widow’s Game ends with the revelation that the Homicide Group handling this investigation was one of the most successful in Spain for closing cases. If this were a limited series, we would’ve understood why.

A Widow’s Game

Ivana Baquero excels in a Netflix true crime drama that lacks focus.

Release Date

May 30, 2025

Director

Carlos Sedes

Writers

Jon de la Cuesta, David Orea, Javier Chacártegui

Producers

Ramón Campos

Pros & Cons

The ensemble cast excel in the portrayal of real-life figures.
The decision to follow different perspectives is interesting, even its not properly executed.

Certain characters, including inspector Eva, don’t get enough exploration in the film.
The resolution is abrupt, with the expectation that everyone knows the real-life case.
The film would’ve been better developed through a limited series format.