Is Lifetime’s mystery-thriller movie 'Murder at Blackthorne Manor' based on a true story?

Hayley starts the spooky night by revealing the story behind the manor, but things take a wrong turn when the owner of the Manor is found dead
Christie Leverette in 'Murder at Blackthorne Manor' (Lifetime)
Christie Leverette in 'Murder at Blackthorne Manor' (Lifetime)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A much-awaited thriller movie, 'Murder at Blackthorne Manor', has been released on Lifetime and we have many theories regarding it. The plot of the movie is simple, but it's filled with intricate details. The story is about the lead character Hayley, played by Christie Leverette, who likes organizing murder mystery parties at the famous Blackthorne Manor. When the guests arrive and get settled in, Hayley starts the spooky night by revealing the story behind the manor, but things take a wrong turn when the owner of the Manor is found dead some hours later.

Later, guessing that the guests are getting suspicious and are internally blaming her for the murder, Hayley thinks of getting to the bottom of the mystery and finding the perpetrator. A simple game of mystery turns into a real murder investigation with everyone on the list of suspects. Sometimes, when you watch a movie, you get minute details from it that create a sense of déjà vu that makes you ask if it's based on a true story. Is that so for 'Murder at Blackthorne Manor'? Well, let's get started.

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The classic whodunit narrative

Murder mystery movies turn everyone into the head of the FBI, trying to get to the bottom of a complicated case. 'Murder at Blackthorne Manor' has mystery in the heart of its plot, and it feels like walking into the plot of your favorite mystery movie. However, the mystery in the movie is quite palpable and makes you want to just fast-forward to the end. But, the important theme is how greatly it resembles movies like 'Knives Out' and its exceptional sequel, 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.' To answer the question that started out the foundation of this story, no, 'Murder at Blackthorne Manor' isn't based on a true story. But, you have to give it to Daniel West and Suzanne Egan, the two writers who worked on the movie for their exceptional writing skills and a knack for a good story that is extremely believable.

Why does it feel like it's based on a true story?

The human brain has the tendency to relate anything it goes through with something that has happened. We all read books, listen to murder podcasts and also watch movies with murder sequences. The impeccable writing of West and Egan has created a story that manages to come out as an incident that might have happened in real life. It feels like we have listened, watched, or read this particular sequence somewhere.

All in all, add 'Murder at Blackthorne Manor' to your watchlist. It is exclusively available to watch on the Lifetime channel.

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