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
PUBLISHED APR 7, 2023
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.

READ MORE:

'Sleeping With a Killer': 5 things you need to know about Lifetime thriller docuseries

'Vacation Home Nightmare': Here's everything to know about Lifetime thriller

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.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

The upcoming third installment of 'A Quiet Place' will focus on Evelyn Abbott as she fights for her survival in a post-apocalyptic world
33 minutes ago
The 2026 Oscars featured several memorable moments, from the heartfelt In Memoriam tributes to the electrifying performance by Miles Canton.
11 hours ago
Sean Penn was also missing from the recently held BAFTA Awards and the SAG Actors' Awards, and was spotted at the Golden Globes 2026.
11 hours ago
Rob and Michele Reiner were murdered at their LA home in December, and their son Nick Reiner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
13 hours ago
The 'Bridesmaids' reunion was one of several sweet reunions at the 98th Academy Awards; others included 'Moulin Rouge,' and 'Avengers.'
14 hours ago
‘All the Empty Rooms’ centers on the lives of the families who lost their young children in school shootings.
15 hours ago
Ahead of the much-awaited event, we predict the winner in the major categories, and our gut says it's a 'Sinners' sweep
2 days ago
The MCU faithful have speculated that the much-awaited footage of Tom Holland's fourth film as the web-slinger might finally hit soon
2 days ago
A classic-style Jason movie could finally happen as ‘Friday the 13th’ creator shares updates on rights progress and a completed story treatment.
2 days ago
Following its massive success on Netflix, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ will return with a sequel directed by the original filmmakers
3 days ago