Netflix has unleashed a gripping Spanish true-crime thriller that has viewers glued to their screens: A Widow’s Game (original title: La viuda negra), now streaming worldwide. Directed by Carlos Sedes (known for The Asunta Case), this 122-minute film is a tense, slow-burn psychological drama based on one of Spain’s most notorious murders—the 2017 Patraix case, infamously dubbed “La Viuda Negra de Patraix” or “The Black Widow of Patraix.” It’s the kind of story that starts with a seemingly perfect marriage and spirals into betrayal, manipulation, and cold-blooded killing, making it an ideal tense Sunday watch for fans of dark, real-life mysteries.
The film opens in August 2017 in Valencia, Spain, where a young engineer named Arturo Ferrer Puig (inspired by the real Antonio Navarro Cerdán) is found brutally stabbed to death in a parking garage. Multiple knife wounds suggest a crime of passion, and suspicion quickly falls on his wife, María Jesús “Maje” Moreno Cantó (portrayed by Ivana Baquero, the child star from Pan’s Labyrinth now delivering a chilling adult performance). On the surface, Maje is the grieving widow: young, beautiful, a nurse with a spotless reputation, devastated by her husband’s sudden loss. But as Detective Eva Torres (Carmen Machi, bringing fierce intensity) digs deeper, the facade crumbles.
The investigation reveals Maje’s hidden double life. She had been carrying on a long-term affair with her coworker and lover, Salva Rodrigo (Tristán Ulloa), a relationship that predated her marriage. Messages, photos, and witness accounts paint a picture of obsession and deceit. What begins as a routine homicide probe uncovers premeditation: Maje allegedly orchestrated the murder, enlisting Salva to carry it out in the garage where Arturo parked every morning on his way to work. The motive? A toxic mix of financial gain, jealousy, and a desire to escape the marriage without losing face or assets.
The film masterfully unfolds from multiple perspectives: Maje’s calculated calm, Salva’s conflicted loyalty, and Eva’s dogged pursuit of truth. Flashbacks show the seemingly ordinary relationship between Maje and Arturo—wedding photos, shared vacations, domestic bliss—contrasted with secret rendezvous and whispered plans. Baquero’s portrayal is particularly unsettling: Maje is not a cartoonish villain but a woman whose charm masks ruthless self-interest. Machi, as the detective, anchors the film with steely determination, peeling back layers of lies one interrogation at a time. Ulloa’s Salva is heartbreakingly weak-willed, trapped in Maje’s web.
The true story behind the film is even more shocking. In real life, Antonio Navarro Cerdán was stabbed 17 times in the chest on August 16, 2017, in a Patraix garage. His wife, Maje (María Jesús Moreno Cantó), was arrested shortly after. Evidence included incriminating WhatsApp messages, security footage, and Salva’s eventual confession that he acted on her orders. The case captivated Spain with its elements of infidelity, manipulation, and a “black widow” archetype—earning Maje the nickname that titles the film. Both were convicted in 2020: Maje received 22 years for murder, Salva a lesser sentence as accomplice. Maje is currently serving time in Fontcalent Prison, Alicante.
Sedes adapts this with restraint, focusing on psychological tension rather than graphic gore. The film builds dread through subtle details: a lingering glance, a deleted text, a too-perfect alibi. It’s a slow-burn that explodes in the final act, with courtroom revelations and emotional confrontations that leave you questioning how far someone will go for control. The supporting cast adds depth—Pepe Ocio, Pau Durà, and others bring nuance to friends, family, and colleagues caught in the fallout.
Since its May 30, 2025, premiere, A Widow’s Game has climbed Netflix’s global Top 10, praised for its authentic portrayal of real events without sensationalism. Viewers call it “unputdownable,” “chilling,” and “a masterclass in deception.” It’s gritty, psychological, and morally complex—perfect for true-crime enthusiasts who prefer drama over documentary style. The Spanish dialogue (with subtitles) adds authenticity, while the Valencia setting grounds the story in everyday reality turned nightmare.
If you’re in the mood for a Sunday watch that will keep you up thinking about hidden motives and shattered trust, dive into A Widow’s Game. It’s more than a murder mystery—it’s a stark look at how love can twist into something deadly. Stream it now, but be warned: once you start unraveling Maje’s secrets, there’s no turning back.