Lifetime’s new movie, “My Professor’s Guide to Murder,” is a predictably formulaic yet innocuous crime thriller set within the confines of a college campus. The story revolves around a group of crime writers who embark on a quest to discover the perfect murderous plot before a series of women fall victim to a real-life killer.
While the film falls short of genuine suspense and surprises, its downfall can be attributed to Lifetime’s tendency to reveal key plot twists. If, however, you found the movie perplexing, I present to you a detailed analysis of the events that unfold. Please proceed with caution and only read on if you have already watched the film, as this analysis contains spoilers.
My Professor’s Guide to Murder (2023) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
The movie opens with a book reading by best-selling author Miles Blake (played by Landon Ashworth). Miles is renowned as a murder mystery expert and is beloved in the crime lovers’ community. With a massive fan base eagerly anticipating his new books, they expect fresh and captivating mysteries with palpable motives. Miles is known for his skill in crafting intricate murder plots that keep readers engaged.
Miles’ PR agent informs him that he has been offered a teaching position for a semester at a local college. Feeling the need for a break, Miles sees this as an opportunity to share his knowledge and perhaps gain inspiration for his new mystery novel.
Meanwhile, we are introduced to Ashley (played by Rae DeRosa), a creative writing graduate working on her first novel, which will also serve as her thesis. Her mentor calls her in and reveals that the celebrity writer, Miles Blake, will teach campus classes. He asks Ashley to be his teaching assistant. Ashley, a passionate fan of Miles, is thrilled at the chance to work with him. However, she is also headstrong and sees this experience as a way to improve her own writing and develop her novel.
In “My Professor’s Guide to Murder,” another character named David (played by Yadin Goldman) is introduced, possibly serving as a red herring and embodying the cliché of the jealous type. David is a huge fan of Miles Blake and becomes angry when Ashley is assigned as his teaching assistant instead of him.
We are also introduced to Jordan, Ashley’s supportive best friend on campus, who is studying to become a detective and currently works shifts at the local morgue. Ashley and Jordan frequently spend time together and serve as each other’s support system.
Miles arrives on campus for his first class and meets Ashley the following day. He praises her writing, expressing his impression and belief that she has the potential to be a great writer if she pushes her boundaries. During the class, Miles advises the students that to write a good murder mystery, they should imagine themselves as the murderer, delving into the motives and the urge to kill. Although he later claims it to be a joke, we observe that his words have some impact on David.
In the next class, Miles gives an assignment to the students, asking them to write a perfect murder and submit it to him. Later that night, Ashley arrives at Miles’ home and the two of them bond over reading the papers submitted by the students. As Ashley walks back home, she feels threatened by someone following her and calls Jordan, who advises her to come to her house instead. Jordan consoles her, suggesting that reading all the murder assignments might have put her on edge, and advises her to keep her phone charged in case of emergencies.
That same night, a student named Kate Bishop is kidnapped, causing tension and unease throughout the university. Everyone is puzzled about the reasons behind Kate’s disappearance and the identity of the culprit. Ashley notices something suspicious about David after Kate’s vanishing and starts suspecting him. Meanwhile, Kate is held captive in what seems to be a large abandoned pit which the killer fills with water, drowning her.
On the other hand, Ashley makes significant progress in her book and receives positive feedback from Miles. He offers to take her to dinner to discuss her work further. During their conversation, Miles encourages her to consider Kate’s perspective and the possible motivations of the killer. Ashley is taken aback by this suggestion, feeling that it goes against her empathetic nature and raises doubts within her. Miles departs, urging her to push the boundaries of what is possible in her writing and create something unexpected for her readers.
Kate’s lifeless body is eventually discovered near the lake, and the cause of death is determined to be drowning. Jordan, who is also part of the team investigating the murder, calls Ashley to warn her about the escalating danger on campus and advises her to be more cautious. In light of recent events, Miles decides to cancel his classes for a week.
Is David Freeman the killer?
Something clicks in Ashley’s mind, leading her to suspect that David Freeman, who has been acting strangely lately, might be connected to Kate’s murder. She decides to visit his dormitory, only to find his room unlocked. As she enters, she is startled by David’s numerous fan notes about Miles’ writing and suspects foul play. However, David enters the room and explains that he has been in the hospital due to the flu and is unaware of Kate’s death. Feeling uneasy around David, Ashley decides to tell him that Miles liked his assignment and claimed it was one of the best.
Curious, David asks Ashley if she personally read his assignment, but she informs him that Miles was the one who reviewed it. Disturbed by the news of Kate’s drowning, David’s behavior becomes more suspicious. Ashley decides to share her suspicions about David with her mentor, who introduces her to Occam’s razor, suggesting that while David may seem peculiar, he is unlikely to be capable of murder.
Meanwhile, Jordan, who is part of the investigation, discovers signs of dehydration on Kate’s body, despite drowning being listed as the cause of death. This realization leads her to believe that Kate drowned before being placed in the lake. Jordan informs Ashley about her findings and suggests meeting for drinks later, but Ashley declines, explaining that she is engrossed in the final act of her book.
Ashley meets with Miles again and inquires about his new book’s plot. He doesn’t reveal much but hints that it revolves around a detective falling into the trap set by a murderer.
In the next scene, David pays a visit to Miles. The two sit down, and David confronts Miles about his paper, which bears an unsettling resemblance to Kate Bishop’s murder. Worried that his assignment may make him a suspect, David seeks reassurance from Miles. Miles assures him that he won’t disclose anything to anyone.
My Professor’s Guide to Murder (2023) Movie Ending, Explained:
Who is the killer?
Jordan arrives at the local pub alone since Ashley is busy working on her third act. She spots Miles sitting at the bar by himself and engages in conversation with him. The two of them hit it off, and Miles flirts with Jordan. However, unbeknownst to her, Miles spikes her drink, ensuring that nobody in the bar notices their departure together. Outside the bar, as they start walking away, Miles reveals that he drugged her drink, causing Jordan to realize that he is the one responsible for Kate’s murder and that she could be his next victim. Jordan begins to lose consciousness while Miles explains how he targeted her.
Two days later, Ashley wakes up having completed her entire novel and tries to contact Jordan. With no replies, she attempts to reach Jordan’s home, only to discover that she hasn’t been there since Friday. Realizing it has been more than 72 hours, Ashley becomes worried and starts piecing together the events.
Meanwhile, we see Jordan trapped in the same abandoned pit where Kate was held captive. Miles confesses his motives for choosing Jordan as his next victim, stating that he desired someone strong and intelligent to be ensnared in his web. Given Jordan’s aspiration to become a detective, he draws parallels between her narrative and that of his new book, explaining that despite her swimming skills, it will be drowning that leads to her demise. He then tosses in a water valve and begins to fill the pit with water.
Can Ashley save her friend from the clutches of the murderer?
A distressed Ashley rushes to the local pub and inquires about Jordan’s presence there. The bartender informs her that Jordan was with Miles at the pub a few days ago, but they left separately. A news bulletin reveals to Ashley that her suspicion of David being the killer is unfounded, as he has apparently committed suicide in his room. Although David’s suicide note confesses to multiple drownings, Ashley remains unconvinced.
She has some kind of headway with Miles being involved in the murders; she thus goes to his place only to find it deserted. However, we can see Miles’ shadowy figure lurking nearby.
An attentive Ashley manages to stumble onto the drowning pit where Jordan is fighting for her life. Ashley quickly throws in a water hose, so that Jordan can use it to climb up. But as Ashley attempts to assist her, Miles arrives at the scene and strikes her down with a shovel.
He reveals his sinister side, confessing that initially, he only wanted to observe women by stalking them. However, he couldn’t resist the urge to truly become a murderer and carry out the killings himself. Miles discloses his deranged personality, explaining that his written murders lacked authenticity until he attempted to bring them to life.
Why did Miles use David’s assignment for the kill?
Miles further reveals to Ashley that after his last novel, he fell into a writer’s block and saw the assignment as an opportunity to steal from aspiring writers who possessed fresh and creative ideas. He explains that he chose David as a cover for his murders due to his personality. When Ashley questions what he plans to do now that she knows his evil intentions, Miles coldly informs her that she has become the twist in his story and that he intends to kill her.
However, at that moment, Jordan successfully climbs out of the pit using the water hose and calls out Ashley’s name. Seizing the opportunity, Ashley pushes Miles into the pit, trapping and possibly killing him by drowning.
The ending of “My Professor’s Guide to Murder” jumps one year ahead and takes place at a book reading event. Similar to the opening scene, the closing sequence shows Ashley captivating an audience as she reads from her now-successful novel, “Murderous Intentions.” The book reflects her own harrowing experience from a year ago, and she has managed to transform it into her own gripping story.
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