Netflix’s 2025 crime drama A Widow’s Game (La viuda negra, 2025) dives deep into one of Spain’s most shocking real-life murder cases—known as the Patraix case. The film is directed by Carlos Sedes, known for his work on crime thrillers like Now and Then and Fariña. The movie is more than just another crime thriller. It’s a sharp, procedural story about control, deceit, and how love can become a weapon. The film doesn’t glamorize the crime—it unpacks how people believe what they want to believe, and how that can destroy lives.
In this article, we explore what the film is about, the real events behind it, the cast and characters, where it was shot, and how Netflix reimagines this true story for the screen.
What is A Widow’s Game About?
The movie follows the story of María Jesús Moreno Cantó—nicknamed “Maje”—a woman who orchestrated the murder of her husband, Antonio Navarro, with the help of one of her lovers, Salvador Rodrigo Lapiedra. On the surface, Maje was seen as a grieving widow. But the police investigation uncovered a calculated plot involving lies, manipulation, and multiple affairs. The film follows Maje’s double life, how she manipulated Salvador into killing her husband, and the subsequent unraveling of her lies during the trial. This Spanish-language thriller blends psychological tension with courtroom drama, focusing on how truth slowly emerges through investigations and testimonies.
Also Read: 15 Great Psychological Crime Thrillers with Shocking Plot Twists
Cast and Characters
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Ivana Baquero as María Jesús “Maje” Moreno Cantó
Baquero plays the lead role of Maje, a nurse with a secret life. She’s portrayed as charming, emotionally elusive, and deeply manipulative. The film shows how she built a web of lies around her life, telling each man what he needed to hear while plotting her husband’s death. -
Tristán Ulloa as Salvador Rodrigo Lapiedra
Ulloa plays Salva, Maje’s lover and the man who carried out the murder. He is a hospital technician who believed Maje loved him and would start a new life with him. His character represents how someone can be both a victim and a perpetrator under emotional manipulation. -
Carmen Machi as Eva
Machi plays Eva, a police investigator who gradually uncovers the truth. Her role anchors the procedural aspect of the film and represents the justice system trying to piece together a highly convoluted case.
True Story Behind A Widow’s Game
The events of A Widow’s Game are based on the Patraix case, named after the Valencia neighborhood where the murder took place in 2017. Antonio Navarro, an engineer, was stabbed to death in the parking garage of his apartment building. His wife, Maje, appeared devastated. However, police later discovered she had been having multiple affairs and had emotionally manipulated Salvador, one of her lovers, into committing the crime. Maje told Salva that Antonio was abusive, lied about ending her other affairs, and promised a life together. She gave Salva details about Antonio’s routine and access to the garage, setting up the murder. During the investigation, text messages and recordings revealed Maje’s manipulation. Salva eventually confessed to the murder and implicated her, claiming she pressured him into it. In 2020, both were convicted—Maje received a 22-year sentence, and Salva got 17 years. This case shocked Spain not only because of the murder but because of the psychological manipulation, public interest in Maje’s persona, and her calm, calculated demeanor in court.
Where Was the Movie Shot?
A Widow’s Game was filmed in Valencia, Spain—the same city where the real events took place. Shooting on location adds authenticity to the story, especially as key parts of the film take place in the garage, hospital, courtroom, and residential neighborhood where the actual crime occurred. The filmmakers worked with a detailed recreation of real-life settings and maintained the original cultural and social atmosphere of the Spanish middle class. Valencia’s modern architecture and sunlit streets contrast sharply with the dark themes of betrayal and violence in the film. Filming began in late 2024 and wrapped up in early 2025.
