Murder and Cocktails, also known as Cocktails with Nick and Lana, is a 2024 American murder mystery film directed by Henry Barrial and written by Ron Jackson. The film stars Jason Bernardo, Jessicah Neufeld, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Ricardo Molina and Lucy Boryer.
Murder and Cocktails follows Nick and Lana, a financially struggling couple living in a Los Angeles apartment complex who livestream their daily lives online. After one of their neighbors is found dead, the police investigation quickly stalls, prompting the couple to conduct their own informal inquiry. Disguised as friendly cocktail gatherings, Nick and Lana invite fellow residents into their apartment to socialize, subtly question them, and observe their behavior. As the evenings progress, hidden resentments and personal conflicts among the neighbors surface, while the couple’s relationship becomes increasingly strained by obsession, public attention, and the ethics of turning a tragedy into entertainment.
The murderer is revealed to be Rosie, a quiet and outwardly friendly neighbor who had developed an intense fixation on Lana. Rosie’s actions are motivated by obsessive jealousy: she idolized Lana's confidence and online persona while simultaneously resenting her perceived ease, warmth, and visibility. Feeling overlooked and inferior by comparison, Rosie’s admiration gradually transformed into hostility, ultimately leading her to commit the murder.
The film was released on January 23, 2024, and was distributed by Vision Films.[3]
Reception
Bobby LePire at Film Threat scored the film a 9.5 out of 10.[4] Mike Haberfelner at (Re)search My Trash said it is "a great watch, not only for whodunit fans."[5] Rebecca Cherry at Film Carnage scored it 5 out of 10 and said the film "had a good idea but the execution lacks style."[6]
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