WFG RATING: A

Vision Films presents a 905 Productions film. Directed by Henry Barrial. Written and produced by Ron Jackson. Cinematography by John Paul DeFazio. Edited by Jill D’Agnenica.

Stars Jason Bernardo, Jessicah Neufeld, Brian Lally, Nerissa Tedesco, Ricardo Molina, Lucy Boryer, Caroline Amiguet, Patrick Wolff, Christopher Botiller, Mike Sears, Alex Kip, and Thurman Dalrymple.

A couple decide to live stream while playing detective in this pretty funny dark comedy from director Henry Barrial.

Nick and Lana McQuoid once were living the good life with Nick working as a screenwriter and Lana working as a soap opera star. However, times have recently hit hard and the two are now trying to make ends meet. Nick decides to try live streaming for an audience. At first, Lana is very reluctant, but Nick promises boundaries to when to stream. However, things soon change when they hear a gunshot and learn that their neighbor, Mrs. Thatcher, has been murdered.

When the police find themselves baffled by the case, Nick comes up with an idea that’s sure to be a hit. He decides to invite all of their neighbors on the same floor and offer each neighbor a different cocktail as he is skilled in mixology. Lana thinks it is a brilliant idea as they may be able to find any reliable suspects. However, they soon learn things will be easier said than done, especially when a second body has been discovered.

Get ready for a murder mystery like no other. Sometimes, when it comes to executing this genre, it can be hard to distinguish motives and come up with elaborate twists throughout the story and thus, it doesn’t offer anything fresh to the genre. However, Ron Jackson’s screenplay and Henry Barrial’s direction brings something new and fresh and that involves the use of a “live stream” format, which means loads of fourth wall breaks and a variety of potential suspects that are quite the eclectic bunch.

Jason Bernardo and Jessicah Neufeld are excellent in their central roles of financially strapped couple turned aspiring detectives Nick and Lana. Both involved in the entertainment industry, it is quite interesting to see these two use their skill sets of storytelling and acting to become a couple similar to the Thin Man series of films, which was an inspiration for this film. In the midst of playing detective, we also see Nick attempt to get his latest script out there with Jeff Nimoy voicing the studio boss whose constant outbursts of pros and cons make for some good comedy.

The list of suspects is quite fascinating. They include a freeloading divorcee in Patrick Wolff’s Sam; a very ticked-off Maizie, played by Caroline Amiguet, who is that way because of Nick’s occupation bringing back regressive feelings; Brian Lally’s very outspoken Sargent Russell, and his quiet Mexican girlfriend, played by Nerissa Tedesco. There’s also former Doogie Howser M.D. co-star Lucy Boryer as Rose, an obsessive fan of Lana from her soap opera days; and Alex Kip’s policeman William, who upon his first meeting with the couple, comes out and even becomes “Tiffany”. These are exactly what you would want in a 21^st-century against type murder mystery film, and it works. It makes you want to keep guessing who the suspect is and potentially the killer.

Murder and Cocktails is the murder mystery we need in this generation. Going against type, it keeps you guessing and with the use of today’s technology and use of live streaming, this is one film you’re going to want to see.