Naman Shrestha
Helmed by Damián Romay, Lifetime’s ‘Deadly Girls Trip’ is a crime thriller drama film that revolves around a group of girls on vacation, during which one of them meets her sudden and mysterious demise. As the group of four young women — Lacey, Rebecca, Addie, and Janice — plan and go on a lavish weekend getaway, their plans to have some fun and relaxing time with each other are interrupted by the discovery of Janice’s body by the mansion’s swimming pool. When the authorities begin investigating and interrogating the other three women, they said that she probably fell after drinking too much alcohol.
However, the suburban mother-to-be Lacey has her suspicions as she overheard a heated argument on the night of the murder. Although she returns to her home, she is sure that her friends are hiding a dark secret. Thus, taking matters into her own hands, Lacey begins investigating the case herself and is determined to get the truth out in the open. Be it a murderous plot or the deadly secrets that people tend to carry within themselves, the suspenseful movie touches upon such realistic themes, thanks to the narrative and the immersive locations, including the mansion that turns into a crime scene.
Deadly Girls Trip is Driven By a Compelling Story That is Rooted in Reality
Penned by Leo McGuigan, ‘Deadly Girls Trip’ is inspired by real-life events, seemingly by the murder case of Shanquella Robinson. On October 28, 2022, the 25-year-old checked into a luxurious mansion in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, along with her six friends — three women and three men. Just a day after the group’s arrival, her friends called a doctor in the afternoon and asked her to treat Shanquella, who had taken ill. As the doctor found her in a dehydrated and verbally unresponsive state, she was told by her travel companions that she had consumed way too much alcohol.
Despite the doctor’s advice to admit her into the hospital, her friends reportedly insisted on getting her treated on the property itself. After multiple attempts by the doctor and paramedics to keep Shanquella stabilized, she tragically passed away around 6 pm in the evening. Initially, it was deemed that she had died of alcohol poisoning, but when the autopsy reports revealed the cause of her death to be severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation, the authorities launched a further investigation into the case.
Moreover, a video of the alleged fight between Shanquella and her alleged killer was leaked online, which further ignited the police’s desire to get to the bottom of the case. There are plenty of similar plotlines between what happens to Janice in ‘Deadly Girls Trip’ and Shanquella, including the fact that it happened while they were on vacation with their friends and their friends claiming that alcohol was the reason for their deaths. Thus, Leo McGuigan supposedly got inspired by some aspects of this tragic event and tried to craft a similar story by adding certain dramatic and cinematic elements.
Where Was Deadly Girls Trip Filmed?
The shooting of ‘Deadly Girls Trip’ was carried out entirely in Kentucky, particularly in and around Louisville. According to reports, principal photography for the Lifetime production got underway in August 2024 and went on for a couple of weeks before getting wrapped up in the first week of September of the same year. One of the cast members, Charlotte Hemmings, shared her experience of filming, saying, “What a wild ride my first, and hopefully not last, Lifetime movie was. Met some of the best people. Had some of the most fun scenes. Got to feel pretty and also feel beat up. I found time for nature. Got time in the city and time doing what I love! What a dream.”
Louisville, Kentucky
All the pivotal sequences for ‘Deadly Girls Trip’ were reportedly lensed in Louisville, which is the historical seat of Kentucky’s Jefferson County. While the establishing shots may feature several notable landmarks and buildings associated with the city, such as 400 West Market, the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Frazier History Museum, the National City Tower, and the Humana Building, several exterior and interior portions were also taped in and around a mansion situated in Louisville.
As for portraying the suburban neighborhood and houses of Lacey and her friends, the production team supposedly set up camp at one of the actual suburban neighborhoods in the city and took over a few residences in the area. In an interview with Augusta Good News, Kate Dailey talked about a specific part of filming that she enjoyed. She said, “I was given the keys to a swanky blue Bentley convertible, and I have to say, giving them back after shooting the driving scenes was harder than I thought it’d be.”
Deadly Girls Trip Cast Details
The cast of ‘Deadly Girls Trip’ is led by the stellar onscreen performances of Kristi Murdock, Lesa Wilson, Kate Dailey, and Charlotte Hemmings. Interestingly, before focusing on her acting career, Lesa was crowned Miss Georgia USA in 2006. She was even one of the semi-finalists in ‘American Idol’ season 3. As for Kate, she earned her double major in Theater and Russian Studies and studied at the Moscow Art Theater in Russia and the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland.
Kristi Murdock as Lacey
Kristi Murdock dons the garb of Lacey, a mother-to-be woman who investigates the murder on her own, in ‘Deadly Girls Trip.’ Starting out as a voice actor, she gradually broke into the scene by featuring in a few episodes of ‘Totally Sketch.’ Her other TV credits include ‘Abandon Ship’ as Lyla, ‘Park Acrobats’ as Carrie, ‘Them,’ and ‘Bothered’ as Haley. Many of you might also recognize her from her starring roles in various movies, such as ‘Whispers in the Walls,’ ‘My Husband’s Seven Wives,’ ‘Trust in Love,’ ‘Danger Lurking Under My Roof,’ and ‘Spring Break Nightmare.’
Lesa Wilson as Rebecca
The ‘Stargirl’ fame Lesa Wilson essays the role of Rebecca, one of Lacie’s friends, in the Lifetime production. Throughout her acting career, she has taken on different kinds of roles that have allowed her to showcase her talents and range. While some of you might recognize her as Lauran from ‘Bluff City Law’ and The Queen from ‘Dwight in Shining Armor,’ others may have seen her in ‘The Hand That Robs the Cradle’ as Melody and ‘My Amish Double Life’ as Mary.
Kate Dailey as Janice
Hailing from the Midwest, Kate Dailey portrays Janice, the woman who is found dead in the mansion during her vacation with her friends, in the crime mystery movie. Having studied theater, she broke into the movie industry by featuring in several short films like ‘Strays’ and ‘Bardo.’ Although she continues to work on short films, Kate also stars in other projects, including ‘Murder in Nashville,’ ‘The Book Club Murders,’ and ‘Danger on Party Island.’
Charlotte Hemmings as Addie
In ‘Deadly Girls Trip,’ Charlotte Hemmings plays the role of Addie, one of the four women friends. Widely recognized for her portrayal of Evelyn in ‘Quest for Love’ and Ivy Miller in ‘Beauty and the Billionaire: Bali,’ she has also been featured in ‘Christmas Wreaths and Ribbons,’ ‘Destined at Christmas,’ ‘Faith of Angels,’ and ‘The Wedding Party.’
Other cast members who play supporting yet important roles in the Lifetime thriller are Alex Trumble as Lacey’s husband, Maya Brim as Detective Sanchez, Nick Schroeder as Kurt, Lydia Chandler as Cathy, and Erica Hector as a Police Officer.
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