Naman Shrestha
With Alexandre Carrière occupying the director’s chair, Lifetime’s ‘Murder at the Hotel’ follows a family woman named Megan Marris, who is a devoted wife to Jeff Marris and a doting mother to their daughter, Lisa Marris. Right when they are about to board a flight, the Marris family and other passengers receive the disappointing news of their flight being delayed on account of a snowstorm. Now, they must spend a stressful night at an airport hotel while waiting for the storm to clear. However, Megan has other life-threatening issues to deal with. As old flames are reignited, the flight delay ends up turning into a deadly game of survival, with her being determined to save her family from her dangerous past. The confined space of the airport and the hotel where Megan and her family are stuck for the night adds a layer of suspense and thrill to the narrative, making it a gripping watch.
Where Was Murder at the Hotel Filmed?
The shooting for ‘Murder at the Hotel’ was carried out in its entirety in Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly in St. John’s. According to reports, the principal photography for the Lifetime production got underway in late February 2025 under the working title ‘Terminally Delayed’ and continued for a couple of weeks before wrapping up around mid-March of the same year. A few weeks after the conclusion of the filming, Samora Smallwood expressed her gratitude for her fellow cast and crew members. She stated, “Special shout-out to my producer- friends Rob & Pete Blackie (the future is so bright!) my phenomenal director @carriere.alexandre the crazy talented @meggregoryy9 & @lorrainefpower who hooked up this face and hairs & to the best crew who make hard work & late nights look easy. Last but not least is love for the coolest, most talented, best looking cast ever. We didn’t stop laughing, yapping, dreaming and expanding, did we???” Thus, from what we can tell, the production went on smoothly with the cast and crew taking home meaningful memories from their time on set.
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
‘Murder at the Hotel’ was extensively filmed in St. John’s, the capital city of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The cast and crew moved across several locations in the area to capture Megan’s journey as she pulls out all stops to traverse through the mysteries and perils that threaten her life and endanger the safety of her loved ones. A portion of the filming took place at St. John’s International Airport, situated at 100 World Parkway, just 3 nautical miles from the eponymous city. In addition, the team settled upon a hotel likely near the airport to double up for the property that hosts the individuals.
Located on the island of Newfoundland off the Atlantic coast, it boasts a breathtaking natural landscape, rugged coastline, historic landmarks, rich art and cultural scene, all of which make it a haven for those who enjoy basking in the beauty of nature, history and creativity. Over the years, it has served as the shooting site for the production of several movies and television shows of a diverse range and scale, such as ‘SurrealEstate,’ ‘Diverted,’ ‘Behind the Wall,’ ‘House of Deadly Lies,’ ‘The Bingo Robbers,’ ‘Riverhead,’ and ‘Republic of Doyle.’ Therefore, the dramatic landscape and atmospheric charm of the city proved ideal to accentuate the suspenseful tone and enhance the tension of the narrative of the Lifetime thriller movie.
Murder at the Hotel Cast Details
Samora Smallwood and Matt Wells helped bring the narrative of ‘Murder at the Hotel’ to life through their impressive onscreen performances. Apart from being an experienced actor, Samora has also served as a director and writer for a few short films, such as ‘Sidewinder’ and ‘Chrysalis.’ Similarly, Matt has also been involved in multiple projects as a writer and producer, including ‘Guess Who,’ ‘The New Normal,’ and ‘Crown and Anchor.’
Samora Smallwood as Megan Marris
Samora Smallwood essays the character of Megan Marris in ‘Murder at the Hotel.’ She is widely recognized for her portrayals of Monica Hill in ‘The Way Home,’ Dr. Maddi Brewer in ‘The Kings of Napa,’ Lt. Amin in ‘Star Trek: Discovery,’ and UN Naval Attache in ‘The Expanse.’ Meanwhile, her film credits include ‘Angel Falls Christmas,’ ‘Death She Wrote,’ ‘Remember Me, Mommy?,’ ‘I Wish You Love,’ and ‘Queen of the Morning Calm.’
Matt Wells as Jeff Marris
In the Lifetime production, Matt Wells steps into the role of Jeff Marris, Megan’s husband. You might recognize him from his roles in ‘Who’s Yer Father?’ as Luke Thorne, ‘Crown and Anchor’ as Danny, and ‘Christmas on the Alpaca Farm’ as Andrew Flannery. He has also showcased his acting talents and versatility in several other projects, such as ‘The Spencer Sisters,’ ‘Youngblood,’ ‘When Hope Calls,’ ‘Settle Down,’ ‘My Son’s Deception,’ and ‘North of North.’
While Yasmin MacKay portrays Lisa Marris, Megan and Jeff’s teenage daughter. Jonathan Valvano plays the role of Landon Sheldon. Other talented cast members in supporting roles include Lauren Vandenbrook as Nicole Webber, Shanna Armogan as Jan, Justin Nurse as Brad, Tom Dunne as Tony, Peter Michael Dillon as Evan, and Pat Dempseyas as Rick.
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