Entertainment

The Perfect Couple Review: Nicole Kidman Shines, Ishaan Khatter Impresses in Gripping Murder Mystery

Netflix’s The Perfect Couple strikes back into the murder mystery business with all of the panache and production values of the best HBO shows, from The White Lotus to Big Little Lies. From the vision of Susanne Bier, who directed Nicole Kidman in The Undoing, this adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s 2018 bestseller probably isn’t as profound or incisive as any of the aforementioned, yet it unravels an engrossing, fast-tracked plot without ever wasting a single moment.

Familiar Ground?

The similarities to other hit series aren’t at all subliminal. As with The White Lotus season 2, The Perfect Couple centers around a murder that occurred near a celebrity-heavy island, including Meghan Fahy’s character swimming in the background of the scene of the crime. Nicole Kidman’s Nicole Greer is also unmistakably similar to her Big Little Lies counterpart. Neither of them is free from the hassles of marriages that are not easy to break free from. Greer, much like Celeste from Big Little Lies, is overly concerned with how she will appear in public while hiding ailing struggles inside.

To add to her woes, Greer happens to be a well-known figure—a bestseller crime fiction novelist who often seeks inspiration from her real-life incidents including her strife-ridden marriage. With her life emulating the twisted plots of her books, Greer fights to keep the illusion of perfection going, at least when her son Benji falls in love with a rather modest zoologist, Amelia. This week, Benji married Amelia against his mother’s will, bringing the family together at their Nantucket holiday home, where murder is about to occur.

The Perfect Couple

Cracks in the perfect façade

The investigation of this murder uncovers the long-kept secrets of the family. Appearing successful and united, far from being an exemplary family, the Winsburys are one of those who do not know them well enough. The family’s staff informs the police about the inner details of the household as if they, not Greer, were the real writers of such crime stories. As the play progresses, Greer becomes more of an onlooker. She observes every moment of her family’s interaction; how much is she manipulating in the narrative? And is she even able to control her own life story, let alone that of her family?

Greer’s motives are pretty obvious: the desire to manipulate public opinion about her family. A murder in the morning, and by afternoon, the family is dressed up, ready for a press photo—desperate to put on a perfect face at all costs.

A Race Against Time

While these more profound questions are simmering underneath the surface, The Perfect Couple doesn’t tarry over them for any great lengths of time. The show cruises at a relentless clip, with its twists coming at regular intervals and barely giving any time for rumination. The fast tempo keeps viewers engaged; the unpredictability of the storyline does not give them much time to reflect on what might happen next.

Nicole Kidman, who has been famous for her explosive emotional breaks, maintains a more subdued character here. Vulnerability has been camouflaged by her hooked, guarded personality. In one scene, she casually applies lip balm while getting a message of condolence, a minor telling gesture that says a lot about her character needing to keep up appearances. Even in those moments of vulnerability, Kidman’s character would not break character and show weakness.

A Star-Studded Cast with Room for More

Ishaan Khatter, in his series debut, plays the role of Shooter Dival, who is the best man at Benji’s wedding. Suave and mysterious, he creates tension within the Winsbury household, something Ishaan Khatter brings onto the screen. His scenes with Kidman could have been a lot more since their dynamic could add another layer of intrigue.

Also Read: Nicole Kidman Redefines Boldness in ‘Babygirl’ – A Provocative Drama Premiering at Venice Film Festival

The cast is brilliant, even if the casting might inadvertently tip off eagle-eyed viewers to the identity of the murderer. The culprit is right under one’s nose, yet the mystery of their motive is vague, even at the show’s end. This unresolved quality gives The Perfect Couple an edge—it’s jaggedly unpredictable right to the very end.

Ultimately, The Perfect Couple turns out to be a tumultuous murder mystery with enough twists to keep viewers hooked, even if its familiarity makes the proceedings occasionally feel like déjà vu.