Directed by Jose Montesinos, ‘Lies Beneath the Floor,’ AKA ‘Lethal Suspicion,’ is a Lifetime thriller movie that follows a girl named Hanna Nielsen. After the demise of her daughter and getting divorced from her husband, Hanna decides to get a fresh start. While kayaking in a remote lake, her attention is drawn to a nearby cabin. After some close inspection, she realizes that the mother and daughter who live on the property might be in mortal danger.

After being rebuffed by the authorities, Hanna decides to keep a watch out for the family on her own and uncovers the truth that involves an abusive husband and dangerous mother-in-law. Fans of the movie consider the film’s storyline and backdrops as major elements behind its popularity. Naturally, this has led many to ponder how the film came to be. Is it inspired by real-life events or simply a work of fiction? Where exactly were the scenes for the visually appealing movie lensed? Well, we’re here to explore the same and more!

Is Lies Beneath the Floor a True Story?

No, ‘Lies Beneath the Floor’ is not primarily based on a true story. The film was written by Matt Fitzsimons, whose other works include ‘Psycho Intern’ and ‘Murder on Maple Drive.’ The Jose Montesinos directorial presents the viewers with a gripping albeit fictional storyline that does seem to be inspired by certain themes from real life. Hence, the movie gives a realistic feel to the viewers and leaves them questioning how the story might be linked to reality.

Incidents similar to the situation brewing in the beach cabin in the Lifetime thriller can be found in real life. We wish to draw your attention to the case of Christopher Otero-Rivera and Angel Rivera, a father and son duo from Florida. On October 21, 2019, Christopher’s estranged wife Nicole Montalvo was last seen dropping their 9-year-old son at school. Six days later, her remains were found in a property that belonged to Christopher and Angel.

Apparently, the married couple was arguing over the custody of their son. The father and son duo were arrested on murder charges, while Christopher’s mother, Wanda Nereida Rivera, was also arrested for evidence tampering. In July 2021, Christopher and Angel were given life sentences for the murder, 15 years for dismembering Nicole’s body, and 5 more years for evidence tampering.

Regardless of other motives and circumstances, the crimes depicted in ‘Life Beneath the Floor’ can be traced to real life. The idea of abusive spouses and dangerous in-laws is not a far-fetched fictional element as such circumstances often occur in day-to-day life. The Lifetime thriller plays with such themes from reality to present the viewers with a narrative that many might be able to see as a story which might occur off-screen.

Lies Beneath the Floor Filming Locations

‘Lies Beneath the Floor’ was filmed primarily in Clearwater, Florida. Principal photography for the movie took place in the months of November and December in 2021. At the time of recording, the Lifetime thriller was still under its original title, ‘Lethal Suspicion.’ Let’s take a closer look at the details of the location of the movie.

Clearwater, Florida

Positioned in Pinellas County, Clearwater is a beachside city in Florida. Given the sheer number of waterside scenes in ‘Lies Beneath the Floor,’ it’s easy to see why the movie was lensed in the area. With Tampa Bay to the southeast and the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Clearwater is an integral part of the Tampa Bay Area. Some well-known lakes in the city and the surrounding area include Crest Lake and Lake Bellevue. As such, the filmmakers had plenty of areas to choose from to shoot the scenes set in a cabin beside a lake.

Clearwater is one of the beloved shooting areas in the state of Florida. The projects framed in the city are lensed under the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Commission. The group helps filmmakers effectively create their projects. They also try to support local films and hold workshops to impart the art of filmmaking. Popular films shot in Clearwater include ‘Magic Mike’ and ‘Cocoon.’