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Empire of Lies

Play trailer Poster for Empire of Lies 2026 1h 13m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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David "Dave" Harris lives alone in a remote campervan, cut off from society and haunted by the past. Once publicly accused of murdering his teenage daughter, Dave was never charged -- but the media verdict was swift and unforgiving, painting him as a dangerous conspiracy theorist driven by radical beliefs. When a young, ambitious YouTuber arrives at his door seeking an interview about the case, Dave reluctantly agrees to tell his story. As their conversation unfolds, Dave lays out his belief that his daughter was assassinated by the State -- and that he was framed to silence the truth. At first, his account seems plausible. Disturbingly so. But as the interview deepens, cracks appear. Motives blur. Certainties dissolve. And what begins as an exposé becomes a psychological duel, forcing both interviewer and audience to question where truth ends and obsession begins. The film builds toward a final revelation that reframes everything we've seen -- leaving the audience to decide whether Dave is a victim of a corrupt system, or something far more dangerous.

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Empire of Lies

Critics Reviews

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Cath Clarke Guardian May 14, 2026
2/5
t starts with a promising premise for a low-budget psychological thriller, and there are solid performances from its two actors, but the film never quite generates enough genuine emotion or moments of intrigue to keep it interesting. Go to Full Review Jennie Kermode Eye for Film Apr 10, 2026
3/5
Matthew Hope's low budget thriller is a exercise in what can be achieved with just two actors, a caravan and a field. Go to Full Review Matt Glasby Radio Times Apr 10, 2026
3/5
Although it sometimes feels like a lecture, the film hits harder than you might expect. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Les N @Vegas628 Jun 15, 2026 Low budget but good See more Jonathan S @RT12388464 Apr 12, 2026 At first glance, the premise of Empire of Lies might feel a little on the thin side. Like a stage play in a field with two characters and a lot of dialogue, but the real twist here is that this is not a simply filmed play, it's in fact a deeply satisfying psychological drama-thriller movie that was crafted from a top notch screenplay, made by skilled filmmaker's in every corner (of the field). The unique angle here might seem to be the conspiracy theories - which are certainly interesting (and entertaining) but the deeper study of the effects that unchecked grief can have on people - grief that can turn into psychosis in its darkest forms is where the film really strikes a chord. The performances are both great, two actors bouncing off each other with real precision, and Matthew Hope's direction (I loved his film, The Veteran) is on point and never flashy or distracting. Well worth checking out. See more Read all reviews
Empire of Lies

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Cast & Crew

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Matthew Hope

Director

Joseph Millson

Actor

Natalie Spence

Actor

Matthew Hope

Producer

Matthew Hope

Writer

Joseph Millson

Producer
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Empire of Lies

Empire of Lies (2026) Empire of Lies (2026) Empire of Lies (2026) Empire of Lies (2026) Empire of Lies (2026) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis David "Dave" Harris lives alone in a remote campervan, cut off from society and haunted by the past. Once publicly accused of murdering his teenage daughter, Dave was never charged -- but the media verdict was swift and unforgiving, painting him as a dangerous conspiracy theorist driven by radical beliefs. When a young, ambitious YouTuber arrives at his door seeking an interview about the case, Dave reluctantly agrees to tell his story. As their conversation unfolds, Dave lays out his belief that his daughter was assassinated by the State -- and that he was framed to silence the truth. At first, his account seems plausible. Disturbingly so. But as the interview deepens, cracks appear. Motives blur. Certainties dissolve. And what begins as an exposé becomes a psychological duel, forcing both interviewer and audience to question where truth ends and obsession begins. The film builds toward a final revelation that reframes everything we've seen -- leaving the audience to decide whether Dave is a victim of a corrupt system, or something far more dangerous.
Director
Matthew Hope
Producer
Matthew Hope, Joseph Millson
Screenwriter
Matthew Hope, Joseph Millson, Matthew Hope, Joseph Millson
Production Co
Exit 44 Entertainment
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 13m
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