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Drama

White Lie (2021): Cast, Ratings & Plot

White Lie (2021) movie poster

White Lie is a 2021 drama directed by Calvin Thomas and Yonah Lewis, starring Martin Donovan as Doug Arneson, Kacey Rohl and Amber Anderson. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes. Critics gave it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
92%
Echo Score
68
Metascore
81
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White Lie (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 36m (96 min)
Directors
Calvin Thomas and Yonah Lewis
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Studio
Playtime
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is White Lie About?

The premise of White Lie without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Driven by a need for attention and financial stability, a university student invents a serious illness. What begins as a desperate act quickly spirals out of control as she finds herself entangled in an increasingly complex web of lies. She must then confront the consequences of her actions and the challenge of maintaining the elaborate deception she created.

White Lie Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • female topless nudity
  • cancer
  • shaved head
  • lesbian interest
  • text message
  • female protagonist
  • written by director
  • cell phone
  • iphone
  • instagram
  • female nudity
  • nudity
+38 more
  • red dress
  • father daughter relationship
  • love
  • kiss
  • female female kiss
  • social media
  • university
  • laptop computer
  • canada
  • class differences
  • popularity
  • dialogue driven
  • lesbian relationship
  • betrayal
  • deception
  • dance
  • locker room
  • prescription drugs
  • hamilton ontario canada
  • bald woman
  • radio station
  • fraud
  • fundraising
  • vomiting
  • regret
  • voice mail
  • urination
  • elevator
  • yom kippur
  • lesbian couple
  • toilet
  • mental health
  • suicide
  • money
  • pills
  • liar
  • lie
  • illness
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Cast & crew

White Lie Cast & Characters

Martin Donovan leads the cast as Doug Arneson, with Kacey Rohl as Katie Arneson and Amber Anderson as Jennifer Ellis. Directed by Calvin Thomas and Yonah Lewis; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in White Lie

· 6 more
From the directors

More from Calvin Thomas and Yonah Lewis

More films directed by Calvin Thomas and Yonah Lewis: Spice It Up, The Oxbow Cure and Amy George.

Ratings

White Lie Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave White Lie 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in art & craft (50).

68 /100

White Lie Echo Score Breakdown

Across its runtime, the film relies heavily on a commanding central performance and sustained psychological tension. Conflict over trust and deception unfolds at a measured pace, though moments of ambiguity and an abrupt ending occasionally disrupt narrative clarity. Visual and auditory elements support the dramatic tone with subtle restraint, while the final act’s underdeveloped resolution tempers the overall impact. Viewed as a whole, the film presents a thought-provoking but uneven exploration of moral complexity.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 50

    In terms of art and craft, the film employs a methodical pacing and restrained visual palette that support its psychological tension. The cinematography captures intimate moments in serviceable framing, though it rarely expands beyond functional shot composition. Editing maintains a steady rhythm until the final act, where abrupt transitions underline an unfinished quality. Overall, the technical design is competent but not striking.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    When it comes to character and emotion, the lead performance anchors the drama with nuanced shades of empathy and manipulation. The protagonist’s layered portrayal elicits both sympathy and discomfort, while supporting roles offer measured contributions to the central conflict. Emotional beats are sharpened by moments of psychological push and pull, underscoring the film’s investment in interiority. The result is a richly observed character study that sustains viewer engagement.

  • Story & Flow 65

    With regard to story and flow, the narrative presents a timely exploration of trust and deception, structured around escalating stakes. Early acts build suspense effectively, though the plot’s conclusion arrives abruptly and leaves key questions unresolved. Pacing oscillates between deliberate tension and sudden shifts, creating an uneven rhythm. While certain sequences resonate through conceptual originality, the overall coherence is hindered by its underdeveloped resolution.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    In terms of sensory experience, the score and sound design cultivate a subdued tension that underscores the film’s psychological themes. Ambient effects and restrained musical cues support rather than overwhelm the narrative. Visual styling remains consistent with a muted color palette, enhancing the understated mood. Although these elements cohere to establish atmosphere, they stop short of delivering a memorable sensory imprint.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    When considering rewatch factor, the film’s moral ambiguity and character complexity invite reflection and discussion. Ambiguous ending encourages interpretive reevaluation, and moments of psychological insight hold up on subsequent viewings. However, the abrupt narrative closure and absence of deeper plot resolution may limit its lasting appeal for some audiences. Overall, it offers moderate replay value for those intrigued by character-driven material.

Plot

White Lie Plot Summary

What happens in White Lie from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

College student Katie Arneson is living a duplicitous life, having pretended to have cancer for ten long months. Under the guise of illness, she manipulates those around her by taking placebos, shaving her head, and deliberately losing weight to appear more unwell. Her deceit has made her a minor celebrity on campus as she capitalizes on her false condition for both emotional and financial benefit, successfully crowdfunding support while charming friends—including her unsuspecting girlfriend, Jennifer Ellis.

Full summary

The whole story of White Lie, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

White Lie Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.

WHITE LIE Trailer | TIFF 2019
  • Featurette PFF29 Live Q&A | WHITE LIE
Quiz

How Well Do You Know White Lie?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What illness does Katie pretend to have?

Seen White Lie?

FAQ

White Lie FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of White Lie, each answered in a sentence.

How long is White Lie?

White Lie runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).

When was White Lie released?

White Lie was released on January 5, 2021.

Who directed White Lie?

White Lie was directed by Calvin Thomas and Yonah Lewis.

More films by Calvin Thomas

Who is in the cast of White Lie?

White Lie stars Martin Donovan as Doug Arneson, Kacey Rohl as Katie Arneson and Amber Anderson as Jennifer Ellis, among 10 credited actors.

How is White Lie rated?

White Lie has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 81 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

Does White Lie have a post-credit scene?

No. White Lie has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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