Should You Watch or Pass? Your Guide to the Latest Streamable Hits

May is officially designated as mystery month on the Hallmark Channel, and this year, viewers are in for a treat with the unveiling of a new movie series, True Justice: Eye For An Eye. This film marks the second installment in a gripping saga where a group of dedicated law students work tirelessly to clear the names of those wrongfully accused. In this chapter, they aim to prove the innocence of a woman who stands accused of murdering the mother of another student at their children’s prestigious private school. The mystery is rich with suspects, peppered with clever investigative tactics—yes, that includes a comical fake mustache and wigs—and even sprinkled with a hint of romance.

The Gist: Meet the Justice Warriors, a band of law students who double as sleuths, committed to rectifying judicial errors. The team, comprising Casey (Katherine McNamara), Eli (Markian Tarasiuk), Liam (Alexander Nunez), and Sarah (Marisa McIntyre), is drawn into a chilling murder case involving Katherine Harris. Her body was discovered in a snowy woodland near her family’s cabin. The suspect in the crosshairs is Sharon Warner, accused largely due to a feud stemming from her daughter’s bullying by Katherine’s daughter at their upscale private school, Penn Park. With Katherine serving as the president of the Parent School Coalition, tensions were high. Casey is convinced Sharon is innocent, implying the real killer remains at large and has cunningly framed Sharon.

With guidance from their supportive law professor, Prof. Ambrose (Nikki DeLoach), and the district attorney, Quinn (Benjamin Ayres), the quartet delves into the murder mystery. It quickly becomes apparent that Sharon has been framed, as her contentious history with Katherine made her an easy target. Armed with high-tech surveillance devices, forensic analyses, and overlooked trial details, the Justice Warriors uncover hidden secrets among the Penn Park parents. The truth must surface if Sharon is to be exonerated.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? The investigation into Katherine’s murder echoes the intensity of an episode of Law & Order, with the team engaging legal experts while conducting their own forensic investigations reminiscent of CSI to unearth the killer’s identity.

Performance Worth Watching: The dynamic duo of Eli (Markian Tarasiuk) and Liam (Alexander Nunez) injects the film with vibrant energy. Their chemistry is particularly notable during a scene where they break into a house under investigation—a performance that fans will surely hope to see more of in future installments of the series.

Sex And Skin: None. 

Our Take: I’ve watched plenty of Hallmark Mysteries, and in fact I think that they tend to be some of the best movies on the channel because by their very nature, they push the envelope a little more than typical Hallmark fare. True Justice: Eye For An Eye is a great example of how, when a Hallmark mystery works, it’s a truly satisfying viewing experience. The core group in the film, Casey, Eli, Liam and Sarah, have a genuine rapport and feel not just like a real group of friends, but their antics – going undercover, donning disguises, gathering evidence – adds a dash of silly fun to their investigation. And as mysteries go, the death of a disliked but powerful and well-connected wealthy mom and circling all of the potential suspects is juicy and fun as we see the rest of the school community outwardly mourn this woman while secretly speaking ill of the dead. Like I said, these mysteries give Hallmark writers an opportunity to push the boundaries beyond the typical, sanitized version of the world we usually see on the network and that kind of gritty, sketchy and downright unlikable behavior makes the film more interesting.

Eye For An Eye is the second film in the True Justice series and there are many recurring characters who appeared in the first film – there’s not a whole lot of exposition about who they are (for instance, Casey’s brother lives with her – if you haven’t seen the first film, True Justice: Family Ties, you might not know that he was actually her first case, her first attempt to exonerate someone who was wrongfully convicted. So with that, I would suggest catching that film first if you require a little more context for some of the newer film’s subtle references.) You won’t suffer for not having seen Family Ties, as Eye For An Eye is a success on its own; there’s a genuine sense of mystery and sure, there are definitely moments where you have to suspend your disbelief, but the characters are well-established at this point, making it an ideal comfort watch.

Our Call: True Justice: Eye For An Eye is Hallmark’s version of a Law & Order-style procedural, and it’s flecked with some of the network’s most notable stars like DeLoach and Ayres, and even contains some Easter eggs referencing other Hallmark mysteries (I saw that reference to Nellie Knows!). All those small details help turn this murder mystery into a distinctly Hallmark affair that’s worth your time. STREAM IT!

Liz Kocan is a pop culture writer living in Massachusetts. Her biggest claim to fame is the time she won on the game show Chain Reaction.