Lifetime’s latest ripped-from-the-headlines thriller The Widow’s Payback lands tonight, and it’s a tight, revenge-driven ride. Starring NAACP Image Award nominee Bianca Lawson and rising talent Kheon Clarke, the film follows Amanda Bibbs – a grieving wife who goes undercover to infiltrate the criminal circle she believes is behind her husband’s murder. It’s equal parts tense and clever, with a story that asks: what happens when the system fails you and justice stalls?
Where was The Widow’s Payback filmed?
Though the story feels like it could be set in any gritty American city, The Widow’s Payback was shot in British Columbia, Canada – mainly around Vancouver. Filming reportedly took place in spring/summer 2025, taking advantage of the region’s varied urban and coastal backdrops to stand in for the movie’s different neighborhoods and crime-world settings.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver served as the production’s base. The crew used a mix of city streets, recognizable skyline shots and local landmarks to sell the film’s atmosphere. Expect to spot urban establishing shots that could include the Lions Gate Bridge, Harbour Centre, Living Shangri-La, and Vancouver House – those familiar Vancouver pieces make for convincing, versatile backdrops whether you need a downtown alley, a waterfront vista, or a glossy high-rise exterior.
British Columbia’s film infrastructure and experienced local crews make it a popular go-to for thrillers. For Widow’s Payback, the city’s diversity of locations helped the filmmakers move quickly between tense indoor set pieces and bigger outdoor moments – all without hopping coasts.
Some of the recent productions that took place in Vancouver includes:
- A Royal Montana Christmas
- An Unexpected Valentine
- Leah’s Perfect Gift
- Confessions of a Christmas Letter
- Santa Tell Me
The Widow’s Payback Cast
- Bianca Lawson as Amanda Bibbs – The widow at the center of the story. Lawson brings the kind of steady intensity and range that this role needs; she’s played complex dramatic parts across TV and film for years.
- Kheon Clarke as Percy “Slide” Daye – The ruthless criminal mastermind Amanda targets. Clarke gives the role a dangerous charm that keeps the stakes high.
- Catherine Lough Haggquist – Appears in a supporting role.
- Gigi Saul Guerrero – Also features in the film.
What is the movie about?
Amanda Bibbs (Lawson) is a devoted wife whose world collapses when her husband is murdered. When police leads go cold and the official investigation stalls, Amanda refuses to accept defeat. She crafts a daring plan: assume a new identity, infiltrate the underworld, and worm her way into the inner circle of Percy “Slide” Daye (Clarke), the man she believes ordered the hit.
Using charm, patience and deception, Amanda seduces Percy’s trust and slowly becomes part of his organization. But the deeper she goes, the more perilous everything becomes. She risks not only being exposed, but losing herself in the lie she’s built. The film asks uncomfortable questions about justice, vengeance, and how far a person will go when the system fails them.
In short: it’s a revenge-thriller that mixes undercover suspense with emotional stakes – the kind of Lifetime movie that keeps you watching until the last reveal.
Behind the scenes
Directed by Steve Adelson, from the scripts of Avery O. Williams, the Widow’s Payback was produced by Navid Soofi for PF Oak Productions Inc. in association with Studio TF1 America, with executive producers: Stacy Mandelberg, Tim Johnson, and Meghan Hooper White.
As part of Lifetime’s “Ripped from the Headlines” slate, the film draws inspiration from real-world stories about what happens when the justice system fails and desperate people take matters into their own hands.
The location choices and visual approach were deliberately crafted to support the film’s themes of revenge, deception, and justice.
By filming in Vancouver, the production gained access to the diverse urban settings needed to convincingly portray Amanda’s dangerous infiltration of Percy “Slide” Daye’s criminal empire.
How to watch The Widow’s Payback?
The Widow’s Payback premiered on Lifetime on October 18, 2025 at 8/7c on Lifetime Channel, and is available to stream on-demand on Lifetime Movies App exclusively inside the United States.
If you don’t have cable, you can stream the Lifetime premiere live (and watch encores) on the platforms that carry the channel:
- Philo — 7-day free trial; about $33/month (after trial for new users). Cheapest option if you want Lifetime without traditional cable.
- DirecTV Stream — 5-day free trial; plans start around $86.99/month after the trial.
- Sling TV — No active promotion listed; plans from $45.99/month. Sling sometimes offers day/weekend passes and flexible access options.
Pro tip: If you only want to catch the premiere and don’t want a long-term subscription, check for short-term passes or free trials — just remember to cancel after the movie if you don’t want the full monthly plan.
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