Lifetime’s crime-thriller drama A Husband to Die For: The Lisa Aguilar Story has caught the attention of true-crime fans with its chilling storyline and gripping performances. The movie is based on true events and follows Lisa Aguilar, a pregnant woman whose life takes a turn for the worse when her husband, Darren, betrays her in the worst way possible. The movie is about betrayal, faith, and strength and it has beautiful backgrounds that make the story more interesting. We’re going to examine the movie’s filming locations and production methods at NetFilming.
Plot Overview
The story revolves around Lisa and Darren, a couple excited to start a new chapter in their lives after learning about Lisa’s pregnancy. However, Darren begins an affair with Michelle, who pressures him to leave his wife. Torn between loyalty and desire, Darren devises a horrifying plan to eliminate Lisa. He wears a mask to hide his identity and attacks her at home, stabbing her many times. Lisa and her unborn child survive against all odds. She finds out the shocking truth with the help of the police: her husband was the attacker. Lisa fights to bring him to justice with courage, family support, and faith.
Where Was A Husband to Die For: The Lisa Aguilar Story Filmed?
The movie was shot entirely in Ontario, Canada, with Ottawa being the main place where it was filmed. To make Lisa’s world feel real, the production team used real neighbourhoods, well-known landmarks and indoor sets.
Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa, the capital of Canada, was the perfect setting for this gripping Lifetime thriller because it was both urban and suburban. To show Lisa and Darren’s everyday lives, the cast and crew filmed in a number of neighbourhoods, turning real houses into movie sets. Some scenes were also filmed on sound stages to make the insides of hospitals and other controlled environments look real.
In establishing shots, you can see famous places like the Fairmont Château Laurier, the Rideau Canal, ByWard Market, and Parliament Hill’s Centre Block. These places make the movie feel real and connected to Ottawa.
Trivia: Ottawa is a popular filming hub. Productions like MatchMaker Mysteries: A Killer Engagement, The Perfect Marriage and True Justice: Family Ties have also been shot here.
Cast Details
- Keana Lyn Bastidas (Lisa Aguilar)
Keana portrays the strong-willed Lisa. Alongside her acting career, she has worked in the sound department of films like Hellions. She brings emotional depth and resilience to Lisa’s character. - Jon McLaren (Darren Aguilar)
Jon gives a scary performance as Darren. Fans might also know him as Star-Lord from the Marvel video game Guardians of the Galaxy, which got great reviews and was nominated for awards. - Marilu Henner (Grandmother)
Marilu plays Lisa’s grandmother, showing both strength and kindness. She has also worked on a number of films and TV shows, including Unforgettable and Abandoned and Deceived. - Cynthia Preston (Supporting Role)
Cynthia, who has had a long career on TV, joined the project as a supporting actor. Her nice things to say about the show show how well the cast gets along. - Supporting Ensemble
Other skilled actors fill out the cast, adding to the suspense and drama with strong performances in both big and small parts.
A Husband to Die For: The Lisa Aguilar Story Behind The Scenes
Have you ever thought about what it takes to make a movie out of a true story like Lisa Aguilar’s? I looked behind the scenes of A Husband to Die For: The Lisa Aguilar Story, and it’s clear that this Lifetime thriller was made with care and hard work.
The production, directed by Colleen Rush and David Weaver, wrapped in just a few weeks in Ottawa, but the energy on set was electric. As per usmagazine, Actress Marilu Henner, who plays Lisa’s grandmother—the film’s emotional anchor—shared how the team nailed the authenticity. “I think everybody felt so good about the material and so good about the production values. There was nothing cheesy about this movie at all, not at all. And I think that’s what it felt, very real and very textured and in the right kind of way.”
Henner drew from real life to embody her character, a confidante who urges Lisa to move on after the betrayal. She even pulled from her personal wardrobe for that vibrant, grandmotherly style, blending her own experiences into the role.
“Her grandmother was like her rock… she was like a fabulous dresser and she was like all these things and so she was like her confidant and her friend. So, the part really spoke to me.” It’s no surprise she calls it a “great experience working with these people,” praising co-director David Weaver and producer Danielle Von Zerneck.
Keana Lyn Bastidas, as Lisa, brought raw intensity to the survival scenes, while Jon McLaren’s portrayal of the deceptive Darren added chilling depth. Henner raved about Bastidas: “The girl, Kiana Lynn Bestitis, who plays Lisa Aguilar, she’s not only incredible and she’s so young. She’s so fabulous.” The cast’s chemistry shone through, making those hospital recovery moments feel painfully real.
What struck me most? Henner’s take on the script’s wild twists, like the gorilla mask in the attack. “If you pitched this the way it happened as a story, as a fictional story, people go, ‘No, no, no. Take the gorilla mask out of it. Take the fact that she was eight and a half months pregnant.'”
Yet, they kept it all, honoring Aguilar’s harrowing journey. Henner hopes it sparks awareness: “The world has to see this, because there are a lot of people out there who probably feel victimized in their relationships and don’t even realize it.”
This bts glimpse shows why the movie resonates—it’s not just drama; it’s a call to recognise strength in the face of horror. If you’re tuning in tonight, you’ll feel that passion on screen
Want to know more about where your favourite movies are shot? Stick with us for more location insights and production secrets!
Read More: Where Was BBC’s The Guest Filmed? Full Guide to Welsh & UK Locations
