Villainess Review: Ashley (Lover's Discretion)

Recently, I watched this movie called, Urban Horror Series, and I actually learned that the film was actually a compilation of five short films with different titles. One of them was titled, Lover's Discretion, and it centered on a married couple, Ashley and Will, dealing with the new normal that we have all been used to as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The couple had been making love before Ashley makes breakfast, while also ordering Will to wash his hands, mainly due to COVID concerns.

Will does so, and after commending Ashley's cooking, he informed his wife that he would be in a virtual business meeting with Tom, which would be followed by a trip to the grocery store. When asked if she needed anything, Ashley said she didn't before giving Will a kiss and informing her husband about her new workout regimen. We see Ashley head to the bathroom, where she suddenly bursts into tears--a clear sign that something is wrong and she is going through something, but what? Let's find out, shall we?

So Will has his meeting with Tom, but during the meeting, he starts coughing. Uh-oh. Immediately, Tom suspects that COVID had struck Will, though Will stated that it was something else. At that moment, we see Ashley appear, and she's dressed to the nines: elegant dress, lipstick, and high heels. Will notices his wife's look, which Ashley attributes to her desire to "shake things up," and regarding Will's coughing fit, Ashley advised Will to drink a glass a water, doing so in response to Will's question regarding how Ashley prepared breakfast.

Ashley later asked Will if he had COVID, with Will again saying he hadn't, while adding that he was experiencing an allergic reaction. It was at this point that Ashley mentioned peanut oil, and when it came to Will's medication, she pulled it away and provided a shocking revelation: Will had been cheating on Ashley with a woman named Keisha. The mention of peanut oil revealed that Ashley laced Will's breakfast with the very thing he was allergic to, and it was followed by Ashley lashing out at Will for not only his indiscretion, but the fact that it was putting her at risk. Will admitted to the affair and claimed that Keisha meant nothing to him before taking his medication, but he suddenly had a more violent reaction.

As Ashley revealed, she laced the medication with bleach, and gave a wicked smile as she watched Will fatally succumb to her handiwork. She later portrayed herself as a shocked and grieving wife while phoning 911 regarding Will, but once the call ended, Ashley took off the proverbial mask--along with her wedding ring.

Lover's Discretion was the third of the five short films in the compilation film, which was released on Tubi in November of 2021. Shanti Lowry portrayed the short film's scorned villainess, Ashley, and she was so deliciously evil! I loved that while Ashley's anguish showed that something was wrong, there was no hint to what it was. I was legitimately surprised at the infidelity reveal on Will's part, and seeing Ashley transform herself into a vengeful and murderous villainess was absolutely perfect! The change in fashion being part of Ashley's heel turn was a bonus--gave definite "like a boss" vibes. Lowry acted out both sides of Ashley very well. The first half saw Lowry act out Ashley's sweet nature and her vulnerability, but she truly shined in the climax, as Lowry portrays Ashley's vicious and sadistic personality in such a magnificent fashion.

Overall, the short film was an amazing watch, I also loved that COVID-19 was part of the plot because it's very relatable, and it gave us a terrific villainess in Ashley, as well as an amazing portrayal by Shanti Lowry. Regarding her filmography, Lowry has appeared in episodes of The Closer, Murder in the First, and Code Black, and recently appeared in the BET+ holiday film, Christmas for Sale.

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Check out Ashley's profile on Villainous Beauties Wiki below!