3 out of 5 stars (average)
Thank you to the filmmakers for reaching out to me for this review. Poster is provided by them.
Mistress Dispeller takes what could be a thoroughly melodramatic subject (someone discovering their beloved is cheating on them) and turns it into something interesting and relatable. It’s a new documentary from filmmaker Elizabeth Lo that sheds light on a business I never knew existed and somehow manages to make all its players sympathetic. Mistress Dispeller could have been a misfire in lesser hands, but as executed here, it’s a solidly engaging slice-of-life documentary that’s definitely worth cheating on your Netflix subscription to check out.
What is a Mistress Dispeller? Well, it’s an individual who people come to when they believe their significant other has been unfaithful and desires the disrupting relationship to end. We follow one such MD as she ingratiates herself into the life of a woman who’s realized her husband is cheating on her for someone younger, but still wants their own relationship to remain. Through discussions and hangouts, the Mistress Dispeller learns all sides of this triangle and gives each party a chance to share their end of it as she works to peacefully break up the offending relationship for her client.
Mistress Dispeller is a pleasantly relaxed examination of cheating. It’s put together like a traditional narrative film and doesn’t rely on talking head shots or much voiceover, but instead lets conversations play out naturally. I initially thought the film might vilify the mistress in question or be primarily told from the wife’s perspective, but was appreciative that it didn’t paint anybody here as “the bad guy” despite wrongdoing clearly being done. I felt for all 3 parties involved and appreciated the movie’s frankness in showing that loving relationships can still hit a rocky point. These are ordinary people dealing with ordinary problems in a mature way, and I found that refreshing to see. It’s a straightforward, direct, and solid documentary you should seek out for an afternoon. Mistress Dispeller dispels the traditional hoopla around infidelity in exchange for an engaging, grounded, and balanced examination of it that ironically leaves you feeling more positive about your own relationships.
Not Rated. The film comes out in theaters October 22nd, 2025.