My Fault: London is a British romantic drama film released on Amazon Prime Video on February 13, 2025, and directed by Danny Girdwood and Charlotte Fassler. Written by Melissa Osborne, the film is a remake of the 2023 Spanish film Culpa Mia (My Fault), which is based on the novel Culpa Mia by Mercedes Ron. Starring Asha Banks, Matthew Broom, Eve Macklin, Ray Fearon, and Jason Flemyng in the lead roles, the film mixes forbidden love, family drama, and suspense with a young adult (YA) romance formula. With a runtime of 119 minutes, the film is streaming in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada dubbed versions. With mixed reviews from critics and positive vibes from the audience, how did the film impress the Telugu audience? Let's see my feelings, highlights, and shortcomings in this review
What's in the story?
My Fault: London revolves around the story of Noah (Asha Banks), an 18-year-old American teenager. Her mother Ella (Eve Macklin) marries British millionaire William (Ray Fearon), and they move from Florida to London. Noah is unhappy after her boyfriend Dan (Harry Gilby) leaves her bestie Hayley (Tallula Evans). In London, she meets her stepbrother Nick (Matthew Broome), an arrogant bad boy, and they first start fighting, then an unexpected attraction sparks. As Nova gets involved in Nick’s world of fast cars, fist fights, and parties, she enjoys the summer with new friends Jenna (Enva Lewis) and Leon. But a dark secret from Nova’s past—her estranged father (Jason Fleming), who has been released from prison and stalking her—threatens her new life. How will Nova balance this forbidden romance, family drama, and past trauma? The story is about.
My Feelings: Steamy romance, but feels cliché!
When the movie started, the steamy vibe shown in the trailer and the enemies-to-lovers trope between Nova and Nick made me think, “Oh, this is going to be a heartbeat-skipping YA romance like After!” The London setting, Nova-Nick bickering, and car racing scenes in the first 20 minutes felt fresh. As one user wrote on X, “The chemistry, cinematography, and soundtrack are all messed up!” I agree with the sentiment. The second half added emotional depth to the story with the addition of the trauma of Nova’s past and the suspense of father stalking. The climax saw the Nova-Nick romance and family reconciliation feel heartbreaking.
However, the film did not fully satisfy. The story was riddled with clichés (bad boy, forbidden love, traumatic past) and predictable twists that made the freshness lacking. Critics also highlighted this point, stating in one review, “Fast and Furious meets Never Back Down, as written by a teenage Jackie Collins.” The supporting characters (Jenna, Leon) lack development, and some scenes are dull. For those who have seen Culpa Mia, this version may seem a bit toned-down, less sexy, but the focus on emotional connection is good.
Technical aspects, acting
Technically, My Fault: London is impressive. The cinematography captures the glamour and gritty underworld of London brilliantly, and the car racing and party scenes have a vibe. The soundtrack elevates the summer vibes, but the background score feels overbeat in places. The production values are slick and the sound design is decent. While the editing is smooth, it would have been nice if some of the draggy scenes had been trimmed.
In acting, Asha Banks (Noah) is a natural as the rebellious teen, and her emotional scenes (especially the flashbacks to Father Trauma) are heartwarming. Matthew Broome (Nick) dominates the screen with his sexy, vulnerable charm. As one fan wrote in X, “Matthew Broome kills with his eye locking and lip movements!” Their chemistry builds slowly, but pops in the second half. Ray Fearon and Eve Macklin are decent in supporting roles, but Jason Flemyng’s villainous role feels a bit over-the-top. The lack of depth in the secondary characters (Jenna, Leon) is dull.
Likes and Dislikes
Likes:
Chemistry: The steamy, sweet chemistry between Asha Banks and Matthew Broom is the highlight of the film.
Cinematography: The London setting, car racing, and party scenes are visually impressive.
Emotional Depth: The new trauma and family dynamics give an emotional impact in the second half.
Consent Focus: The intimacy coordinator's focus on verbal and non-verbal consent in the romantic scenes is refreshing.
Soundtrack: Summer vibes, romantic beats elevate the mood.
Dislikes:
Cliché Story: Bad boy, forbidden love, predictable twists reduce the freshness.
Weak Supporting Characters: Roles like Jenna and Leon are underdeveloped and lack depth.
Slow Pace: Some scenes are dull and draggy, which reduces engagement.
Overdone Villainy: Jason Flemyng's stalker role feels a bit cartoonish.
Who should watch it?
My Fault: London is a YA romance like After, Perfect Addiction, and perfect for those who like the enemies-to-lovers trope. Fans of Asha Banks and Matthew Broom, and audiences looking for steamy romance, light suspense, and family drama will love this movie. With a U/A rating, there are sexual scenes, mild violence, language, trauma references (child abuse, addiction), so teens (with parental guidance), young adults can watch it. Telugu dubbing and subtitles are available on Amazon Prime. Telugu audiences who expect mass action or deep narrative like Pushpa 2, Martin may not like this light, cliché romance.
Rating: 3/5
My Fault: London impressed YA romance lovers with its steamy romance, Asha Banks-Matthew Broom chemistry, London visuals, and emotional depth. But, the cliché story, weak supporting characters, and predictable twists stopped the movie from being great. Toned-down and emotionally better than Culpa Mia, it may disappoint fans of the original. A fun watch on Amazon Prime for those looking for a guilty pleasure romance with a Valentine's Day vibe
Release Date: February 13, 2025 (Amazon Prime Video)
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Directors: Danny Girdwood, Charlotte Fassler
Writer: Melissa Osborne
Cast: Asha Banks, Matthew Broom, Eve Macklin, Ray Fearon, Jason Flemyng