Im Netz der Gier places personal loyalties within a political corruption plot. Anna Grawe's apparent favour for someone she trusts develops into a dangerous situation that also draws in her daughter. The premise has force, but the film does not make full use of it.
Tanja Wedhorn handles the balance between loyal employee and desperate mother solidly. The character's decisions can nevertheless feel constructed, and some of the more dramatic moments need greater emotional depth.
Paula Hartmann gives one of the strongest performances. Larissa's divided feelings and loneliness make her convincing even when her behaviour becomes manipulative. The character gains a complexity that benefits the whole story.
Franziska Schlotterer's direction is assured but cautious. Contrasts between political offices and the coastal landscape create a dense, dark atmosphere. The familiar screenplay does not always exploit that visual strength.
The early promise fades in the middle. Pace and energy decline, while developments are too easily anticipated to provide the intended surprise. The subject remains serious, but the dramatic shape lacks a satisfying final stretch of tension.
The relationship between three generations of women gives the film its emotional centre, with Jutta Wachowiak particularly effective in limited screen time. Those performances and the atmosphere make Im Netz der Gier a solid television thriller. It is worth watching, although its political intrigue is less remarkable than the actors working within it.