"I can tell it's going to be a rough evening, all of us saying nice things to each other."
It strikes me that with its similar setup, this is almost an anti-Strangers on a Train, and works well to play against your expectations if you're think it's going to play out similarly.
It's also a good entry point and intro for true crime fans to some deeper cuts of Hitch's filmography because the plot is structured and plays out in a way that lets the viewer play along as the crime is happening, and also as the detective tries to solve it.