The Beast in Me review: An embarrassing blunder for ‘Peak TV’ icons

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A star rating of 2 out of 5.

If you were still wondering if television’s best days are behind us, just look at how many once-popular shows are struggling now.

Despite featuring three acclaimed actors – Claire Danes of ‘Homeland’, Matthew Rhys from ‘The Americans’, and Jonathan Banks of ‘Breaking Bad’ – the show ‘The Beast in Me‘ doesn’t quite live up to their usual high standards, resulting in a surprisingly underwhelming performance from all of them.

You may recall that in 2013, Saturday Night Live created a popular and funny parody of Claire Danes’s performance in Homeland. They had Anne Hathaway play the character Carrie Mathison, exaggerating her intense and emotional moments.

The film constantly brings to mind that over-the-top energy, with Danes delivering a relentlessly intense performance. Meanwhile, Rhys and Banks embrace the drama so fully that they leave absolutely nothing behind but exaggerated theatrics.

I’m so excited about this new show! It all kicks off when this super rich property developer, Niles Jarvis – played by Rhys – moves in right next door to Aggie Wiggs, who’s a writer. The thing is, Aggie’s having a tough time writing her next book after her first one was a huge hit. It’s a great setup, and I can’t wait to see what happens!

Niles quickly attracts attention when accusations surface claiming he was involved in the disappearance of his former wife. Despite a lack of proof, rumors of murder swirl around the powerful and ruthless businessman. But is everything as it seems?

Aggie is deeply haunted by the death of her son, who died in a car accident she caused. This tragedy destroyed her marriage and left her feeling isolated and withdrawn.

A deep sense of loss, combined with feeling threatened by a mysterious new neighbor, causes Danes to undergo a dramatic change, expressing nearly every line of dialogue in a panicked and unsteady manner.

Despite generally enjoying Claire Danes’s performances – including in shows like Homeland and the excellent, but overlooked, Fleishman is in Trouble – even her fans might find her overly dramatic acting in this particular role numbing after a while.

Look, I absolutely adore “The Americans” – it’s easily one of my all-time favorite shows. So I know Matthew Rhys has the ability to be truly terrifying on screen when given a good part. Unfortunately, his performance in this film feels more like a cheap imitation of a Bond villain or a character who didn’t quite make the cut on “Succession” – and honestly, I’m not sure which is more disappointing.

Rhys manages to make a weak script somewhat watchable, but the character Niles is as over-the-top as Aggie. Regardless of whether he’s a killer, you definitely won’t be sending him a holiday card after seeing him eat a whole chicken in just one minute – and this actually happens in the show!

While the movie’s plot is completely ridiculous, the unusual chemistry between the two main actors makes ‘The Beast in Me’ surprisingly watchable. It’s a strange strength, but it’s there if you look for it.

Banks plays Martin, Niles’s father, who doesn’t get along with his son. This strained relationship is why Martin keeps having more children – and even makes them fight – to show just how unpleasant he is.

Jonathan Banks began acting long before Breaking Bad, but he’s now most famous for playing Mike Ehrmantraut. Like his co-star Giancarlo Esposito, he appears destined to be forever associated with that role – but at least it provides consistent work.

David Lyons delivers another quirky performance as FBI agent Brian Abbot – it’s arguably his most comedic role since “The Cape.” Fortunately, Brittany Snow (“The Night Agent”), Natalie Morales (“Grey’s Anatomy”), and Hettienne Park (“Hannibal”) all give solid performances and aren’t affected by the show’s oddities.

Overall, “The Beast in Me” isn’t one of the hardest shows I’ve ever had to watch. The episodes are usually under 50 minutes long, the characters are really over-the-top, and the story is so ridiculous that it keeps you guessing.

This thriller feels like something you’d typically find on Netflix, maybe one of those Harlan Coben adaptations, or a similar series spread over a few nights on a channel like Channel 5. However, the bigger budget and well-known actors give it a bit of extra appeal.

Although I wouldn’t strongly recommend “The Beast in Me,” it was still somewhat enjoyable – but mostly for the silly reasons. That might be enough to get people watching it on Netflix, where popular shows aren’t always the best quality.

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2025-11-13 11:35