--- title: "The Beast in Me: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-beast-in-me/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-beast-in-me" critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Beast in Me (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 65 from 11 reviews: 5 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative. The reviews are widely divided on The Beast in Me, with praise clustering around Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys rather than the plotting. Admirers find their manipulative relationship compelling, crediting the performances, gothic atmosphere and focused psychological exchanges with sustaining the thriller. The Times praises its tautness and sustained sense of horror. Even some less enthusiastic reviews single out one of the leads, but reservations centre on excessive length, shallow ideas and a mystery that does not generate enough tension. The Independent values Danes’s performance while judging the series three episodes too long. The harsher dissent goes beyond complaints about pacing: The Telegraph finds neither convincing plotting nor real suspense, while Radio Times considers the cast ill-served by an overblown, silly thriller. The central disagreement is whether the performances and atmosphere make the material gripping or merely lend seriousness to an unpersuasive story. ## The Times Rating ★★★★★. 13 November 2025. Claire Danes is superb as the grieving author in this poised, taut and clever psycho-thriller; the director maintains a horror vibe and the leads deliver full game. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-beast-in-me-review-netflix-claire-danes-matthew-rhys-httqqbx9d) ## The Guardian — Lucy Mangan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2025. The critic praises the series as instant top-tier TV, highlighting the taut psychological two-hander between Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys as wonderful to watch, with awards likely ahead. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/13/the-beast-in-me-review-claire-danes-thriller-netflix) ## Evening Standard — Vicky Jessop Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2025. The critic calls it one of the best shows Netflix has released this year, an immaculate psychological thriller with a killer cast and compelling cat-and-mouse dynamic. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/the-beast-in-me-netflix-claire-danes-review-b1257980.html) ## The AV Club — Saloni Gajjar Rating B+. 13 November 2025. The Netflix thriller shines through its intense two-hander between Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys as neighbors entangled in a complex, manipulative relationship. It delivers a sharp, focused character study anchored by strong performances despite some glossy production elements. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-beast-in-me-review-tv-netflix) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Rating C+. 13 November 2025. The limited series about a reclusive author drawn to her notorious new neighbor is too timid in its handling of a savage story. Matthew Rhys delivers a strong performance as the possibly murderous real-estate scion, but the show lacks conviction in confronting its ideas. [Read the review](https://indiewire.com/criticism/shows/beast-in-me-review-netflix-claire-danes-1235159888) ## The Independent — Jacob Stolworthy Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 17 November 2025. Claire Danes elevates the series in Homeland-style form, but the psychological thriller is three episodes too long overall. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/netflix-beast-in-me-cast-claire-danes-b2866419.html) ## Variety Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2025. The limited series is a lopsided take on The Jinx with a less compelling killer, centering on Claire Danes' character in an intellectual duel that feels adjacent to true crime without deeper insight. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/tv/reviews/the-beast-in-me-review-claire-danes-matthew-rhys-1236580135/) ## Radio Times — Frances Taylor Rating 2/5. 13 November 2025. The series unites Peak TV stars Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys and Jonathan Banks but renders them laughable in an over-the-top, silly thriller. It is entertaining only for the wrong reasons as a daft assembly-line Netflix drama. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/the-beast-in-me-review/) ## The Telegraph Rating 2/5. 13 November 2025. The reviewer finds no real tension or mystery, criticising the dour tone and unconvincing plot while noting Danes frowns her way through it. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/the-beast-in-me-netflix-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2025. Despite a great cast, the eight-episode Netflix series is an exercise in prestige TV monotony with no notable twists and shallow insights into human nature. It features Antonio Campos directing several episodes in a whimsical paranoia style. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/the-beast-in-me-review-claire-danes-matthew-rhys-netflix-1236425626/) ## Collider — Therese Lacson Rating 8/10. 13 November 2025. The critic highlights the electric chemistry and powerhouse performances from Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys as the core strength of the series. The gothic tone and unsettling atmosphere elevate the mystery beyond a standard thriller, making it an addictive, edge-of-your-seat watch. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-beast-in-me-review-netflix-matthew-rhys-claire-danes/) ## The Ringer — Joanna Robinson and Rob Mahoney 19 November 2025. The hosts discuss the Netflix miniseries as a tense thriller starring Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys. They cover the central mystery and performances in a spoiler-filled episode. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/the-prestige-tv-podcast/2025/11/19/netflixs-the-beast-in-me-review) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-beast-in-me.md