Claire Danes shines, Matthew Rhys menaces: why 'The Beast in Me' is the thriller to watch right now

When you take two top-tier actors like Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys and pit them against each other in a taut psychological thriller, it’s going to attract eyeballs. 

So, of course, I was drawn to “The Beast in Me” from the moment it dropped on Netflix.

I’ve been an ardent follower of Danes since she made waves in the award-winning series “My So-Called Life”. She continued impressing me with “Homeland”, which ran for several seasons. 

Although she’s done an insane amount of work, especially in Hollywood movies, there’s an intensity and conviction that she brings to her characters in a series that, for me, remains unparalleled.

Then, there’s Rhys. 

Showing my age here, again, but he landed his big TV break as Kevin Walker in “Brothers & Sisters”.

Since then, he’s been covering a wide gamut of roles on the big and small screen, squeezing in a stage show here and there.

As a phenomenal actor, he is truly deserving of high praise. His remarkable range, extensive experience, and unwavering commitment allow him to take on and flawlessly execute any role, which is a testament to his immense talent.

The casting is one of the reasons why the eight-part series works. Creator Gabe Rotter (“The X-Files” fame) has done an exceptional job with the story itself. 

The premise is enveloped in unexpected twists, delving into the powerful realm of the affluent and the extent of their political leverage and involvement in cover-ups.

Let’s get into it.

Celebrated author Aggie Wiggs (Danes) has hit a wall in writing her current book, which is two years overdue. The bills are piling up, and she’s an inconsolable mess. 

Having lost her eight-year-old son in a road accident caused by Teddy Fenig (Bubba Weiler), she’s struggling to move forward. 

Her grief, underpinned by anger that Teddy got away scot-free, has been eating at her. 

Shelley (Natalie Morales), Aggie’s abstract painter ex-wife, and her agent and good friend Carol McGiddish (Deirdre O'Connell) have tried to help, to no avail. 

Things get interesting when Nile Jarvis (Rhys) moves next door. The son of the city’s prominent real estate tycoon, he is infamously linked to the alleged murder of his first wife, Madison (Leila George), who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. 

However, with no body, it was difficult to convict him. 

And so he’s now moved to the suburbs with his second wife, Nina (Brittany Snow), who, interestingly enough, used to be Madison's executive assistant at the gallery. 

As far as first impressions go, it got off to a bad start with Nile’s dogs scaring her fur baby. While they were retrieved with a wine basket arriving as a form of apology, Aggie is cold towards her new neighbours. 

Her decision to hold out on signing off on his attempts to clear a running path through the woods becomes a contentious issue as well. 

But Nile is not someone who takes no for an answer. He is also bold, unapologetic and pushy. A fan of Aggie’s books, he convinces her to have lunch with him. 

She agrees, partly out of curiosity, and partly because she needs to get out of the house after a plumbing issue. 

The luncheon proves an interesting experience. He was a mix of charming and ruthless.

Of course, Aggie held her own. She matched his bluntness and sparked his curiosity with her fearlessness. 

This is a huge catalyst in the story as she decides, with some persuasion on Nile’s part, coupled with Teddy going missing, to ditch her now-dated biography and write about him instead.

Meanwhile, FBI agent Brian Abbott (David Lyons), who is nearing retirement and is still haunted by being unable to arrest Nile for the murder of his wife, cautions Aggie to be careful around him. 

Despite Nile turning down many offers to have his biography written, he puts his trust in Aggie as he believes they share the same kind of “bloodlust”.

However, he is unaware of Aggie’s true intentions in telling his story - to expose him as a murderer. 

As much as there a key supporting characters, most of the scenes are centred on the relationship between Nile and Aggie, which goes from a fledgling friendship to distrust and utter chaos. 

Honestly, once you start watching and getting into the story, you won’t be able to stop. The suspense leaves you glued to the screen, which is a testament to the writing as well as the performances. 

The expert framing of every scene effectively underscores the inherent darkness in Nile, highlighting the seamless and unsettling way he shifts from a composed, self-assured demeanour to one that is cold and brutal.

“The Beast in Me” is such a masterfully executed psychological thriller. 

By the way, South Africans will be delighted by one scene, where Nile, while eating a roasted chicken, raved about devouring the best one in Cape Town, though he confessed to not being a fan of the popular street food known as walkie-talkies.

Rating: **** a standout series with exceptional qualities.