The Absent Voice is a Spanish crime thriller that dropped on Netflix, following a detective investigating a series of brutal murders connected to a mysterious voice that seems to control people's actions. Think psychological manipulation, unreliable narrators, and a whole lot of disturbing imagery.

The show leans heavily into the "prestige European thriller" aesthetic — slow-burn pacing, moody cinematography, morally complex characters, and violence that doesn't pull punches. It's the kind of show where you're constantly questioning what's real and what's in someone's head.

Let's be crystal clear about what TV-MA means here, because not all TV-MA content is created equal. Some shows get that rating for language and some mature themes. The Absent Voice gets it for pretty much everything.

Violence: This isn't action movie violence. It's graphic, disturbing crime scene violence. Bodies in various states, detailed forensic discussions, and some truly unsettling murder sequences. The show doesn't shy away from showing you exactly what happened.

Sexual Content: Multiple scenes with nudity and sexual situations. Some of these scenes are tied to the psychological manipulation themes, which makes them even more uncomfortable to watch.

Psychological Themes: Beyond the surface-level crime story, this show digs into mental illness, manipulation, trauma, and some really dark aspects of human psychology. Characters experience hallucinations, dissociative episodes, and psychological breaks that are depicted in intense, sometimes disturbing ways.

Language: Strong language throughout, though if you're watching in Spanish with English subtitles, some of the impact might be softened depending on translation choices.

Substance Use: Characters dealing with addiction, drug use shown on screen, and the messy reality of how substances impact people's lives and decisions.

I know what some of you are thinking. "My 15-year-old watches true crime documentaries all the time. They listen to murder podcasts. How is this different?"

Fair question. Here's the thing: true crime documentaries and scripted psychological thrillers hit differently.

Documentaries typically present information with some distance. You're learning about events that happened, often with expert commentary, historical context, and a more analytical framework. Even when they show crime scene photos, there's usually a documentary filter.

The Absent Voice puts you IN the experience. You're following characters in real-time as they experience trauma, make terrible decisions, and spiral psychologically. The violence isn't presented as "here's what happened" — it's dramatized to create maximum emotional impact. The psychological manipulation isn't explained by a psychologist in a clean interview setting — you're watching it unfold, feeling the confusion and disorientation along with the characters.

Also, true crime content varies wildly. If your teen is watching Forensic Files (pretty clinical and educational), that's very different from something like Making a Murderer (emotionally intense but still documentary format), which is different from a scripted show like The Absent Voice (designed to be psychologically immersive and disturbing).

This is where it gets nuanced, and honestly, you know your kid better than anyone. But here's my take:

For most 16-17 year olds, this is still too much. Not because they can't "handle" seeing violence or mature content in a technical sense, but because the psychological weight of this show is significant. It's designed to be unsettling. It's supposed to make you uncomfortable and question reality. That's the whole point.

If you have a 17-year-old who:

Then maybe this could be appropriate viewing with you, followed by conversation about what they watched. But I'd still encourage you to watch the first episode yourself first to gauge whether it aligns with your family's values and your teen's actual maturity level (not just what they claim they can handle).

If you've got a teen who's into crime dramas and mysteries but isn't quite ready for The Absent Voice's intensity, here are some better-suited options:

For ages 14-15:

For ages 16-17:

For true crime fans:

For adult viewers, The Absent Voice can be compelling if you're into dark psychological thrillers. The Spanish production values are solid, the acting is strong, and if you're into shows that mess with your head, it delivers.

You'll probably like it if you enjoyed:

Fair warning: The pacing is slow. This is not a fast-paced thriller with constant action. It's a slow burn that builds psychological tension. If you need things to move quickly, you might find it frustrating.

The Absent Voice is an adult show. Not "mature teen" content, not "almost appropriate for 16+," but genuinely adult content that deals with heavy psychological themes in graphic ways.

If your teen is asking to watch it because they saw it trending on Netflix or their friends are talking about it, the answer should probably be no — with an explanation about why, and maybe an offer to find something in the crime/mystery genre that's more age-appropriate.

If you're looking for Spanish-language content for teens, there are much better options that can provide language exposure and cultural content without the intense mature themes.

And if you're an adult looking for your next binge? Go for it, but maybe not right before bed. This one stays with you.

Questions about other shows or looking for age-appropriate alternatives? Ask our chatbot about specific titles or explore our guide to TV ratings.