The Beast in Me: Is This Netflix Thriller Safe for Your Teen?
Netflix rates The Beast in Me as TV-MA, and they're not messing around. This British psychological thriller features graphic violence, disturbing themes about obsession and revenge, sexual content, and pervasive strong language. This is firmly 17+ territory, and honestly, even mature 17-year-olds might find some scenes genuinely unsettling. If you're looking for something less intense, check out our psychological thrillers appropriate for teens.
The Beast in Me is a 2024 Netflix limited series starring Claire Foy (yes, from The Crown) as a woman who becomes dangerously obsessed with tracking down the person responsible for her family's tragedy. It's dark, it's twisty, and it doesn't pull punches when it comes to showing the psychological unraveling of its main character.
Screenwise Parents
See allThe show runs six episodes, each about 45-50 minutes, and it's structured like a slow-burn thriller that escalates significantly as it progresses. Think Gone Girl meets The Sinner, but with a British sensibility that somehow makes everything feel even more bleak.
Let's get specific about what "TV-MA" means for this particular show, because not all mature ratings are created equal.
Violence and Disturbing Content
This is where The Beast in Me earns its rating most definitively. The violence isn't constant, but when it happens, it's graphic and realistic. We're talking:
- Explicit scenes of physical assault with visible injuries
- A particularly brutal scene in episode 4 involving a car accident with aftermath shown in detail
- Self-harm imagery (cutting, shown on screen)
- Scenes depicting the aftermath of violent crimes, including blood and injury detail
The disturbing content goes beyond just violence. The show explores themes of obsession, revenge, and mental deterioration in ways that are psychologically heavy. There's a scene in episode 3 where the main character stalks someone for an extended sequence that's genuinely uncomfortable to watch—which is the point, but it's intense.
Sexual Content
The show includes:
- Two sex scenes with partial nudity (breasts visible, no full frontal)
- Sexual references and innuendo throughout
- One scene depicting an affair that's more about emotional manipulation than titillation
The sexual content isn't gratuitous, but it's definitely present and adult in nature.
Language
Strong language throughout, including frequent use of "fk," "ct" (it's British, so yeah), and other profanity. If your teen is sensitive to language, this will be a lot.
Substance Use
Characters drink alcohol regularly, and there's marijuana use in several episodes. One character has a substance abuse problem that's central to the plot in episodes 4-5.
Themes That Hit Different
Beyond the content warnings, this show deals with grief, trauma, revenge, and the loss of moral boundaries in ways that are genuinely heavy. The main character does increasingly questionable things, and the show doesn't provide easy answers about whether we should sympathize with her or be horrified by her actions.
17+, and that's not flexible. Here's why:
The combination of graphic violence, sexual content, and psychologically disturbing themes makes this inappropriate for younger teens. But even for 17-year-olds, consider whether your teen:
- Has experience with mature psychological thrillers
- Can handle ambiguous moral situations without clear "good guy/bad guy" dynamics
- Won't be triggered by themes of loss, obsession, or violence
- Can distinguish between entertainment and glorification of revenge
If you have a 15 or 16-year-old asking to watch this because they loved Stranger Things or Wednesday, this is not the same thing. Those shows have horror and thriller elements, but they're designed for teen audiences. The Beast in Me is designed for adults, full stop.
Let's be real about the appeal:
- Claire Foy's performance is getting awards buzz, and teens who are into acting might be genuinely interested
- The thriller/mystery genre is hugely popular with teens right now
- It's trending on Netflix, which means their friends might be talking about it
- The "prestige TV" factor – it feels more sophisticated than typical teen content
These are all valid reasons for interest, but interest doesn't equal appropriate.
It's Actually Well-Made
Unlike some shows where you can dismiss them as "trash TV," The Beast in Me is legitimately good television. It's well-written, well-acted, and the cinematography is impressive. This makes it harder to dismiss out of hand, but quality doesn't equal age-appropriate.
The Pacing Might Surprise You
The first two episodes are relatively slow and build tension through character development. Then episode 3 hits and things escalate quickly. If you're watching with an older teen, don't assume the whole series will match the tone of episode 1.
There's No "Watching Together" Fix
Some mature content can work as a family viewing experience with discussion. This is not one of those shows. The sexual content and graphic violence make co-viewing with your teen awkward at best, and the psychological themes require a level of emotional maturity that co-viewing can't substitute for.
The Ending Matters
Without spoilers, the show doesn't provide a neat moral resolution. Some viewers find this sophisticated and thought-provoking; others find it nihilistic and depressing. If your teen struggles with ambiguous endings or needs clear moral frameworks in their entertainment, this will frustrate them.
If your 14-16-year-old wants a psychological thriller, try these instead:
- The Stranger (TV-14) – Also British, also twisty, but toned down on the graphic content
- Behind Her Eyes (TV-MA but lighter) – Psychological thriller with supernatural elements, less graphic violence
- The Society (TV-14) – Mystery/thriller designed for teen audiences
- Clickbait (TV-MA but more appropriate) – Tech thriller with mature themes but less graphic content
For more options, check out our guide to mystery shows for teens.
Some older teens can handle this content. If yours is one of them, here's how to approach it:
- Watch episode 1 yourself first to gauge whether it matches your family's boundaries
- Check in after episode 3 – that's when the intensity really ramps up
- Be available for conversation about the moral ambiguity and revenge themes
- Acknowledge the discomfort – it's okay to say "that scene was disturbing" and talk about why the filmmakers made those choices
Consider asking questions like:
- "Do you think we're supposed to sympathize with the main character? Why or why not?"
- "What would you do in her situation?"
- "Where do you think she crossed the line?"
These conversations can turn mature content into a learning opportunity about ethics, grief, and human nature.
The Beast in Me is a well-crafted psychological thriller that's genuinely meant for adult audiences. The TV-MA rating is accurate and earned. This is not appropriate for anyone under 17, and even mature 17-year-olds should be screened based on their individual maturity and experience with intense content.
If your teen is disappointed by this boundary, that's okay. Part of parenting in the streaming age is helping kids understand that not all content is meant for all ages, even when it's just a click away. There are plenty of excellent thrillers designed for teen audiences that don't require you to compromise on your family's boundaries.
The good news? Your teen will be an adult soon enough, and The Beast in Me will still be there waiting. Some things are worth the wait.
Need help navigating other Netflix content? Check out our guide to Netflix age ratings or chat with us about specific shows
your teen is asking about.