10 Thrilling Shows To Watch if You Love Netflix's 'The Beast in Me'

10 Thrilling Shows To Watch if You Love Netflix's 'The Beast in Me' Claire Danes as Aggie and Matthew Rhys as Nile outside a stone building looking perplexed in The Beast in Me.Image via Netflix By  Michael Block Published 47 minutes ago Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts!  On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK.  In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.  Sign in to your Collider account follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

When you pair Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys together on screen, expect a tour de force of two powerhouse performers. Place them together as both allies and foes, and you get one of the year's most enthralling crime thrillers, The Beast in Me. The Netflix series follows a writer who gets the surprise of her life when her new neighbor is a man who had been suspected of murdering his first wife. When she takes him on as her latest subject, a world of secrets and revelations unravels that are destined to destroy someone's life. Whose? Well, chances are, if you are here, you know exactly who.

The Beast in Me is a fantastic psychological thriller that has captivated audiences with its shocking twists and turns, leaving you guessing until the very end. If you loved the series, you're certainly looking for another psychological thriller to satisfy your hunger. From Harlan Coben classics to another crime drama with Danes in a drastically different role. If you're looking to be hooked from the jump, these series are certain to do so.

1 'Surface' (2022–)

Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Sophie outside looking concerned with her hair blowing in Surface Season 2.Image via Apple TV

Trauma and grief are a major factor in the action of The Beast in Me. Unfortunately for Sophie Ellis (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) in Surface, extreme memory loss after a supposed suicide attempt prevents those emotions from coming to the surface until she rebuilds her story. After an apparent suicide attempt in which she jumps from a San Francisco ferry, Sophie starts a new life with her husband, James Ellis (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), a venture capitalist, but struggles to recall the events that led to her memory loss. As she tries to rebuild her life, she begins to suspect that what she has been told about her past may not be true. She discovers she had been having an affair with Thomas Baden (Stephan James), an undercover police officer, and is persuaded by Baden that James has been embezzling funds from his firm. However, as her memories gradually return, Sophie uncovers the truth: she herself had stolen the money and hidden it in an account under the name of Tess Caldwell.

Now two seasons into the twisted Apple TV series, Surface is an amnesia mystery that pushes the story into bewildering places. We know things are not going to be what they seem, but Surface goes beyond your wildest imagination. Thankfully, Mbatha-Raw's depth as Sophie literally carries the show. Though Season 2 suffers a bit as the action moves across the pond, the series is a worthy mystery that keeps you on your toes.

2 'Full Circle' (2023)

Claire Danes and Zazie Beetz at the bar in Full Circle.Image via HBO Max

If you're taken by Claire Danes in The Beast in Me, you must check out her exceptional work in Full Circle. In the Steven Soderbergh crime thriller, wealthy New York City couple Sam and Derek Browne (Danes and Timothy Olyphant) believe their son, Jared (Ethan Stoddard), has been kidnapped, but when it’s revealed that it wasn’t their son but a supposed random kid, a wealth of secrets are revealed. The botched kidnapping uncovers long-held secrets of unconnected individuals and cultures in every corner of the metropolis. Full Circle is a truly gripping and terrifying story about a parent's worst nightmare. It follows many of the classic crime thriller tropes, yet still shocks you until the bitter end.

Full Circle isn't just a singular story about a wealthy couple. Soderbergh smartly expands the story to all parts of the mystery in order to force you to decide where morality and necessity coincide. It may seem like a puzzling maze, but through exceptional storytelling, the exit has been there all along. Unlike Aggie, Danes takes on a woman who is much more put together. But much like Aggie, she’s being played by the male presence in her life. Though only one actually committed murder.

3 'The Girl Before' (2021)

Gugu Mbatha-Raw and David Oyelowo look intently at each other while outdoors in The Girl Before.Image via HBO Max

Gugu Mbatha-Raw is one of the most underrated actresses of our time. No matter what she’s doing on screen, she always delivers. The Girl Before is further proof of the thesis. A thriller in four parts, the story follows Jane Cavendish (Mbatha-Raw), a traumatized woman who falls in love with an extraordinary minimalist house, which remains under the spell of the architect Edward Monkford (David Oyelowo), who originally designed it. The catch is that she must abide by his strict rules, which include not owning any possessions or making any personal alterations to the house. But not everything may be as it seems, as Jane discovers that the previous tenant, Emma (Jessica Plummer), died under mysterious circumstances in the house.

An artful entry on this list, The Girl Before is a tale about obsession. Jane's fixation on determining if her fate will mirror that of Emma becomes the central focus, as the fascinating backstory of Edward comes trundling out. The ending is less obvious than what we witnessed in The Beast in Me, but what both stories prove, don't trust what you don't know.

4 'The Fall' (2013–2016)

Jamie Dornan as Paul Spector sits in a kitchen with a woman standing behind him to his right in The Fall.Image via BBC

For three seasons, The Fall offered viewers a provocative police procedural that was one of the strongest psychological thrillers of the time. Detective Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) is brought to Belfast to investigate a string of murders, only to discover she is hunting a serial killer, Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan). A dynamic cat-and-mouse game, The Fall examines the psychological mindset between a killer and the individual pursuing him.

A slow-burn thriller, The Fall keeps the complexity of the chase central as the struggle to maintain sanity during the pursuit. Anderson and Dornan have a wonderful dynamic, playing straight into the believability of their parts. Dornan is smoldering as Spector, popping off as a star prior to his role in Fifty Shades of Grey. At only 16 episodes, The Fall is an easy weekend binge that fulfills the need for more cat-and-mouse drama.

5 'The Patient' (2022)

Steve Carell in The PatientImage via FX on Hulu

Before we dive into the specifics of The Patient, it's wild to think of The Office cinematic universe crossover that now exists in this show. Now, to our show. The terrifying limited series follows psychotherapist Dr. Alan Strauss (Steve Carell) as he is held captive by a serial killer, Sam Fortner (Domhnall Gleeson), who seeks help to curb his homicidal urges. Alan must try to understand Sam's psyche while also dealing with his own personal traumas, including the recent death of his wife, Beth Strauss (Laura Niemi), and a strained relationship with his son, Ezra Strauss (Andrew Leeds). A haunting psychological thriller, The Patient pushes the bounds of a twisted dynamic between two individuals bogged down by trauma.

Like The Beast in Me, the series is a brilliant battle of power between two dominating individuals who are extraordinary at what they do. In both series, the subject has murderous tendencies, and the expert is simply attempting to minimize the threat of future murders. Though both Carrell and Gleeson have a resume of dramatic parts, their work here is mesmerizing. It's almost like watching a two-hander on stage. The pair have a sensational dynamic together that you beg to see more of. Though if Michael Scott and Ned Sampson meet up on The Paper, here's hoping there is an Easter egg to this series.

6 'Disclaimer' (2024)

Cate Blanchett as Catherine burning a book over the sink in the Apple TV+ series Disclaimer.Image via Apple TV

Perhaps I'm biased, but there's something about us writers who serve as extraordinary sleuths. But unlike the protagonists from The Beast in Me and Disclaimer, I'm not engulfed in a life-altering scandal. Disclaimer follows Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett), a famed documentary journalist, who discovers she is a prominent character in a novel that purports to reveal a secret she has tried to keep hidden. The book, which she discovers is about her own life, was written by Stephen Brigstocke (Kevin Kline), the father of a young man who died years ago while saving her son. Stephen seeks revenge against Catherine, believing her to be responsible for his son's death, and meticulously uses the novel to expose her secret to her husband, Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen), and son, Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee).

Written, directed, and conceived by Alfonso Cuarón, based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Renée Knight, Disclaimer is top-tier television. Using a non-linear mechanic, blending the saga from the past holiday in Italy when young Catherine (Leila George) encounters Jonathan (Louis Partridge) and back home in London twenty years later when the truth emerges, Cuarón brilliantly paces the series by giving you necessary insight into Catherine then and now. There is not a single weak link in the cast. Blanchett and Kline do phenomenal work per usual, but it's Baron Cohen, shedding his comic chops for something dramatic, that sets the series ablaze. If anything, this show is a masterclass in performance.

7 'The Undoing' (2020)

Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman surrounded by the press in The Undoing.Image via HBO

Sometimes, rich and powerful men do things unthinkable. Just like in The Beast in Me, Jonathan Fraser (Hugh Grant) in The Undoing is hiding a deep secret within his confident charisma. In the David E. Kelley series, Grace Fraser's (Nicole Kidman), a Manhattan therapist, life unravels after her husband disappears, leaving her to question everything she thought she knew about her family. When a mysterious, violent death starts a shocking mystery, Grace is forced to face the reality of privilege, trust, and betrayal. Is Jonathan the man he claims to be, and what is he hiding from?

Racing for answers, the series is a high-octane thriller created by and starring stellar artists who are well-versed in captivating storytelling. Filled with silly decisions and shocking detours, The Undoing keeps you guessing until that brilliant finale, which is, perhaps, one of the greatest in recent memory. The Beast in Me and The Undoing focus on men who truly believe they can get away with anything, fooling the women in their lives. For those who love stories of individuals getting karma to hit them right back, you'll leave highly satisfied.

8 'Fool Me Once' (2024)

Joanna Lumley and Michelle Keegan in black looking somber at a funeral in Fool Me Once.Image via Netflix

Based on Harlen Coben's 2016 novel, Fool Me Once follows a former special ops pilot named Maya Stern (Michelle Keegan) who, after her husband Joe (Richard Armitage) is murdered, sees him on a nanny cam playing with their daughter. She then uncovers a large conspiracy that links her husband's death to the murder of her sister, Claire (Natalie Anderson), to Joe's powerful, wealthy family and their pharmaceutical company, Burkett Global. Through her relentless investigation. Maya uncovers dangerous truths involving whistleblower Corey Rudzinski (Laurie Kynaston), whose revelations about the company's misconduct spark a deeper cover-up.

Perhaps the premier Coben series, simply based on viewership, Fool Me Once is filled to the brim with twists and turns until the very end. The acting is strong, even from the unexpected Joanna Lumley with her wickedly dastardly performance as matriarch Judith Burkett. Fool Me Once is disturbing and haunting, dripping with intrigue. Like The Beast in Me, we've got a man who loves to keep deep-rooted secrets from those closest to him.​​​​​​​

9 'The Watcher' (2022–)

Dean Brannock (Bobby Cavanale) outside in his robe in 'The Watcher'.Image via Netflix

It's a bit shocking that we’re going to discuss an actually strong Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan show that somehow didn’t receive the hype it deserved. The show is The Watcher, of course. Based on an article from The Cut about The Watcher of Westfield, New Jersey, the series follows a married couple, Nora and Dean Brannock (Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale), who, after moving into their dream home, are harassed by creepy letters signed by a stalker who goes by the pseudonym "The Watcher".

Loosely inspired by the article with an array of liberties taken, The Watcher is a concise piece that is perfect in length and doesn't jump the shark like some Murphy shows tend to do. What makes the series so brilliant is the exceptional cast. Beyond our two leads, The Stranger is stuffed with an all-star cast. We're not talking JV actors, it's the cream of the crop — Jennifer Coolidge, Margo Martindale, Richard Kind, Mia Farrow, Christopher McDonald, Joe Mantello. Though it does lean into campy horror tropes, much like The Beast in Me does on occasion, it's a captivating story about a neighborhood you get an iffy feeling about. ​​​​​​​

10 'The Stranger' (2020)

Hannah John-Kamen wearing a baseball cap and staring ahead on an outdoor patio in The Stranger.Image via Netflix

Duplicity is a common theme in many Harlan Coben stories, but nothing comes close to The Stranger. The thriller tells the story of Adam Price (Richard Armitage), whose seemingly perfect life is shattered when a mysterious stranger (Hannah John-Kamen) reveals a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne (Dervla Kirwan). This revelation draws Adam into a dangerous conspiracy that threatens to ruin his life and those of others. A story of how lies and secrets can lead to destruction, The Stranger is a wonderfully dangerous drama with devastating effects and a major final blow.

The Stranger is an addictive mystery that builds to a big reveal. Even if you eventually see it coming, the twist still pays off. The ability to sustain intrigue speaks volumes to Coben's story and the stellar cast attached. Armitage is great, but The Stranger features a tour-de-force performance from John-Kamen. The rest of the cast, including Shaun Dooley and Jennifer Saunders, keeps the series moving. It’s a worthy watch and one that will make you binge all of Coben's series on Netflix. ​​​​​​​

Like The Stranger TV-MA Drama Crime Mystery Release Date 2020 - 2019 Network Netflix Directors Daniel O'Hara, Hannah Quinn Writers Danny Brocklehurst

Cast

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• Richard Armitage
• Hannah John-Kamen
• Siobhan Finneran
• Jacob Dudman

Genres Drama, Crime, Mystery Main Genre Mystery Seasons 1 Creator(s) Harlan Coben Streaming Service(s) Netflix Powered by Expand Collapse

• TV
• The Beast in Me
• Disclaimer

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