MALICE
Review Scores (how we rate) Watch trailer →
Malice follows an ultra-wealthy family in Greece whose annual getaway takes a dark turn when a new live-in tutor joins the group and quietly begins pulling strings from the inside.
He Said / She Said
“This one lost me. It’s dark and tense, and the setup is interesting, but by Episode 3 I still didn’t understand the motive behind Adam’s actions. Too many scenes felt pointless, like they should’ve been left on the editing floor. Also, the opening credits and music didn’t match the tone, and without a single character to root for, the whole experience felt more frustrating than intriguing.”
“The show wants to be a slow, sinister dismantling of a wealthy family, but too much is left unexplained for too long. A lot of key moments in the first three episodes felt like they didn’t actually move the story forward. David Duchovny plays the ‘bad dad / jerk’ role well, but the unbelievable level of planning and manipulation, without clear motive, made it hard to stay invested.”
Critical reception (so far)
Reviewers have praised the performances and production values but frequently note that the story lacks momentum and narrative depth, making the series less compelling than its premise suggests.
What it’s about
A wealthy family gathers at their vacation home in Greece with some friends for their annual tradition of sun, kids, staff, and the kind of money that makes everything look effortless. This year, a new tutor named Adam arrives, and the trip starts to feel less like an escape and more like a slow, deliberate unraveling.
As Adam embeds himself in the household, tensions rise and the “perfect” family façade begins to crack. The series leans into power, privilege, resentment, and the question hanging over everything: what does Adam want and why this family?
Overall vibe
Dark, sinister, and heavy on unease, with an extravagant backdrop that makes everything feel even colder. It’s a slow-burn family destruction thriller where the sunlight is bright, but the mood is not.
The tone stays consistent and gets darker as it goes, with tension driven by manipulation, secrets, and escalating consequences rather than action or big twists.
Episode-by-episode (1–3)
Jamie and his family arrive for their annual vacation in Greece, where their friends join them, settling into an ultra-wealthy routine. A new tutor, Adam, arrives with their friends and quickly establishes an unsettling presence that hints something is off beneath the luxury.
Adam becomes more embedded in the household dynamics as the vacation continues. Tensions sharpen, relationships strain, and it becomes clearer that the family’s “perfect” setup has pressure points waiting to be exploited.
Things shift from quiet discomfort into something more openly dangerous. The family’s stability starts to feel fragile as the manipulation grows harder to ignore.
Content warnings
Expect:
- Violence
- Nudity
- Foul language
- Child-related danger / child harm
- Death of animals
- Emotional distress
Who will love it / who should skip it
Will love it if:
- You like slow-burn psychological thrillers
- You’re into revenge plots or “family unraveling” stories
- Wealth-and-secrets settings are your thing
- You enjoy dark, tense, manipulation-heavy storytelling
Should skip if:
- You need clear motivations early on
- You want likable characters or a strong “good guy” anchor
- Animal harm is an immediate dealbreaker
- Slow, bleak tension isn’t your vibe