Beast

Beast has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in the US on Netflix. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch Idris Elba work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Beast is worth clearing space for. Beast treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. A recently widowed man and his two teenage daughters travel to a game reserve in South Africa. However, their journey of healing soon turns into a fight for survival when a bloodthirsty lion starts to stalk them. Idris Elba and Leah Sava Jeffries lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. It hit screens in 2022. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Beast passes that test consistently. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Beast proves them wrong. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Idris Elba anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.