Nefarious

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Nefarious is available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Philo right now. 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. Sean Patrick Flanery sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Start it on Amazon Prime Video whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Nefarious earns its spot. The writing in Nefarious treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. On the day of his scheduled execution, a convicted serial killer gets a psychiatric evaluation during which he claims he is a demon, and further claims that before their time is over, the psychiatrist will commit three murders of his own. Sean Patrick Flanery and Jordan Belfi lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2023. What elevates Nefarious is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in Nefarious. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Sean Patrick Flanery is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.